The Top 57 DIY Headboard Ideas

For a stylish, put-together bedroom design, you can’t ignore your headboard. It’s also no secret that buying new furniture, especially a bed frame, can be incredibly expensive.

So for a one-of-a-kind headboard that won’t cost a small fortune, DIY-ing is the way to go.

You don’t need a full-size workshop and years of experience under your belt to build a headboard from scratch. In fact, creating a DIY headboard is probably one of the easiest ways to breathe new life into an outdated bedroom.

Keep reading for the best DIY headboard ideas you can recreate over a weekend — whether you consider yourself a “handyman” or not.

1. Boho

Bohemian decor, especially bedroom furniture, is all about natural materials and their respective colors and textures. When searching for boho DIY headboard ideas and inspiration, turn to materials like wicker, macrame, bamboo, reclaimed wood, and woven fabric.

Ignore traditional headboard designs in favor of simple, stripped-down versions. Round or arched headboards are particularly popular in contemporary boho decor.

You can create a stunning DIY headboard with nothing more than a plywood sheet or an ornamental room screen. Try hanging items — e.g., wreaths, macrame, or wicker decor — from the wall above your bed or the headboard itself. Hanging wall art can mimic the look of a real headboard without having anything to do with the actual bed frame.

 

2. Door

One surprisingly popular way to create a DIY headboard is with repurposed doors. This project works particularly well paired with farmhouse or rustic bedroom decor. You can use almost any style of door to create a DIY headboard.

Most DIYers choose to lay a single door on its side. But you can also stand several doors upright for a more dramatic result.

Decide if you want your finished headboard to look more like a recycled door or a traditional bed frame — both options have merit. If it’s the former, you can even keep the door’s original hardware intact as accent decor.

 

3. Fabric

Fabric headboards aren’t just comfortable. They’re also quite easy to DIY. Use upholstery fabric and a staple gun (or nails) to give an old wood headboard new life.

If you have an existing upholstered headboard that no longer fits your bedroom aesthetic, all you need to do is layer new fabric on top. Use thick, dark fabric for the new upholstery. Otherwise, you will likely need to add an extra layer to hide the original color.

It’s a bit harder to DIY a tufted headboard but not impossible. Take stock of the skills and tools at your disposal before jumping into this more advanced DIY upholstered headboard project. In lieu of a tufted headboard design, you can add texture with velvet, suede, or corduroy.

 

4. Modern

Modern bedroom design is vast and includes many different styles of headboards. While most straightforward headboards will fit right in with modern decor, there are some strategies you can use to guarantee your DIY headboard project is undeniably modern.

Floor-to-ceiling panels make great modern headboards. Go with wood grain or upholstered headboard panels in neutral colors. Geometric shapes are a core tenet of modern design. Find ways to incorporate angular lines into your DIY headboard without cluttering up the design.

Built-in bedroom lighting can be used to create or emphasize the clean lines in your headboard design. Incorporate your headboard materials throughout the rest of the bedroom or extend the headboard itself to cover the wall past your mattress’s edge.

 

5. Rustic

You can accomplish a lot with basic woodworking skills, including designing a DIY headboard for your rustic bedroom makeover. While you can use new lumber for this project, repurposing a wood pallet, old shutters, or plywood will provide the most texture.

When it comes to recycling wood, select boards with color variety. Be sure to choose wood with plenty of visible grain. If you don’t want to leave the surface weathered and rough, apply a finish that emphasizes the wood grain.

Experiment with different layouts for your rustic wooden headboard. You can arrange the wood horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or use shorter pieces for a patchwork appearance. For a rustic headboard that will really stand out, leave the ends different lengths.

 

6. Unique

There’s nothing wrong with interior design that’s basic and subdued. But creating a bedroom design that’s truly one-of-a-kind is incredibly rewarding. From shape to color to material, there are tons of potential ways to make a unique headboard of your own.

Look for upholstery fabric with bold and vibrant prints. Try using fabric with lots of texture, such as velvet or leather. Headboards don’t need to be round or square — unique silhouettes and cut-outs can completely transform an otherwise simple headboard idea.

Hang curtains and a valance over your bed in lieu of an actual headboard. This will also make it look like your bedroom has an extra window. No one will know it’s just a blank wall.

 

7. Wood

By building your own wood headboard, you gain full control over the shape, size, and design of the finished product. You can create gorgeous headboards out of basic lumber. However, don’t underestimate the power of more unique materials like live-edge or reclaimed wood.

Think outside the box when drafting your DIY wood headboard. Reaching it all the way to the ceiling can make the room feel taller. Extending your headboard past each side of your bed can also open up all sorts of design opportunities.

If you have a knack for innovation, try incorporating some functional elements into your design. Bedside storage and overhead light fixtures are great DIY headboard ideas to start with.