Headboard Bench

How to make a headboard bench out of a vintage maple headboard and foot board.

One of the best uses for an old maple headboard is to repurpose into a bench. When you’re lucky enough to have both pieces of the bed, you can use the foot board as arms of your new bench. But, even so, headboard benches without arms look great too!

This full size maple bed into bench was one of our (Cathy and me) first benches. It was of course a curb find. We cut the foot board in half, and then cut some more off to make it sit about 18 inches deep. A 2×4 was used across the front to square up the bench and make it sturdy. We used 2×4’s to reinforce the seat on the maple headboard bench.

Because the maple headboard bench sat a little low, we built it up by adding a 2×4 “box” stacked on top of the first 2×4 across the front. We placed boards lengthwise to make the seat.

If this project is too intimidating, see this Twin Headboard Bench Tutorial that is easily modified for a larger bed.

This is the first color we painted it, but we were having a hard time finding it a good home. We then decided to lighten the paint a little, and add some detail. We used a tatouage rub on on the back. This is the heaviest bench we have ever made.

I’m sure it’s because maple beds are very sturdy and heavy. We have vowed to never make another regular full size bed into a bench!

That is why we decided to make this corner bench.        

Over the years, I’ve changed how I make headboard benches. You can see more details in my article Headboard Bench Tutorial.

See my favorite Mission Style Headboard Bench with Storage-The Complete Tutorial

gail

My friend Debbie shows you how to use table legs to make a headboard bench.

Have a headboard but don’t need a bench? See other headboard ideas here