Kingsize Headboard Bench

It's Mindi again from MyLove2Create here to share my latest build with you! I dusted off the cobwebs on this headboard and finally built a Kingsize Headboard Bench!!

love it? Pin IT!

I have been wanting to make one for years. I must admit I love how it looks on my porch. However, this beauty is heading to my daughter's dance studio for some much needed seating in the lobby.

You may remember my Cubby Shelf Revamp, well this bench is going to the same place. 🙂

I picked up this headboard several years ago off the side of the road with a free sign. It is seriously huge, at 79'' long. The legs you see are from a table my friend gave me, which I have gotten some good use out of, I used part of the top in my Kitchen Island with Pantry Storage, and cut the legs down and used half of them on my Mudroom Storage Bench, I used two of the cut down legs for this bench and I still have two left.

The first step to any headboard bench-decide on the legs

In order to cut the legs to the size I needed I had to remove the bolts. I had these 2x4's with pocket holes already drilled from another project, they must have been cut wrong, and they were the perfect size so I decided to use them for side aprons.

I cut my legs at 17 ½'' and attached the 2x4 side aprons with 2 ½'' pocket hole screws and wood glue flush to the top of the legs and outside edge. The side aprons are 11'' long. I wanted to keep the bench seat shallow because of limited room in the studio, you can adjust the aprons to make it deeper if you desire.

Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System

Add the side skirts

Next, I glued and clamped the leg and apron piece to the headboard. You want to make sure it is level and square, and adjust your clamp as necessary. Then I attached the side apron to the headboard with 2 ½'' pocket hole screws. I did this on both sides.

Make sure kingsize headboard bench is level

In addition, I checked to make sure the legs and aprons were level with each other before attaching them to the headboard. I just used a 2x4 to hold my level.

Attach front apron

I didn't have clamps that were long enough to hold my front and back aprons in place while I attached them, so I used some scrap wood cut to size to be my spacers and hold up my 2x4 aprons. Then I glued and screwed them on with pocket holes on the inside, and of course checked for level on front and back too.

The kingsize headboard bench came together quickly

This is what I had so far. This really was a quick build, I love how fast it came together.

Pocket holes on braces make this bench sturdy

Using more scrap 2x4's I drilled 1 ½'' pocket holes with my Kreg Jig, and used 2 ½'' pocket hole screws to attach the seat supports. I made them flush with the top of the front and back aprons. This is a super sturdy bench!

You may need to notch your seat where it meets the kingsize headboard

The only thing I had to purchase for this bench was my seat boards. I originally was going to get 1x8's, but they would have cost twice as much as the 2x8's. So I got 2-2x8's and 1-2x2 board to make the seat. I am glad they were cheaper because I like the thicker stock for the seat better anyway!

I notched out the back 2x8 boards to fit around the headboard legs and then put the boards on for a dry fit. It was perfect!

Paint and stain king size headboard bench

To paint I went with a black semi-gloss for the headboard, and then stained the seat boards with Special Walnut. When everything was dry I attached the bench seat with 2'' nails from the top into the sides and middle supports. I also added some screws underneath through the support boards. The bench top was sealed with three coats of poly, sanding with 400 grit between coats 1 and 2 to make it nice and smooth.

Very large headboard bench on porch

I love how it turned out! I opted not to put arms on it because that way the dancers can sit on the ends as well to put on their shoes.

It looks very "Kingly" don't you think! Ha ha, pun intended. 🙂

I told the dance studio I wanted to volunteer to make this last year...ummm, I think better late than never is a good rule of thumb. I am happy I finally just did it...and it only took one day to build so I am feeling a little sheepish! Oh well, my life is crazy right now so it's all good.

I think I want one for my porch...I guess I should be on the look out for kingside headboards!

Gail is the queen of headboard benches, and she actually inspired the other two I made when I first started building, you can check them out here. Have you ever made one?

Thanks for reading and come and visit me anytime! Merry Christmas!

Mindi

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

see more of Mindi's posts on MRL here

Comments

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Charly

February 08, 2023 at 6:00 pm

I love the headboard bench. However, I wish there was a pdf I could download to follow along.

- Gail Wilson
  
  February 10, 2023 at 7:16 pm
  
  Thank you Charly for your comment. I don't have that capability at this time to allow PDF downloads.
  
  gail
- Gail Wilson
  
  March 07, 2023 at 2:31 pm
  
  Charly! I've done it. I finally figured out how to do a PRINT PDF EMAIL option at the bottom of each blog post. I hope this helps you!
  
  gail
Loulou Wilt

September 25, 2018 at 5:52 pm

Did you sand the headboard before painting it black?

Mary Flynn

April 16, 2017 at 4:11 pm

This is really beautiful ~I would have a hard time parting with it! God Bless You, Happy Easter!

- Mindi
  
  April 17, 2017 at 1:30 am
  
  Thank you Mary! It was hard to see it go, but it is getting lots of love at the dance studio! Happy Easter to you too! 🙂
Bliss

December 03, 2016 at 9:00 am

Pinned this too, it's awesome Mindi.

- Gail Wilson
  
  December 03, 2016 at 10:17 am
  
  Thanks for pinning! You probably know, that just looking at Mindi's headboard bench, now I'm itching to make one. They've always been my favorite project to make. 🙂
Gail Wilson

December 02, 2016 at 8:42 am

Mindi,

You know how much I LOVE headboard benches, and this one is at the top of my list! Aren't they so fun, and so quick? 🙂

Thanks for an awesome post and tutorial.

gail