DIY Light Up Headboard

Today we are teaming up with Valspar and their Love Your Color Guarantee to share our latest addition to Elsie’s guest bedroom: a light up headboard! We wanted to create something unique and playful for this room in her home. We were inspired by marquee signs and wanted to create that feeling but in our own homemade way. We’re not exactly master craftsmen, so we kept our design simple and enlisted a little help from our dad. Here’s what we did:
First we built a headboard. We wanted a tall but simple headboard that could also hide electrical work behind it (for the lights). We used six thin planks about the same length as the bed. We braced these together with two long 2x4 boards behind, and added a frame (using 1x4s) to the top and the two sides.Next we used a projector to trace the word onto the bedframe. It was so hard choosing a word! Before we landed on “Sleepover” we thought about doing “Good Night” or “Welcome” or “Sweet Dreams.” Since the bedframe is in the guest bedroom we wanted something cute and inviting. If you choose to create this project, have fun choosing your own words for your bedframe. We ended up using a font called Buttermilk.Next we planned where to add all the holes for the lights to shine through. Keep in mind that you can easily adjust where the holes are as you drill, but try to evenly space them all along your design.Now drill your holes. Before we started we drilled a few practice holes in a scrap piece of wood so that we could choose the best size of drill bit to use. Once we settled on the size be sure to use care as you work. You do have to drill all the way through the board without drilling into a wall or other work surface.Once you have drilled all the holes sand and clean off the surface of the headboard. Paint your design. We used Valspar Signature paint in Lincoln Cabin Black.Once your paint is dry, it’s time to add the lights! We used over 300 Christmas lights in our design. Simply push the lights through each hole and tape in place using electrical tape. You may also need an extension cord at the end depending on how far away your outlet is from your bedframe.We just love how this headboard project turned out! We can’t wait to have holiday guests over tonight to show off our new guest bedroom décor. Happy crafting! xo. Elsie and Emma

SAFETY TIPS: We spoke with our local fire department to double check the safety of this project. Be sure to follow these guidelines if you plan to recreate this project:

-Before purchasing your lights check for a label of an independent testing laboratory (most commercially sold christmas lights will have this). Some lights are specially made for indoor or outdoor use, be sure to use lights made for indoor use.

-Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose/broken lights. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the number of strands that can be safely connected.

-Your finished project should not have any exposed bundles of cords or wires, only the final cord or extension cord so it can safely reach an outlet.

-Just as you would with your house decorations or your Christmas tree, always turn off lights before leaving your home or going to bed.

Comments

[Rebekah Gough]

insanely cool you guys - this is truly an amazing DIY my mind is swimming with the possibilities!!

[Rebekah Gough]

ps. curious what font you used here I love it!

[Emma]

We used a font called Buttermilk that we found on MyFonts. Should've called that out in the post, so I just added it.

Thanks!

[bryan]

This is so awesome!! Comon'

[Hilde]

love this!

[Eva]

Wow!! This is so beautiful!!
Thanks for sharing!

xo

[Philothea]

Wow! looks awesome! where did you get your projector?
-Philohtea
http://faithfashionfun.blogspot.com/

[Kristen]

Um this is pretty amazing. Wish I was this good with power tools! Def pinning for later.

[markg]

i'm going to make one this weekend with Jokerman font that reads "Jamaican Me Sleepy"

[Julia]

This DIY is so amazing, I would love to use this technique sometime.

[shannon]

Holy moly, that is darling!
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

[Jane]

super neat!

[Valentina]

oh my god this is amazing!

Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/

[isabel]

this really looks amazing! i must sound boring but hey, when something is great, it just is :)

www.mamajulesbrussels.blogspot.com

[I AM TURQUOISE]

great idea!! you re so creative

http://iamturquoise.wordpress.com

[Erin]

This is ADORABLE!

[neha]

PERFECTION! I lovelovelove this!

neha
http://nehamade.blogspot.com/

[Carrie Rosalind]

Oh. My. GOSH! This is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Just completely perfect. You ladies have done it again and now I'm gonna try to copy it!!

[Laura Whitman]

How cool is this?! You guys always have the most creative ideas.

xoxo,
Laura
http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/

[Mila]

love, love and LOVE! this is awesome! Dream will be better...
chceck in my DIYblog www.milavojtowicz.blogspot.com