Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
When it comes to designing a bedroom, our beds or headboards are often the stars of the show. They’re typically centered in the space and thus, naturally, draw the eye upon first walking in (plus, let’s be honest, all you want to do once arriving in your bedroom is dive straight into their cloud-like comfort). However, the design spotlight is a hot place to be, and choosing such a prominent piece can often put a lot of pressure on your furniture selection. From tufted upholstery fit for royalty to sleek powder-coated steel befitting of a city loft, there are seemingly endless design directions you could take your headboard quest in. And sometimes—spoiler alert—you don't find anything that feels quite right.
Instead of abandoning all hope, consider crafting up your own personalized option that marries your decor style with your desire for cozy comfort. The best part? It's actually easier than you think to make a bold handmade statement with your headboard. Below, we're rounding up 10 stylish examples of DIY headboards (or ideas that are easily adapted for weekend warriors) to help get your creative juices flowing.
When it comes to achieving the classic and timeless look of an upholstered headboard, we have good news: The DIY could not be easier. To mimic the look of a cushy headboard—like the designer inspiration seen here from Heidi Caillier—head to your local craft store for some upholstery foam, snag your favorite fabric and follow our easy step-by-step instructions for a piece you can totally make in a single afternoon.
Looking to upgrade the appearance of your bed but not into the idea of buying new? Take a page out of designer Phillip Smith's book and cover your existing piece with a favorite throw. In his Hudson Valley retreat, the designer turned to a Les Indiennes blanket to add some funk to his bedroom, but you could pick any favorite quilt or vintage fabric scrap to master the same effect.
From a design perspective, part of why headboards are important can be attributed to the visual weight they lend to a space. If your vibe is more minimal but you find your room lacking a bit of oomph, add some dimension with molding behind the bed in lieu of a traditional headboard. In this serene space, designed by Shapeless Studio, decorative trim work adds visual interest (and a Parisian appeal) to the simplistic and tranquil room.
Instead of decking out this primary bedroom with a traditional headboard, designer Cameron Schwabenton turned to vintage panels to add a touch of glam sophistication to the space. Mimic the look with a flea market find of your own, or shop retailers like The Inside for tri-fold screens you can prop behind your own bed.
Two raw wood planks are all it took to transform this minimalistic bedroom into an eye-catching rustic retreat. Designers Niya Bascom and Anishka Clarke of Ishka Designs sourced these two planks from a lumberyard nearby the Jamaican retreat, but plenty of specialty wood vendors offer similar pieces. Just be sure to anchor them to your wall well, lest you wake up to an unpleasant (and painful) surprise.
If your heart is saying forgo the headboard completely, we say go for it—but we also say make sure to have some really comfortable pillows on hand to lend similar support. In this retreat designed by Pamela Shamshiri, oversized lumbar pillows act basically as upholstery, offering a comfy place to lean when reading or working from bed.
There's a foolproof solution to balancing out the cloud-like softness that comes from textiles upon textiles in your bedroom, and it's adding a masculine touch, like leather. Lucky for DIY-ers everywhere, the material (especially in its faux iteration) is surprisingly forgiving and easy to work with, making it the ideal accompaniment to any handmade headboard projects you have on your radar. Though the hanging leather headboard in this space from Chango & Co. is a purchased piece (from Casamidy), you could just as easily make your own interpretation with a bit of creativity.
To mimic the same room anchoring effect of a headboard—but with a bit more personality—consider hanging an oversized piece of artwork directly above the sightline of your pillows, like in this space designed by Sabrina Albanese. Not only will it add a dose of drama to your space, but it's a great way to pull focus away from other more undesirable parts of your space (ahem, like your laundry chair in the corner. We all have one).
Reinvigorate the look of your existing headboard by sewing up a simple slipcover to pull over the top. The end result will be a relaxed and approachable design (like this moody bedroom by designer David Frazier) that can flex with your tastes throughout the years. Not particularly nimble with a needle and thread? A local seamstress or pro on Etsy can make quick work of the makeover project for you.
Ready to get really creative? We have good news: Practically anything can be transformed into a functional headboard with the right amount of imagination (and a little bit of elbow grease). Case in point: This artsy scene in the bedroom of Angie Lane. The designer thought outside of the box when considering her headboard, altering a custom door from a previous project into a bed backdrop that doubles as legit art.