Prompted by a reader comment on the post, Five Tips for Your Bedroom Sanctuary, I began thinking about the common dilemma of knowing what to do when you don’t have a matching headboard for your bedroom furniture. You may have had this problem yourself; I know I have . . .
Our original bedroom suite came with a queen size bed and matching headboard. After some time we needed to replace the bed, but not the furniture. We had moved to a home with a larger master bedroom , so we opted for a king size bed. There was no way the old headboard would work. There are probably as many reasons why you can find yourself without a headboard as there are headboard options.
So, here we go:
1. A picket fence panel cut to the width of the bed
2. Drapery or fabric hung from a curtain rod attached to the ceiling
3. Decorative pillows attached by clips to a rod hung at headboard height
4. A large piece of canvas artwork
5. Bookshelves standing behind the bed
6. A painted door panel
7. Plywood covered with quilt batting and fabric
8. A swag hung from a point above the center of the bed and draped to the sides
9. A row of smaller prints or grouping of framed family photos
10. A quilt hung from a curtain rod at almost any height
A few of the sites I found while searching for possibilies are: Casa Sugar, Iron Accents, and Apartment Therapy.
Now it’s your turn . . . please share your tips and ideas here. I can’t wait to hear more options!
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1. Hi Deb – great ideas! I’m in that predicament with my daughters bed right now. For a kids room, how about a bulletin board covered w/pretty fabric, a wall shelf, or a name spelled in large wood letters. Or some sort of vinyl wall art?
I’ve also seen a metal grate used. Very dramatic.
Great subject!
Susan
by Susan — 2/7/09 at 9:10 am #
2. Great Headboard ideas Deb. I’ll add a few I’ve seen that look great: Tall shutters (painted to compliment decor); a decorative fabric screen mounted flat on the wall, a decorative piece of wrought iron that is same width as the bed (hung). joan
by Joan — 2/7/09 at 10:53 am #
3. Hey Susan and Joan,
Thanks for adding your great tips. So often we think that a headboard has to match our furniiture, but there are so many wonderful options that add a little flair and interest to the room.
As always, I love your your ideas and your input.
Deb
by Deb — 2/11/09 at 4:56 pm #
4. My preteen daughter wanted a “tropical” themed bedroom. We used inexpensive reed placemats attached to the wall to form her headboard. A very “tropical” and inexpensive fix for our problem. If she wants to change her room in the next couple of years we can easily remove them and create something else.
by kaz — 3/4/09 at 3:47 pm #
5. Kaz, What a fabulous idea!! Thanks! I’ll bet there are other placemats that would be great to give the look of a headboard. Thanks so much for sharing your tip.
by Deb — 3/5/09 at 3:55 pm #
6. I used a couple of artist’s canvases purchased at the craft store – the go on sale and come in many sizes. Then I found some fabric remnants and just used my staple gun to attach the fabric to the canvas framing.
Instant art/headboard. You could use sheets or some great duvet/covelet from Home Goods to match your room too.
by Sharon — 7/26/09 at 8:37 pm #
7. I found textured, self paste wall paper at a discount store. For my daughters 10th birthday she wanted a “Grown-up” room. I cut up individual squares of the buffy textured wallpaper and gave each square a gold wash I placed them in a checker board pattern behind the bed and wammmO! Dramatic effect at litttle cost and nearly ZERO effort. I purchased a $29.00 queen sized 7 peice comforter set on amazon…..I didn’t think it would be exceptional considering the price, but I was shocked to see the fabric was luxurious and the quality was the same. I dyed some old curtians I had beige and burgandy to match the bed set (burgandy and gold set) it cost me a total for $37.23 to complete her birthday dream. (plus I had a lot of left over money to give her a b-day party) for less then 65.00 she had her cake and ate it too!! She’ll have this memory forever, and be able the use the ideas and comforter set for years to come.
by Moxie — 10/9/09 at 4:02 pm #
8. Fabulous idea, Moxie! I’ll bet your daughter is thrilled with her new room. We can accomplish so much with a little imagination and some elbow grease. Thanks for sharing your success with us!
by Deb — 10/13/09 at 12:15 pm #
9. Thanks Stacy, In a year where so many of us are in pursuit of greater organization these wall units are a perfect suggestion. They are beautiful and add so much storage. Thanks for adding this fabulous tip!!!!
by Deb — 1/26/10 at 12:36 pm #