10 original headboard ideas that make plain bedrooms more stylish in one simple step
Scrap the standard issue headboard and get creative instead
Most of us will buy a bed based on its size, colour and the design of its headboard, in that order. Far fewer will think to scrap the standard-issue headboard entirely in favour of something totally original. But doing so can transform a plain bedroom in one simple step.
Headboards are a design choice rather than an absolute necessity, and they can be replaced with just about anything you wish. The suggestions that follow range from a proper investment with oodles of drama, to something you could put together over a weekend with a length of fabric and a few ribbons.
Look closely and you'll notice that the best results often come from being creative and resourceful, and doing it all on a shoestring.
A length of fabric
This bedroom has some awkwardly positioned beams that could get in the way of a standard headboard. Hanging a quilt, large throw or a simple length of fabric on your walls is an easy and affordable fix. Pins will hold lightweight fabrics, whilst a curtain pole or discreet brass hooks can handle anything weightier.
Twin arches
Fixing together twin beds sounds like a temporary solution conjured up mid-renovation. But, as shown here in Glebe House, it creates this lovely arched headboard. The floral pattern on the upholstery is the perfect scale – it's worth noting, if you're choosing your own fabric, that small-scale prints can disappear once upholstered.
The folding screen
For all its height and drama, a folding screen is relatively affordable – you can pick up wicker ones for as little as £40, whilst something fabulous and upholstered can go north of £600.
As it's freestanding, you can just prop it up behind your bed frame, and wider designs can fan out on either side. Antique markets and sites are full of them – listed occasionally as a dressing screen, so search accordingly.
The shallow shelf
This one's less about the headboard and more about what's happening above it.
A shallow shelf running the width of the bed turns the wall into a spot for decorative objects. Keep the styling loose and slightly mismatched, as a row of perfectly matched objects can look like a shop display.
A simple picture ledge painted to match the wall would achieve much the same effect.
Pictured: Country Living Wisteria Bed at DFS
Crown canopy
This is the most theatrical option on our list, and it takes a bit of nerve to pull off. The trick is in the proportions – the crown should sit high enough that the fabric drapes rather than pools, and the drop either side of the bed should be roughly equal to avoid something lopsided.
This suits a room with height, so measure your ceiling before you fall in love with the idea.
Architectural salvage
A bedroom full of well-loved antiques and proof that you can really use anything as a headboard. Here, a salvaged wardrobe door is fixed to the wall – surely the most creative on our list.
A folding screen with extra drama
The stepped cobalt frame and shibori-style panels on this folding screen turn the whole thing into something closer to wall art. It's a great option if you want dramatic colour and pattern but can't commit to it on a wall permanently.
A DIY panel
This is a DIY piece using some neat ticking fabric and a heavy frame. Particularly interesting here is that it doesn't span the width of the bed, which you might assume would look out of place, but it works well. Adding something with such height is a great design device for framing and zoning your bed.
Disguising something plain
If you have a plain wooden headboard that needs some personality, drape a throw or wall hanging over its frame.
Make sure the width matches that of your bed, but the length is somewhat unimportant – long pieces can be hemmed or left to pool on the floor behind your bed. This approach also means you can rotate different textiles to suit your mood or the season.
Decorative moulding
This velvet hanging headboard is quite lovely in itself and made even more so with the addition of repurposed decorative moulding, mimicking a proper carved headboard at a fraction of the cost.
Reclamation yards are the best source for pieces with genuine wear, although a new one can be aged with chalk paint if you can't find the real thing.
Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed
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