32 DIY Headboard Ideas for a Low-Cost Bedroom Refresh

Give bedrooms a quick update with one of these easy-to-do headboard projects.

bedroom navy blue headboard
Photo: CARSON DOWNING

These budget-friendly DIY headboard ideas will show you how to make a statement piece from inexpensive items like wood shims, old shutters, and upholstered panels, turning your ordinary bed into a fabulous focal point. Try one of these creative headboard projects to give your bedroom a low-cost update.

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DIY Headboard with Wood Trim

diy bed trim headboard
Adam Albright

When used creatively, inexpensive materials can become a custom DIY headboard that looks way pricier than it is. This beautiful wood headboard, for example, was crafted using door and window trim that cost just $90 at a home center.

To make:

  1. Using a miter saw, cut the ends of the casing pieces at a 45-degree angle.
  2. On a piece of plywood cut to the width of your bed, arrange the white-painted and unfinished casing to create an alternating pattern.
  3. Secure the pieces with wood glue and add flat trim around the top and sides to form a frame.
  4. Attach the headboard to the wall behind the bed by screwing it into at least one wall stud.
02 of 32

Tapestry Headboard

bedroom décor with colorful headboard
Jacob Fox

Drape a colorful tapestry behind your bed to create an eye-catching statement. You can use a simple curtain rod to mount the tapestry, or for a more eclectic look, fashion your own rod using birch logs to create this easy DIY headboard idea. To avoid damaging the fabric, insert the rod through the pocket at the back. If your tapestry lacks a pocket, use curtain clips or self-adhesive hook-and-loop tape ($7, The Home Depot) to secure the fabric.

03 of 32

Pretty Embroidered Headboard

bedroom navy blue headboard
CARSON DOWNING

Rows of cotton sash cord update a plain, painted plywood board. The look is similar to embroidery or cross-stitch, yet it isn't overly complicated. We love this DIY headboard for a modern bedroom where sharp lines and clean design are at the forefront. Plus, it's inexpensive since it's made from a large piece of wood. Get the look by drilling holes in the plywood, then weaving cord through. To hang the headboard, attach D-rings to the frame and mount on screws.

04 of 32

Simple Cutout Headboard

DIY headboard circular cutouts
CARSON DOWNING

Budget-friendly DIY headboards don't have to be complicated. Circular cutouts keep this DIY wood headboard simple yet striking.

To make:

  1. Start with a 62x36-inch piece of plywood. Lay out circular shapes to create your design.
  2. Drill a pilot hole at each marked point and saw through the hole with the desired hole saw blade. Sand the edges of each hole.
  3. Cut 1-inch x 3-inch x 8-foot boards to fit the perimeter of the headboard. Attach boards on the underside of the headboard, creating a frame. (This step isn't necessary, but it does add a nice dimension to the headboard.)
  4. Finish by sanding the entire headboard, staining or painting it the desired shade, and hanging it on the wall.
05 of 32

DIY Tufted Headboard

DIY Tufted Headboard
CARSON DOWNING

This tufted headboard packs a lot of impact into a small space. The secret is to pick a bold—and budget-friendly!—fabric. This brush-stroke design acts as a piece of art just above the bed. It's perfect for a textured wall that doesn't lend itself to hanging artwork. Fabric-covered buttons complete the tufted look.

06 of 32

Wood Block Headboard

DIY Wood Block Headboard
CARSON DOWNING

One-inch-thick slices of 4x4-inch wood posts come together to form a gorgeous rustic headboard for your bedroom. These puzzle-like pieces create interesting patterns that showcase the natural wood grain of your posts. Its pieced-together design makes it a perfect fit for an eclectic bedroom.

Make this eye-catching DIY wood headboard with simple materials like cedar posts, stain, and MDF. Our how-to project shows you how to make a queen-size headboard, but this project can be adjusted to fit any mattress size.

07 of 32

DIY Rope Headboard

bedroom hanging rope rustic headboard
Nicolas Gourguechon

Repurpose curtain rods and rope for a rustic DIY headboard.

To make:

Match the length of the rods to your mattress size. Attach the rods to the wall at your desired heights. Knot the rope to the bottom rod, then drape the rope over the top rod and wrap under the lower rod. Repeat to achieve your desired look, and knot the end of the rope to the bottom rod. A few dots of hot glue between the rope and rod will hold the arrangement steady.

This treatment is inappropriate for kids' beds or other rooms where children may sleep.

08 of 32

DIY Caned Headboard

bedroom with striped bed spread and caned headboard
Blaine Moats

Cane furniture, a design trend that dates to ancient Egypt, remains just as popular in the 21st-century. Three panels of poplar boards and binder cane team up as a headboard for this full-size bed. When you weave your own panels, you have total artistic control over the pattern and size. For instant gratification, shop for pre-woven caning material. To complete the look, add a floating shelf above the headboard and outfit it with plants.

09 of 32

Tiled Headboard

bedroom blue accents painted bed white tile inlay chandelier
Jason Donnelly

Affordable penny tiles easily fit into curvy shapes like this vintage headboard and footboard.

To make:

  1. Clean, prime, and paint your furniture piece the desired hue. Let dry.
  2. Working on a level surface, arrange the tile sheets on your project. We created a paper template for the top of the headboard and footboard and cut the tile sheets to fit.
  3. Adjust the tile sheets on the furniture, using spacers as needed, and number the order with painters tape. Set tile aside.
  4. Protect painted portions with painters tape. Spread a thin layer of tile adhesive using a trowel on the furniture. Repeat with remaining sheets and let dry.
  5. Use a tile float to apply grout the same color as the penny tiles—it really helps camouflage imperfections.
  6. Finish your DIY headboard by removing grout residue with water and a tiling sponge.
10 of 32

Salvaged Headboard

white bedroom with antique headboard
Paul Dyer

When you get creative, anything can be a DIY headboard. A pair of salvaged doors is the perfect alternative to an ordinary headboard, especially with farmhouse-style decor. To get this look, find doors that measure about the width of your mattress. Preserve the finish and prevent paint chips or wood slivers by sealing the surface with a clear sealer. Prop the doors against the wall and position the bed directly in front of them.

11 of 32

Easy Headboard for Less

You'll be surprised by which home store staple is the foundation for this stylish headboard. Your guests will be impressed, too, when you tell them you made this one-of-a-kind piece all by yourself! Watch and find out what we did, plus see how easy it is to create a DIY headboard for your bedroom.

12 of 32

DIY Wood Headboard

DIY Wood Headboard
Jay Wilde

Wood shims aren't just for builders. This inexpensive material is perfect for creating a one-of-a-kind headboard. We love the natural finish here, but you can also personalize it with a fresh coat of paint. The grid design here is unique but simple to create. Alternatively, feel free to play with the board layout to create your own custom design.

13 of 32

Salvaged Modern Headboard

bedroom rustic reclaimed wood headboard
Adam Albright

Repurpose barn boards into a new headboard with a modern twist. Cut a piece of plywood to your desired size (ours fits a queen bed). Gently clean the boards with a damp cloth, but don't scrub or sand away the weathered character. Cut boards as needed and nail them to cover the plywood.

We diluted 1/3 cup white paint with 1/2 cup water and brushed on the mixture for the whitewashed finish. When dry, we taped off boards and created color blocks using a blue spruce hue. The soothing shade works perfectly in a bedroom, and the color blocks add a modern touch to the piece. Screw the headboard into studs in your wall, or hang with wood cleats.

14 of 32

Clever Headboard Solutions

diy paneled headboard stenciled placemats
Cameron Sadeghpour

If you're not finding a headboard you love in the stores, look somewhere you usually wouldn't consider. Paneled doors rescued from a salvage shop can be repurposed into low-cost DIY headboards. Another vintage find—a plastic place mat—was used for this stenciled design. This eclectic piece looks gorgeous as a headboard and certainly brings a unique touch to the space.

15 of 32

Carpeted Headboard

blue bedroom carpeted headboard
Adam Albright

Look to carpet for more than just flooring purposes. You can also use it to fabricate a headboard.

To make:

  1. Cut a pattern from kraft paper in your desired size and shape. Trace the pattern onto plywood, and cut using a jigsaw.
  2. Sand, prime, and paint the edges of the plywood using semigloss latex paint, and let dry.
  3. Place carpet tiles on the plywood, allowing them to overhang all sides of the plywood. Use adhesive caulk to secure the carpet tiles one at a time to the plywood, and let dry. Use a sharp utility knife to cut the carpet tiles to the shape of the plywood.
  4. Use a rubber mallet to nail in large nailheads 1 inch from the edge and around the sides and top.
  5. Hang the headboard at the desired height using a cleat.

Editor's Tip

Place a second piece of clean, dry plywood or another heavy object on top of the carpet tiles to weigh them down as the adhesive dries. To care for the headboard, clean with a vacuum attachment to remove dust.

16 of 32

Hand-Drawn Headboard Design

diy painted frames headboard
GREG SCHIEDEMANN

You can make a DIY headboard with crafts store supplies that nods to a classic wrought-iron bed frame silhouette.

To make:

  1. Assemble two 36x48-inch frames from canvas stretchers. Positioned side-by-side, the frames will fit nicely behind a full-size bed. Paint frames and let dry.
  2. Cut two pieces of off-white linen, leaving enough material on all sides to pull it tautly across the backs of the frames and stapled.
  3. Sketch half of the headboard design on each piece of linen with a pencil, and draw over the outline with a black king-size permanent marker.
  4. Lay the linen facedown on the backs of the corresponding frames. Use a staple gun to secure linen to frames. Staple the center top first; stretch the linen and staple at the bottom. Repeat for the sides. Continue stretching and stapling until linen is secure.
  5. Mount the framed canvas headboard on the wall with sawtooth hangers—using two per frame—and secure with removable adhesive strips.
17 of 32

Architectural Salvage Headboard

cottage bedroom diy shutter headboard
Jean Allsopp

Turn old architectural elements into a stunning DIY headboard. In this cottage bedroom, pairs of shutters topped with decorative moldings do the trick. This is a great way to incorporate beloved fixtures from childhood homes or room makeovers into your bedroom. You can also give them new life with a fresh coat of paint. However, shutters, paneling, and other elements can be pretty heavy, so install your finds securely to the wall.

18 of 32

Wallpaper Statement Headboard

diy floral pink wallpaper headboard
Marty Baldwin

Create the look of a floor-to-ceiling headboard with wallpaper. Install wallpaper on the wall only behind your bed to give the illusion of a grander headboard. This DIY look turns your entire wall into an art piece, so you don't need to worry about the expense of dressing up the walls. However, before you attach the wallpaper, make sure your bed is positioned where you're happy. Moving this DIY headboard is a little tricky once it's set.

19 of 32

Framed DIY Headboard

photo headboard
Robert Brinson

Inexpensive picture frames can be found at garage sales or thrift shops and made into a magnificent DIY headboard. Choose artwork in black and white for a cohesive look before hanging the frames side-by-side.

For an upholstered look:

  1. Remove the glass from the frame and cut quilt batting the same size as the frame back.
  2. Cut fabric to size, adding 2 inches on each side.
  3. Lay the fabric face down, center the batting on the fabric, and add the frame back.
  4. Wrap the fabric and secure it to the frame back with duct tape. Insert into the frame.
20 of 32

Plank Headboard Wall

DIY barnwood planks headboard
James Carriere

Go beyond the basic headboard and make the entire wall behind your bed a headboard. Distressed barnwood planks run the length of the wall behind this bed.

To create a DIY wood accent wall, measure your wall to determine what length of planks you'll need and how many it will take to cover the wall from top to bottom. Starting at the ceiling, secure the planks using nails at several points along the board, ensuring some nails are driven into studs. Continue down the wall, butting the top of the next board against the bottom of the previous board. You might need to cut a board horizontally when you reach the bottom. Including an upholstered headboard with the bed will add comfort to the wall.

21 of 32

Vintage-Look Headboard

DIY vintage feed sack headboard
Michael Partenio

Add a vintage country look to your bedroom with a feed sack-covered headboard. A large feed sack provides enough fabric to cover a twin-size headboard. Staple two layers of batting over the front side of a piece of plywood, then staple the feed sack on top of the batting. Pull the fabric taut as you add staples to the center of each side and then as you work your way to the corners. For a stunning finish, nail a piece of architectural salvage to the top of the upholstered headboard.

22 of 32

Tin Tile Headboard

DIY white tin tile headboard
Kathryn Gamble Lozier

Try tin ceiling tiles for vintage-style DIY headboard materials.

To make:

  1. Cut a pattern from kraft paper in your desired size and shape. Trace the pattern onto plywood and cut using a jigsaw.
  2. Place tin tiles on the plywood, allowing tiles to overhang. Use adhesive caulk to secure tiles one at a time to the plywood.
  3. Use tin snips to cut the tiles to the shape of the plywood. Grind down any rough edges.
  4. Paint the tin and sides, and let dry. Hang at your desired height using a cleat.
23 of 32

Industrial-Style DIY Headboard

Metal headboard eclectic style bedroom
Jay Wilde

Unlikely materials are often the ticket to eye-catching headboards. Here, corrugated metal roofing was fabricated into a headboard by cutting out the shape with a jigsaw. The edges were smoothed with a grinder before the piece was screwed to the wall. The headboard falls right in line with on-trend farmhouse-style decor. This DIY headboard will look great against a wood accent wall.

24 of 32

Home Center DIY Headboard

DIY headboard medium-density fiberboard
Adam Albright

You can create a DIY headboard out of basics from your local home center.

To make:

  1. On a piece of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), draw a design that's as wide as the mattress and about 40 inches tall; cut it out.
  2. Use wood glue to cover the MDF with a piece of beaded-board cut into the same shape.
  3. Glue strips of veneer over the rough edges.
  4. Glue or screw trim to the top edge and a finial in the cutout.
  5. Paint the entire piece. When dry, mount the headboard to the wall with 1 1/2-inch spacers.
25 of 32

Fabric Square DIY Headboard

DIY oversize upholstered headboard
Cameron Sadeghpour

Use small plywood squares for an easy, large, upholstered headboard project.

To make:

  1. Cut the plywood into enough squares to fit your space. Ours are 18-inch squares.
  2. Wrap the front of each square in quilt batting, stapling it to the back.
  3. Cut a square of fabric at least 2 inches wider (on each side) than the plywood square. Stretch the fabric over the batting and staple it to the back of the plywood. Trim away excess fabric—especially at the corners—to make hanging easier.
  4. To hang, place a sawtooth picture hanger on the back of each panel and arrange them on the wall above your bed.
26 of 32

No Tools Required Headboard

DIY fabric panel headboard
Jay Wilde

This no-sew, no-tools-required update is an easy and affordable way to revive a metal headboard. Simply drape a length of fabric—whether it's yardage, a woven floorcloth, or a blanket—over an existing headboard. Clip both sides of the fabric together with curtain rings, and loop ribbon through the rings and around the bed frame, securing with a bow. Use several curtain rings on both sides of the headboard.

27 of 32

Storage Headboard

built-in dresser drawer headboard
Adam Albright

Create a one-of-a-kind headboard with built-in storage using old dresser drawers. Search salvage shops and secondhand stores for cast-off drawers and old dressers. Plan your layout on the floor, using fillers such as storage cubes and leaving spaces where the wall can show through.

Once you've perfected your design, screw the pieces together. We also cut plywood doors to fit a few openings and secured them with hinges. To embellish your headboard, give it a few coats of paint and wallpaper the drawer backs and doors. Hang the headboard on the wall using a few 1x4-inch cleats.

28 of 32

Framed Fabric Headboard

DIY Framed Fabric Headboard
Jay Wilde

Spice up a bedroom by creating a framed DIY headboard from a graphic print. Stretch fabric over heavy cardboard or foam-core board and secure on the back. Insert the panels into two inexpensive poster frames spray-painted a coordinating color. This modern pattern lends itself nicely to the clean white walls and bedding. The simple decor on the nightstand continues the accented red throughout the room.

29 of 32

Wallpapered Headboard

DIY picture frame wallpaper headboard
Adam Albright

Looking for simple, inexpensive headboards? Scout out a large picture frame from a flea market or secondhand shop and repurpose it as a headboard. Paint the frame to match your decor. Cut a wallpaper piece to fit inside the frame. Apply the paper to the frame backing following the manufacturer's instructions. Although this custom-made design features a queen headboard, it can be adapted for any bedframe size.

30 of 32

DIY Upholstered Headboard

DIY Gold White Upholstered Headboard
Greg Scheidemann

With some sewing skills, this high-end designer look-alike headboard can be created in a weekend. The shapely top is a nod to traditional furniture styles, while the fun, bright fabric gives it a contemporary feel. Details such as a nailhead trim make all the difference in projects like this. Check out our step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful upholstered headboard.

31 of 32

Shutter DIY Headboard

upholstered headboard damask pattern
John Bessler

A headboard doesn't have to reach the ground. You can easily craft a DIY headboard from objects you already have and hang them at mattress height to look like a traditional headboard. Here, we turned home center shutters into a one-of-a-kind headboard. We painted the shutters to match the room's color scheme and chose a coordinating fabric for a beautifully upcycled design.

32 of 32

Door-Turned-Headboard

Painted blue doors bedroom headboards
Laura Moss

A solid pine door makes a bold statement headboard. Set vertically, most doors are wide enough to fit a twin bed but hung horizontally, doors can stretch across a queen or king headboard.

To make:

  1. Cut 15 inches off the bottom of the door. Paint the door and let dry.
  2. Mount the door to the wall about 4 inches above the floor using two brackets. Reinforce with one bracket on top.
  3. To hide the top bracket, use finishing nails to attach a piece of molding to its top edge, 1 inch above the door.
  4. Fill holes with wood filler. Sand and paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many yards of fabric do you need for a king-size headboard?

    The amount of fabric you need for a king-size headboard will depend on what type of fabric you use. If you use a solid fabric, you’ll need less fabric than if you use a patterned fabric with a repeat. According to Thibaut fabrics, for a headboard you’ll need: 8 yards of plain 54" fabric; 9 yards for repeat of 2–14"; 10 yards for repeat of 15–27"; 11 yards for repeat of 28–36".

  • Can you make an oversized headboard?

    You can make a headboard as large as you want. Bigger rooms will be able to handle larger headboards. A headboard can go as high as the ceiling or as wide as both ends of the room.

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  1. Headboards Guide. Thibaut Fabrics

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