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41 DIY Headboards You Can Make in a Weekend or Less

Teal blue DIY headboard behind bed with white, brown and black pillows

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

If you're looking for DIY headboard ideas to help you put the finishing touch on your bedroom, there are plenty of quick and simple projects that will help you transform your space without breaking your back or your budget. Check out these creative DIY headboard ideas in a range of materials, styles, and skill levels for inspiration.

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    DIY Faux Brass Headboard

    faux brass diy headboard with fluffy pillows
    Sugar and Cloth

    Elevate a plain IKEA headboard into a glitzy showstopper with this golden DIY by Sugar and Cloth. To get cracking, you'll need a roll of peel and stick metallic vinyl.

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    Geometric Wood Headboard

    DIY two-toned Geometric headboard
    I Spy DIY

    Got a miter saw? It's the only power tool you'll need to build this gorgeous geometric wood headboard by I Spy DIY. The assembly is incredibly easy and once all the glue has dried, you've got yourself a stunning headboard to brighten up your room. 

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    Jute Headboard

    boho natural fiber headboard
    Sarah Sherman Samuel

    Virtually any novice DIYer can create this boho-inspired, natural fiber headboard by Sarah Sherman Samuel. To do it, just staple together a couple of sets of matching jute placemats and table runners onto a wall and presto, new headboard.

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    Channel Tufted Headboard

    green channel headboard matching box spring
    Style by Emily Henderson

    Here's an unbelievably easy and super stylish headboard project from Brady at Style by Emily Henderson. To get started all you need is some fabric, wood, and a staple gun. Wood screws, strap tie, batting, and some foam all come together afterward to assemble this stunning project. This tutorial also includes steps for creating a matching box spring cover. You'll be taking your bedroom from boring to absolutely chic. 

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    Cedar Shingle Headboard

    Cedar Shingle DIY headboard
    East Coast Creative Blog

    DIY newcomers will be happy to hear that with a spare $10, you can make this cedar shingle headboard by East Coast Creative in a couple of hours. If you're looking for an inexpensive way to bring the farmhouse style into your bedroom then look no further.

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    Plywood Headboard

    Plywood DIY headboard for minimalists
    Mr. Kate

    Minimalists and fans of Scandinavian decor will love this simple plywood headboard by Mr. Kate for its natural beauty. Don't have basic woodworking skills? No worries. It's a cinch to build using pre-cut lumber. Just look for a hardware store that offers woodcutting with lumber purchases.

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    Faux Headboard

    green painted diy headboard
    Paper & Stitch Blog

    It takes less than an hour to paint a faux headboard just like this one by Paper & Stitch. To create a crisp rectangle, you'll need painter's tape. This is the perfect way to bring a touch of your favorite color into your room.

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    Winged Headboard

    DIY winged nail head classic headboard
    Dorsey Designs

    This no-sew upholstery project by Dorsey Designs uses four yards of fabric, 28 buttons, and around 250 brass nailheads to transform pieces of plywood into a chic, winged upholstered headboard. Cost including the foam stuffing? Around $140.

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    Macrame Headboard

    Macrame DIY headboard on branch
    House Sparrow Nesting

    Hey, dream weaver, if this gorgeous textile headboard by House Sparrow Nesting doesn't inspire you to macrame, nothing will. This is one of the easiest ways to bring textile art into your room.

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    Live Edge Headboard

    Raw Edge wooden Headboard
    Classy Clutter

    Here might be the easiest woodworking project on our list. The live edge headboard by Classy Clutter only took a couple of hours to complete. The best part? Sawing out an organic design as shown is much easier than cutting a perfectly straight line.

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    Pegboard Headboard

    pegboard headboard DIY union jack
    Our Fifth House

    If you think nothing is duller than neutral colors, you can spice up your bedroom with this graphic headboard tutorial by Our Fifth House. To make, just map out your design on a pegboard with painter's tape before painting. Afterward, add a few pegboard organizers for storage.

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    No-Sew Headboard

    Dark blue Upcycled no-sew tufted headboard
    Cre8tive Designs

    Give an old headboard a chic new life with this tufted tutorial by​ Cre8tive Designs. The no-sew project uses a staple gun to do the job.

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    3D Wall Panels

    3D DIY lego inspired teal headboard
    Sweet Parrish Place

    Create a Lego-inspired headboard as shown by Sweet Parrish Place using paintable 3D wall tiles. There are many ways to customize this, whether it's selecting your favorite paint color, choosing to add string lights, or adding other cute accessories once it's hanging on the wall.

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    Bohemian Headboard

    Tile and wood headboard diy
    A Designer at Home

    Leftover tile from a bathroom renovation inspired this lovely boho headboard by A Designer at Home. A walnut stain brings out the plywood's natural beauty.

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    Woven Wood Headboard

    woven wood turquoise headboard
    Little Bit Funky

    This woven wood headboard by Little Bit Funky is ridiculously easy to make. After having the lumber cut to size at her local home improvement store, she wove the piece together and secured with wood glue.

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    DIY Pillow Headboard

    copper pipe and pillow diy headboard
    Sarah Sherman Samuel

    Rest your head while you're sitting up in bed thanks to this copper pipe headboard tutorial by Sarah Sherman Samuel. You'll need floor cushions, copper pipe, leather, needle and thread, an X-Acto knife, hammer and nails, and a tape measure to complete this project.  See Sarah's site for the full tutorial.

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    Rustic Headboard

    Barn door diy headboard
    Lil' Luna

    Master woodworker doesn't need to be a part of your do-it-yourself repertoire to make this farmhouse styled headboard by Lil' Luna. The blogger behind the project (a woodworking novice) was able to knock out the project in eight hours with her father's help. The project requires two power tools: a miter saw and drill. 

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    Woven Headboard

    Oversized woven headboard
    Mad in Crafts

    Don't throw out those vertical blinds. You can use them to make this woven headboard by Mad in Crafts. The ingenious blogger who created the project says retailers sell similar, but smaller versions of this headboard for around $700. However, her statement-making creation cost less than $70. Not bad, eh?

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    Diamond Tufted Headboard

    blue tuffted peg board headboard
    Make, Bake, and Love

    We love any project that reveals little known DIY tips. This diamond tufted headboard tutorial by Make, Bake, and Love includes a few helpful tricks, including how to poke holes in foam using a broom.

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    Chevron Headboard

    Herringbone Wood Headboard DIY
    East Coast Creative Blog

    A headboard identical to this DIY version by East Coast Creative costs $1,600 at a modern furniture store—but if you have basic woodworking skills you can make it for less than $100. ​

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    Cardboard and Fabric Headboard

    DIY Headboard Using Fabric and Cardboard
    Stacie / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

    It may be tough to believe, but it's 100 percent true: This elegant headboard by Flickr user Stacie is fabric wrapped cardboard.

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    DIY Dowel Headboard

    diy dowel headboard

    This DIY dowel headboard from The Merrythought has a timeless feel that is inspired by old spindle beds. The headboard is screwed into the existing bed frame so that it can be removed and changed in the future if desired.

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    Mismatched Doors Headboard

    diy vintage doors headboard

    Fantastic Frank

    Upcycled mismatched vintage doors repurposed as a double headboard for this Scandinavian bedroom from Fantastic Frank have a weathered patina that adds character to a modern room.

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    DIY Slipcovered Headboard

    diy slipcovered headboard

    Most Lovely Things

    Blogger Annie Diamond of Most Lovely Things gave new life to a West Elm headboard by adding a DIY slipcover using a piece of African mud cloth sourced on Etsy, a quick and easy way to change up the decor without building or buying a new piece of furniture.

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    Stained Pallet Headboard

    wood pallet headboard

    Liz Marie Blog

    This DIY headboard made from stained pallet wood boards topped with a piece of recycled molding adds warmth to a modern farmhouse bedroom from Liz Marie Blog.

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    Virtual Painted Headboard

    diy painted headboard

    Hotel Henriette

    If you like the aesthetics of a headboard but don't want to bother building a piece of furniture, an easy, inexpensive and non-committal way to create a headboard-like focal point in your bedroom is to use paint. This space-saving virtual wall painted headboard at the Hotel Henriette in Paris from French interior designer Vanessa Scoffier is nothing more than a wrap-around strip of neon yellow paint rolled on with purposefully jagged edges for a non-chalant, handmade feel.

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    Douglas Fir Headboard

    diy wood frame headboard

    A Piece of Rainbow

    A Piece of Rainbow was inspired to build this minimalist headboard with an integrated wood slat bed frame by pricey retail models that were stylish but overpriced. Made from Douglas fir, the project came together for around $200.

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    Double Doors Headboard

    diy double doors headboard

    Hotel Henriette

    A pair of double doors painted in a bright uniform coat of blue add fresh color and vintage style to this small bedroom from French interior designer Vanessa Scoffier at the Hotel Henriette in Paris. The tall doors make the bed nook feel larger by drawing the eyes upward toward the tall ceilings. You can source vintage doors at architectural salvage yards or online.

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    DIY String Headboard

    diy string headboard

    The Merrythought

    This DIY string headboard from The Merrythought has neutral colors, but you could easily customize it using your favorite colors, or adding rainbow colors for a kids' bedroom.

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    Seat Cushion Headboard

    diy budget headboard

    Demkat / Getty Images

    Make a simple, budget-friendly headboard by hanging tufted seat cushions from a wall-mounted curtain rod. Pair it with double-stacked wood pallets in natural and painted finishes to create a simple, inexpensive bed frame that you can recycle on the curb when you move.

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    Painted Plywood Headboard

    painted plywood headboard

    Hotel Henriette

    French interior designer Vanessa Scoffier designed this playful geometric headboard at the Hotel Henriette in Paris using plywood painted with a deep teal off-center iceberg. The unexpected shape is an instant focal point.

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    Barn Wood Door Headboard

    diy barn door headboard

    Funky Junk Interiors

    This rustic headboard from Funky Junk Interiors was made from a DIY reclaimed barn wood barn door that is decorated with faux hardware for an authentic look.

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    Light-Up Headboard

    diy light-up headboard

    A Beautiful Mess

    This playful DIY light-up guest room headboard from A Beautiful Mess was inspired by marquee signs. They built a tall wood DIY headboard that could hide electrical elements before tracing the word "Sleepover" using a projector, drilling holes for lighting, painting the lettering black, then lighting it up with 300 Christmas lights.

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    Midcentury Modern

    diy midcentury modern headboard

    DIY Candy

    This stylish wood midcentury modern-inspired headboard is an intermediate level DIY project from DIY Candy that was made in tandem with a platform bed frame.

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    Wood Slat Headboard

    diy wood slat headboard

    The Merrythought

    This DIY wood slat headboard from The Merrythought was made from furring strips, resulting in a light and natural Scandi-inspired feel.

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    Simple Painted Headboard

    simple diy painted headboard

    A Beautiful Mess

    This simple rectangular painted headboard from A Beautiful Mess is an easy DIY project that anyone can achieve. This is a great solution for renters on a budget or for those who want a different look without a heavy investment.

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    Picture Frame Moulding

    picture moulding headboard

    The Merrythought

    This DIY picture frame moulding wall feature from The Merrythought is a headboard alternative that fills the wall and structures the sleeping space.

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    Coastal Headboard

    coastal diy headboard

    Thistlewood Farms

    This space-saving DIY kids room headboard from Thistlewood Farms has a coastal color palette and integrated book storage to maximize the only room in the room without a window or a door.

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    Plywood Print Headboard

    diy photo headboard

    The Merrythought

    This DIY headboard from The Merrythought was made with a plywood base and a blown up vacation photo from a trip to the Adirondacks that makes it personal and meaningful.

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    Modern Farmhouse Headboard

    diy modern farmhouse headboard

    My 100 Year Home

    This DIY headboard from My 100 Year Home was made from an old door that was painted with a single coat of milk paint and then lightly sanded to create a "chippy" effect that lends it some modern farmhouse style.

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    Twinkle Light Headboard

    twinkle lights headboard

    KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

    A new wood pallet strung with twinkle lights makes a simple DIY headboard that would delight kids or the young at heart on a budget.