Tired of staring at a blank wall above your bed? With a little DIY inspiration, you can create a beautiful, budget-friendly headboard that makes a stylish statement. This list has unique headboard projects to match any decor.
1. Paint a Headboard
When both space and money are tight, a headboard is one of those items that stays on your decor wish list. But thanks to the following DIYs, you don’t have to go without this stylish staple. Each one of these small, space-friendly ideas will wake up a tired bedroom with unconventional style without busting your budget.
First up, is a mountainscape-inspired headboard. It was created using interior paint and painter’s tape.
FYI, the latter is the secret ingredient for keeping lines straight.
Tip: You don’t have to buy a big bucket of paint for this project. Instead, pick out an inexpensive 8-ounce interior paint sample. You’ll find them in a broad range of colors under $5.00 each at stores like Home Depot and Lowes.
2. Make a Cushion Headboard
If you like to read before lights out, a cushy headboard, like the no-sew project shown here makes sitting up in bed super comfy. To make you’ll need two items you can find at most big box stores: a seat pad or bench cushion and an inexpensive wall-mounted coat rack.
Tip: Retailers like Target, Overstock and Pier 1 sell cheap seat pads and bench cushions. Look for options with washable covers.
3. Build a Plywood Headboard
All you need for this idea is a plywood board. After it’s mounted on the wall, screw hooks can be added so you can hang a light for nighttime reading. An attractive hanger like the one shown here can be used to display art.
Tip: You will want to make sure that the plywood board has a smooth finish before hanging. To achieve this, you’ll need to sand it until it’s no longer rough to the touch. Afterward, apply clear coat.
With this wide range of headboard projects, you’re sure to find an inspired DIY that fits your style and budget.
4. Pegboard Headboard
A pegboard headboard like the one shown here by Five Mile Factory will spice up a bedroom with pops of color while doubling as useful storage.
To make, you’ll need a wood or steel pegboard, craft paint, and if you want to create a design like the one shown, you’ll also need painters tape. The latter will help you map out your design before painting.
Tip: You can create useful vertical storage or hang art on a headboard like this using pegboard accessories like hook and holders.
5. DIY Headboard for Bibliophiles
This unique headboard idea makes a bookish statement. It was created using a mix of vintage encyclopedias, atlases, and second-hand medical dictionaries. They were all screwed into a plywood board before installing.
FYI: You’ll find more DIY details here. Also, here’s the project that inspired this clever idea.
6. A Headboard That’s Also a Boho Wall Hanging
These days, macrame wall decor, like this one by Macrame Forrest, are the new headboards. They’ve been spotted hanging over beds at swanky hotels like the Ace in Portland, Oregon and Shoreditch, London.
Tip: Wall art like this is inexpensive to make using string, yarn or even rope that you knot on a branch or curtain rod.
7. Tin Ceiling Tile Headboard
While this idea looks expensive and complicated to make, it’s not. It was created using faux tin ceiling tiles. The fake stuff is easy to paint, and it’s also lightweight making them easy to hang with double stick tape.
Tip: Faux tiles like these usually cost around $2.00 each, and you’ll find them at most home improvement stores.
8. Gallery Wall Headboard
Two tone walls create the illusion of a headboard in this small bedroom. A paint roller formed the scraggly line between the two paint colors. The frames and photographs add visual interest by filling the space over the bed.
Tip: You can transform a blank wall into a beautiful inspiration board.
9. Peel and Stick Headboard
You don’t need expert DIY skills to create this lovely rustic headboard. While it looks like reclaimed wood, it’s actually a wall decal. The neat thing about these peel and stick beauties is that they’re both removable and repositionable making them an excellent choice for renters.
Tip: You can find peel and stick decals like this one on Etsy for less than $50.
10. Vintage Door Headboard
If you’re looking for an idea loaded with vintage charm, you can use an old door to create a one-of-a-kind headboard. The trick is you should use an old wood interior door that has plenty of old school character.
Tip: Interior doors found in houses built before 1950 are typically solid wood.
11. Wall Tapestry Headboard
Back in the day when buildings didn’t have much insulation, wood headboards were used to protect sleepy heads from cold drafts. These days, you can use a wall tapestry to warm up a cold bedroom wall.
Tip: You can personalize any wall in your home on the cheap using a canvas drop cloth and permanent markers.
12. Washi Tape Headboard
You can transform a plain bedroom wall using washi tape. This idea uses the stuff to create an eye-popping graphic headboard.
Tip: If you’re not in the know, washi tape is a decorative tape that adhere well but is also easy to remove.
13. DIY Headboard That Uses Cardboard
Would you believe this elegant headboard was created using fabric and cardboard? You’ll find all the DIY deets here.
For your information: Cardboard decor is an inexpensive idea that’s perfect for dorm rooms and urban nomads.
14. Create a Plush Pillow Headboard
This idea creates a spot to rest your head while you’re sitting up in bed. To make this comfy headboard, you’ll need three matching pillows, some lovely ribbon, and a curtain rod. You can check out the tutorial here.
Tip: You can also create a headboard using sheer curtains and fairy lights.
15. Build a Rustic Wood Headboard
This hack gives a contemporary IKEA bed some rustic flair using weathered wood planks. The panels were screwed directly into the bed’s existing headboard.
Tip: Need some more storage space in your small bedroom? Check out these 6 tips and advice to organize your new home after moving in.
16. Mix and Match Wallpaper Headboard
Here’s a stylish headboard anyone can make. It was created using peel and stick wallpaper in different patterns. This project cut the wallpaper into hexagon shapes before applying.
Tip: You can make your own headboard using peel and stick contact paper. It’s available in a broad range of designs, and it’s usually a lot cheaper than wallpaper.
17. Fake a Tufted Headboard
If you have basic sewing skills, you could stitch up this quilted headboard in an afternoon using fabric scraps. For the all the crafty details go here.
Tip: A striking quilt also makes a great headboard. You can hang it over your bed using a wall-mounted curtain rod.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
