Introduction: Stop Your Headboard From Banging Against the Wall

By www.brett-martin.com
About: I like to take things apart, sometimes they go back together sometimes they end up as something entirely different then where they started.

Many of us have headboards attached or floating behind our beds. The construction of the bed, attachment method of the headboard, and the trim molding thickness can all contribute to a headboard that "bangs" against the wall during all kinds of "activities". This is not only annoying for anyone who might also be in same building but can be distracting to those in the bed as well as damaging to the wall itself.

The problem with my bed and headboard was twofold. The bed and headboard were both freestanding pieces. Also, the lower trim molding on the wall meant that the headboard could never be flush with the wall.

I believe I have come up with solutions to both of these problems. Let me show you how I did that.

Step 1: Materials / Tools Needed

Here are a few things you will need to complete this project

Tools
  • Electric Drill
  • Assorted drill bits depending our your hardware
  • Hammer
  • Two wrenches or pair of pliers
  • Clamps

Materials
  • 4x 3/8" bolts
  • 8x 3/8" washers
  • 4x 3/8" nuts
  • 4x Felt threaded feet
Incase you're wondering I have the following Ikea bed

OPPDAL Bed - Article Number: 198.894.56
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29889578/#/S19889456


OPPDAL Headboard - Article Number: 302.041.66
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30204166/

Step 2: Attach the Headboard to the Bed

The first thing I wanted to do was to attach the bed to the headboard so that they were one solid unit. Because of the design of my Ikea bed and headboard they had plenty of surface area to attach to each other.

I used 4 3/8" bolts evenly spaced along the head board to hold the pieces together.

Clamp the headboard to the bed frame so it does not move. Drill holes the exact size as your bolts. Use large washers on either side of the bolt to prevent the bolt from damaging the wood and better dispersing the bolts holding power.

You may need an assistant for this step as it was difficult to be on both sides of my headboard at the same time. 

Step 3: Add Adjustable Wall Supports

With the bottom of the headboard now securely fastened to the bed this should eliminate much of the sliding and moving the headboard may do.

The next problem to solve is the top of the headboard tilting into the wall.

After looking in-depth at this problem I saw that it was basically impossible to put a bed against the wall and not have it bang. The culprit is the very common trim molding thats attached to the lower part of the wall.

Even a solidly constructed bed, when pushed against a wall with molding, will only touch the molding with the bottom portion of the bed leaving the rest of the bed and headboard hovering just centimeters away from the wall.

This creates a pivot point so even the slightest longitudinal movement on the bed can move the headboard enough to make it contact the wall.

To solve this problem I decided to add an upper support to the headboard that would contact the wall in a non damaging way. By adding two points of contact, one on the top of the headboard, and one on the bottom, I can negate the pivoting action of the headboard.

The solution was to use threaded feet with felt bottoms on the top-rear of the headboard. These are common on furniture that may be wobbly. By placing them on the rear top of the headboard I am extending the depth to reach the wall. They come in packs of 4 and are very inexpensive. 

Mine came with four threaded plastic inserts. Brass inserts are also available at hardware stores if you are looking for something more heavy duty. 

The installation is fairly simple. Find the highest point on the back side of your headboard. Make sure to leave space so the top of the felt pad will still be hidden. Drill a hole the required size for the plastic insert. Use a hammer to drive the insert flush with the headboard. 

Then simply thread in a felt covered foot into each insert. Push the bed against the wall and adjust the feet until they firmly touch the wall. 

Step 4: Test the Results

Now for the fun part. After all of the drilling, screwing, and hammering you just did to fix your bed find a friend to help you take it for a test drive. The bed should stay firmly planted against the wall with little movement and no more banging, the wall that is. 

If you have hardwood floors you may find that your bed now slides away from the wall completely. If this is the case add non slip rubber pads between the bed and the floor should keep everything in place.

After a year of use both my bed and wall seem to be in perfect shape.