Headboard Alternatives to Make a Dull Bed Divine

Headboards are a critical part of bedroom design. They are often the first thing you see when you enter the room, and the most dominant. Just as the front door makes an important public statement about who you are, the headboard makes an important personal statement about who you are. Consequently, it's a terrific place for letting your creativity soar and your imagination take wing.

When my husband, Mike, and I moved into a tiny California bungalow, our massive four-poster seemed like the elephant in the (bed)room. It was way too big for the space, so we sold it and are now hunting for something more personal and fun. Perhaps some of the ideas here will inspire you the way they've inspired me.

Doors as headboards are becoming rather common, but these take the concept to a whole new level. If you are lucky enough to come across pieces as wonderful as these, snap them up; they will be a once-in-a-lifetime find. The enticing colors, knobby studs and curvilinear carvings make these an unforgettable statement. I especially appreciate the unexpected minimalistic lamp that completes this design.


I was surprised to see this well-worn fireplace mantel repurposed as a headboard. It's a really great idea that Mike and I are going to have to consider. The look you create will depend on the mantel you find. It could be a huge old oak surround, antique cast iron or a brightly painted contemporary design.

Whatever you decide on, consider choosing nightstands and dressers that make the room totally personal to you. And never buy a matching bedroom set from the furniture store if you want a bedroom that sings your song.


If you like crazy quilts, you will love this. Although you could accomplish a headboard treatment like this with a quilt, these are actually fabric samples that have been collected and inventively mounted to create a colorful, welcoming anchor for this bed. Critical to the success of the design is the unexpected piece of art integrated into the composition. The trio of ruffly throw pillows restates the color story while adding more texture and variety.


When is a headboard not a headboard? When it's a wall between two windows! This is a marvelous solution in a small room, where a more traditional bed can easily prove overwhelming. Wrapping the space in wallpaper makes it feel like a big, warm hug, but you could accomplish a similarly comfy look by using wallpaper just over the bed.

By the way (I am jumping on my soapbox here), wallpaper constantly cycles in and out of fashion. Do not let that dictate whether or not you use it. It is only "out" if you are not a wallpaper person, and it is only "in" if you are.


When you have a room in which the bed needs to "float," what do you do? Consider a room-divider headboard. This ingenious solution does double duty by blocking the closet from view while creating a dressing room ex nihilo. It also makes the headboard a primary style statement in the room.


For the money, nothing equals the impact you get from paint. In this case chocolate suede paint with a red border gives the impression of a substantial and scrumptious headboard, in the thriftiest possible manner. Ralph Lauren's line of suede paints is worth checking out.


If you use a rug as a headboard, your options are nearly endless. Geometric, floral, striped, shaggy, needlepoint, neutral — the sky's the limit.

There are a couple of caveats. Make sure the rug is at least as wide as your mattress; it could even be wide enough to frame your nightstands. But beware of rugs that are narrower than your bed, as they'll end up looking off — the headboard version of high-water pants.

Before buying rugs online, be sure to check the return policy. The rug the UPS guy drops off at the door may differ from what you thought you were getting.


My 10-year-old grandson, who is hovering over my shoulder as I write this, has tasked me with re-creating this headboard for his bedroom. And can you blame him? If your youngster feels the same, and you want to accomplish this really bomb-diggity look on a budget, haunt your local thrift stores and garage sales. But if your budget allows, take a look at Skateboards.com, where you can find a myriad of colorful and fascinating boards from which to choose. If you have skateboards hanging out in your garage, use them. You will add instant history to the room, along with eye-catching style.


A couple of decades ago my husband and I went through a midlife crisis and moved to the country. The only parts of this move that were not an unmitigated disaster were: 1) our chickens, and 2) the willow headboard Mike built for us from branches he took from our woods. I absolutely loved it, and the style he chose defined classic country. What I love about this headboard is the wonderfully contemporary feeling it has. The linear design of the twigs combined with the neutral bedding and leather accents create a simple, clean and strikingly modern aesthetic.


Repurposing driftwood into a headboard is the ultimate demonstration of turning found into fabulous. This application is further enhanced by the addition of shells, and by the irregular way the boards were applied to the wall. This would be perfect for a beach cottage bedroom or a Shabby Chic–style condo.


Think traditional canopied four-poster bed transmogrified into an eclectic, showstopping textural proclamation. The flooring used to accomplish this look travels all the way up the wall and across the ceiling, making a dramatic statement; the quote inserted in the middle is the perfect exclamation point.


Although this is a complete headboard and footboard, I cannot pass it by. It reminds me that old iron and brass beds — especially if they have a headboard only — should not be excluded from this portfolio of ingenious designs.

If you are short on sources for antique iron, try Wesley Allen; it's an American company that offers a wide range of iron and mixed-metal headboards and complete beds, in multiple finishes. I am usually pleasantly surprised by the prices.

DIY idea: See how to make a headboard with salvaged doors

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