10 Ideas for Headboards

Ready to give your bed a fresh new look? Sink into our slide show of headboard designs.


Update your upholstered headboard
Update your upholstered headboard


Headboard quick-change
Update your upholstered headboard with a pretty new fabric.

Have enough fabric to generously cover the front of your headboard and the back side about 5 inches in. Wrap the fabric over the top edge of headboard and secure with a staple in the center, about three inches in from the edge.

On the opposite edge, pull fabric taut and staple to secure. Repeat on remaining two sides, then staple all around the edges, pulling cloth tight. Stop 3 inches from corners.

Fold the fabric at one corner into a neat finish by tucking the excess underneath and smoothing the top down. Secure with three or four staples, keeping the folds flat and even. Repeat for each corner.

This striped headboard fabric is available at Beach House Style.


Frame your bed with custom cubbies
Frame your bed with custom cubbies


Shelves and cubbies headboard

Take a leaf from the Murphy bed book: Frame your bed with custom cubbies, forming in the process a headboard in reverse. This mix of open and closed storage lets you display what you want while stashing the rest. Painting the headboard zone in a neutral color keeps the whole thing from being overwhelming.


The backrest slides up to reveal storage
The backrest slides up to reveal storage


Storage-savvy headboard

This bed's backrest slides up to reveal storage. On the headboard, you push in on a hinged panel to access a similar space.
More creative shelving ideas


Printed on maple plywood
Printed on maple plywood


Customized headboard

Using clip art we found online, we came up with the graphic for this custom headboard, then printed it on maple plywood. Side tables by Serena & Lily.


Made with foam architectural trim
Made with foam architectural trim


Mantle headboard

This mantle headboard was made with foam architectural trim from Fypon. It's an affordable and lightweight alternative to wood.
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Postcards mimic a headboard
Postcards mimic a headboard


Postcard headboard

A collection of postcards mimics a headboard in this modern/country master bedroom.


Made of plywood, plexiglass, and album covers
Made of plywood, plexiglass, and album covers


Teen's headboard

For kids' changing tastes, inexpensive style is the way to go. The album headboard is made of plywood, plexiglass, and vintage album covers found at a recycled books store.

The plexiglass face on the album headboard can easily be removed to change the album art or insert photos or fabric.
More decorating strategies for kids' rooms


Bold, unframed wallpaper works as a headboard
Bold, unframed wallpaper works as a headboard


Wallpaper headboard

Rolls of bold, unframed wallpaper work as a headboard behind this upholstered bed at Reclaim, a home store in Menlo Park, CA.
More DIY decorating ideas


Wrapped in a shimmery woven silk
Wrapped in a shimmery woven silk


Upholstered headboard

Against a deep chocolate accent wall, this upholstered headboard is wrapped in a shimmery woven silk that's soft to the touch. Pale blue bedding contrasts with the room's rich browns.
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Drape a quilt over the head rail
Drape a quilt over the head rail


Celebrate a favorite textile

For the look of a fresh new headboard, simply drape a quilt or other favorite fabric over the head rail of a four-poster bed.

Here, an Anatolian textile brings a pop of color and texture to a custom bed design from Brindisiamo in Sonoma, CA.
More home-decor strategies