DIY Brick Headboard with Lighting

I've been shopping around for a king size headboard for weeks now trying to find just the right style for my bedroom--without paying a thousand dollars! No matter where I shop, thrift stores, bargain marts, retailers, Kane's, or any number of the various furniture stores in my area I cannot seem to find the king size headboard that I really want. So, I decided to make my own! A DIY brick style headboard that is lighted so that the entire bed just sort of glows in the middle of the room! Here's how I did it!

Materials for the DIY Brick Headboard with Lighting:

Bricks (various sizes)
Plywood
2 x 4s
Lathe
Lathe tacks ¼ inch
Nails
Mortar
Sponge
3-5 Light Fixtures (Recessed style cans)
Measuring Tape
Saw
Trowel
Bucket

DIY Brick Headboard Step 1: Begin by measuring the area that you would like to create the headboard in. This would be the width of the bed plus about a foot and the height is totally up to you. I suggest a height of at least three feet above the back of the bed.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 2: Using plywood, create a backing to the headboard for the brick to be adhered to. Cut a two strips of plywood that are one foot wide and the height of the desired headboard height. Another strip of plywood for the top of the unit should also be cut about a foot wide and the width of the bed plus one foot.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 3: Using a 2 x 4, cut 2 boards that are the width of the bed plus one foot. These will be used to create the box of the headboard for the light fixtures to go into later on.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 4: You also need to cut 2 x 4s for the sides of the headboard as well. Two for each side of the bed that are the desired height of the headboard. These will all be used for the frame of the headboard.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 5: Build the frame by nailing the 2 x 4s to each side of the plywood pieces so that they will create an offset plywood frame. The 2 x 4s will be against the wall and the flat plywood will be out in front when the headboard is to be completed. Using nails, nail together the frame and place the top of the headboard frame into place to nail the two sides to.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 6: Cover the entire frame box with lathe so that you can begin laying the brick against the box to create the finished headboard look. Attach the lathe to the wood using ¼ inch lathe tacks every 1-2 feet.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 7: Mix mortar in a bucket using a shovel. This should be relatively thick so that you can use it to create the brick headboard. Place the headboard frame face up on the ground and begin laying brick on the lower end of the frame. The brick should stagger. Use the mortar to adhere the bricks to the lathed wood frame.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 8: Once you have laid one row of bricks on the lower end of the frame you can stand the frame upright to continue laying the bricks. A thin layer of mortar should be placed against the lathe and also on the top of the previous layer of brick so that there are two sides for the new bricks to adhere to.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 9: Continue laying bricks along the entire headboard frame until you have completed the entire frame in brick.

DIY Brick Headboard Step 10: Install lighting into the headboard using standard electrical wiring and light fixtures. I like to use recess cans in the top of the headboard because they are also visually appealing if you happen to look up at the headboard from the bed.