A bed pushed against a bare wall always looks a little unfinished.
Add a headboard and the whole bedroom suddenly feels pulled together. It anchors the bed and gives the room height.
You do not need to spend much. Some of the best headboards are plywood, paint and one free afternoon.
These 20 DIY headboard ideas go from cheap wood builds and pool noodle hacks to upholstered panels that look like they came from a furniture store.
1Easy Upholstered Fabric Headboard
An upholstered headboard looks expensive and is so satisfying to make.
Plywood, foam and fabric is all it takes. This headboard foam and fabric kit makes the finish look professional. Linen or boucle suit almost any room.
- Looks expensive
- Soft to lean on
- Any style
Project Card · 3 hours · Easy
Materials Needed
- Plywood cut to bed width plus 4 inches each side
- 2 inch high density foam
- Batting
- Upholstery fabric
- Spray adhesive and staple gun
- Headboard mounting brackets or French cleat
How to Make It
- Cut the plywood to size and sand the edges smooth.
- Glue the foam to the front with spray adhesive in a ventilated room.
- Lay batting and then fabric face down and place the board on top, foam side down.
- Pull the fabric tight and staple it on the back, starting in the middle of each side.
- Fold the corners neatly, staple them and attach the mounting hardware.
My Pick
DIY Headboard Foam and Fabric Kit
Foam and fabric in the right weights for a store quality upholstered look.
2Simple Wood Plank Headboard
Boards, sandpaper, stain and screws. One of the easiest builds here.
Horizontal planks feel modern farmhouse. Vertical planks look taller. This wood plank headboard is a great reference for size and finish.
- Easy build
- Natural wood
- Horizontal or vertical
Project Card · 1 afternoon · Easy
Materials Needed
- 1×6 or 1×8 pine or cedar boards
- 2 or 3 back cleats
- Wood screws and drill
- Sandpaper
- Wood stain or paint
- French cleat for the wall
How to Make It
- Cut boards to the bed width plus 4 to 6 inches on each side.
- Lay them face down and screw cleats across the back to join them.
- Sand everything smooth and wipe off the dust.
- Stain or paint and let it dry.
- Mount the panel into wall studs with a French cleat at the right height.
My Pick
Wood Plank Headboard
A clean plank style to copy for your own build, or buy ready made.
3Headboard with Shelves and Storage
Shelves at the head of the bed replace nightstands. Books, lamp and phone right there.
This headboard with shelves shows the layout to aim for. Keep heavy items on lower shelves and secure the unit to the wall.
- No nightstands
- Extra storage
- Secure it
My Pick
Headboard with Shelves
Built in shelves that replace nightstands right at the bed.
4Boho Macrame Headboard
A big macrame hanging makes a gorgeous boho headboard with no woodworking at all.
This boho macrame headboard is sized for queen and king beds. Pair it with linen bedding and dried grass.
- No tools
- Soft texture
- Boho bedroom
My Pick
Boho Macrame Headboard
A big woven hanging sized for queen and king beds.
5Fun Kids Headboard
A house shape, a castle or a rainbow arch. Kids headboards should be fun.
This kids headboard shows the playful style. If you build one, sand every edge round, use kids safe paint and mount it firmly.
- Playful shapes
- Round edges
- Kids safe paint
My Pick
Kids Headboard
A fun shaped headboard that brings personality to a child’s room.
6Mount It with the Right Hardware
A wobbly headboard is annoying and unsafe. Mounting matters.
These headboard mounting brackets connect it to the bed frame. For heavy headboards, use a French cleat into wall studs.
- No wobble
- Frame or wall
- Safety first
My Pick
Headboard Mounting Brackets
Connects a headboard firmly to most standard bed frames.
7Pallet Wood Headboard
Pallet wood has a warm rustic look against white bedding.
Use pallets stamped HT, which means heat treated, and skip any stamped MB. Sand well and seal before mounting. This pallet wood headboard shows the finished style.
- Rustic
- Almost free
- Use HT pallets
My Pick
Pallet Wood Headboard
Warm rustic texture that looks great with white bedding.
8LED Lights Behind the Headboard
Lights behind the headboard make it look like it is floating. So cozy at night.
Mount the headboard about 2 inches off the wall and run this headboard LED strip along the back edges. Low voltage LED strips stay cool.
- Floating effect
- Dimmable
- Easy upgrade
My Pick
Headboard LED Light Strip
Dimmable warm light for a soft glow behind the bed.
9Pool Noodle Headboard
Pool noodles wrapped in fabric look like a tufted headboard for very little money.
Grab some pool noodles, wrap them in fabric and fix them side by side on a thin plywood board.
- Super cheap
- Soft and padded
- Rental friendly
10Cheap Easy Headboard from 2x4s
Straight cuts, no fancy joints, chunky look. A queen size version costs very little.
Paint it white for modern or stain it for farmhouse.
- Cheapest wood build
- Straight cuts
- Two hours
11Wallpaper as a Headboard
A rectangle of wallpaper behind the bed looks like a headboard with zero building.
Peel and stick wallpaper is renter friendly and comes off cleanly.
- No building
- Renter friendly
- Bold pattern
12Unique Arched Headboard
An arch softens the whole room. It feels more designed than a rectangle.
Sage, terracotta, navy or classic white all look lovely in an arch shape.
- Design forward
- Soft curve
- Any color
Project Card · 1 afternoon · Easy
Materials Needed
- Plywood sheet
- String, pencil and a nail for marking
- Jigsaw
- Sandpaper
- Primer and paint
- French cleat
How to Make It
- Tap a nail at the center bottom of the arch and tie string to it.
- Hold a pencil at the string’s end and draw a smooth half circle.
- Cut the arch with a jigsaw, going slowly on the curve.
- Sand the edge smooth, prime and paint two coats.
- Mount it into the wall studs with a French cleat.
13Headboard for a King Bed
A king headboard needs to be around 80 to 84 inches wide to look right.
Add three cleats across the back so it stays flat, and mount into studs since it is heavy.
- Proper width
- Extra bracing
- Into the studs
14Headboard for a Small Bedroom
In a small room, skip the legs and frame. Mount a slim panel straight to the wall.
Keep it low and in a color close to the wall so the room feels bigger.
- Saves floor space
- Low profile
- Feels bigger
15Headboard in Front of a Window
A bed under a window works well if the headboard stays below the sill.
Hang sheer curtain panels so light glows softly around it. Use cordless blinds or tie up any cords for safety.
- Soft light
- Stay below the sill
- Cordless blinds
My Pick
Sheer Curtain Panels
Soft sheer panels that let light glow around a headboard in front of a window.
16Boho Easy Cheap Headboard
A wooden rod on two hooks with fabric, macrame and dried grass hanging from it.
A wooden dowel rod is all you need to start. Add or swap pieces whenever you want a new look.
- Lowest cost
- Easy to change
- Layered boho
My Pick
Wooden Macrame Dowel Rod
A smooth wooden rod for hanging macrame or fabric as a boho headboard.
17Geometric Wood Strip Headboard
Thin wood strips in a diamond, chevron or sunburst pattern look amazing.
Glue and nail the strips onto a plywood backing, then paint everything one color.
- Striking pattern
- One color finish
- Modern style
18Wooden Storage Headboard
Small cubbies or doors on each side hold books, chargers and reading glasses.
It is the most practical headboard here and keeps nightstands clutter free.
- Most practical
- Hidden storage
- Tidy bedside
19Simple Plywood Headboard for Any Bed
One sheet of plywood, one can of paint, one afternoon. Done.
It looks clean and intentional, especially in a bold or deep color.
- Cheapest option
- One afternoon
- Bold color
20Adjustable Headboard for Any Bed Size
Slotted legs let you raise or lower the headboard to fit different mattresses.
Handy if you change beds or move house. Tighten the bolts well once it is at the right height.
- Fits any bed
- Moves with you
- Easy adjust
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest DIY headboard?
A single sheet of painted plywood or a rectangle of peel and stick wallpaper. Both cost very little and take one afternoon.
How do I attach a headboard without a bed frame?
Mount it straight to the wall with a French cleat screwed into the studs. The bed then simply pushes against it.
How tall should a headboard be?
Most look best 20 to 30 inches above the mattress. Go lower in small rooms and taller with high ceilings.
How wide should a headboard be?
Make it the bed width plus a few inches on each side. A queen headboard is usually 64 to 66 inches wide.
Is a pallet headboard safe?
Use pallets stamped HT, meaning heat treated. Avoid pallets stamped MB, then sand and seal the wood well.
Final Thoughts on DIY Headboard Ideas
A headboard is one of the cheapest ways to make a bedroom feel finished.
Build a simple plywood panel this weekend, wrap one in fabric or hang a macrame piece. Whatever you choose, mount it well and enjoy the new look.
Amir Ali is the founder and site administrator of HomeDecorEdge, a modern home decor and interior design platform. Since starting the site, he has combined his passion for interior design, practical styling, and color coordination with hands-on content strategy and site management. He guides authors, curates high-quality articles, and ensures readers have access to actionable, visually inspiring, and user-focused home decor advice for apartments, small rooms, and family homes.
