How to Make a Geometric Headboard

Katie Leporte
·1 min read

What's more beautiful than a DIY headboard built to your taste? One that's also splashed with a beautiful chalk-finish paint. This geometric headboard is constructed from maple-veneer medium-density fiberboard (MDF) triangles that are dipped in diluted paint.

Check out this DIY tufted headboard!

What You Need

  • 4×8-foot sheets of 3/4-inch maple-veneer MDF

  • Pencil

  • Table saw

  • Container

  • Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

  • Water

  • Hammer

  • Nails

Step 1: Cut and Build

To make the headboard triangles, cut 4×8-foot sheets of MDF into 14x16-inch pieces. Mark a 16-inch equilateral triangle in the center of one MDF piece.

To build a jig, place the marked piece on a 16×24-inch base of 3/4-inch MDF, aligning one marked triangle edge with the long base edge; trace. Nail 2-inch-wide MDF scraps on marked lines.

Why make a jig? When you need to make many identical cuts, construct a jig. This template helps you cut quickly and consistently, without having to measure and mark each piece.

Step 2: Prep the Cut

Lay MDF rectangle inside jig.

Step 3: Flip and Repeat

Cut across bottom with a table saw. Flip MDF over and place back in jig.

Step 4: Continue

Cut across bottom. Cut all MDF rectangles into triangles (we cut 28 for a queen-size headboard).

Step 5: Mix It Up

Mix 1 teaspoon of water per 1 cup of chalk paint in a wide container.

Step 6: Dip-Dye

Dip each triangle edge in paint and let dry.

Step 7: Nail In Place

Attach triangles to wall with pin nails.