BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Budget Decor Headboard Alternatives

I've seen decorators use some odd things for headboards. Shamefully, I don't even have one right now, but I like the idea of using something unconventional. What's your headboard?

My DD makes furniture from found wood, and I love the bed she made from a shipwrecked sailboat that was cast up on the shore. The headboard is from the side of the boat, it is slanted and has a porthole in it!

oh that is so cool. you should post a picture, I'll bet it's amazing

I don't have one either and liked what they did on a HGTV show, think it was designed to sell or design on a dime. I wish that show had a magazine so I could save the stuff I like. Maybe I should make a suggestion at their site.

Pretty or interesting pieces of wrought iron make a nice "headboard" attached to the wall above the bed. Even an old gate or two gates side-by-side would be neat above a bed. Just make sure they're securely attached to the wall! Sometimes you can luck up and find these things for very little money.

I saw an amazing upholstered "headboard" made from a big square of foam pad. They had attached it to the wall and upholstered it with the same fabric that was used in the valances over the windows. They tufted it with covered buttons and it looked fantastic. I'll bet that it was more comfortable than a stack of pillows when they wanted to read or watch television in bed, too!

I suppose that this style of faux headboard appeals to me because when I was a kid my neighbor had one of those gorgeous antique, half tester beds and one night it fell! I don't know if it broke or wasn't secured properly or what but it made me very cautious about what hangs over my head while I'm sleeping.

Oooh, that sounds scary. I worry about ceiling fans falling. We had a neighbor whose fan fell--just missed their little girl.

msbaby,
I would love to have a headboard like that. Where did you see it? In person, the web, or on TV? I would love to find out how to make this.

I think I have an article up here- how to make a fabric headboard. here it is, how to make a fabric headboard enjoy

Sorry that I haven't answered you sooner, amykitty, but somehow I didn't see your question. I saw the process on one of those HGTV shows and it seemed pretty simple to do. You might search over on their site and find the episode.

The reason I dropped back by here is because I saw another headboard alternative that I liked. Well, it's really a painting technique that might pull the attention away from the fact that you don't have a headboard. I found the picture while looking for a comforter in a particular color. The bed in the pic has an upholstered headboard, but it struck me that the room might even look better without it. What do y'all think?

TREE WALL PAINTING

I love that chocolate brown and aqua color combination

It WOULD be pretty without the headboard. You could just "frame" the tree picture area with moulding and paint the tree high enough to show above any decorative pillows, then, center the bed within the moulding. Very nice.

An economical headboard would be to make use of an old door. Turn it sideways so that it runs the same direction as a head board. Then, either paint it or upholster it. I would probably paint it then upholster sections of it in faux leather. You could attach it to the wall with "L" brackets right at the height of a standard headboard.

Yeah- those old paneled doors look amazing with a faux paint finish and leather covered panels. you can use a teeny brass line of trim around the seam to clean it up. great idea. you could even stack them two tall for the headboard and then one-door tall for the foot board (assuming you found 3 identical doors, or complimentary doors)

Standard Headboard alternative is an [url=http://www.upholsteredheadboard.net/]upholstered headboard[/url]

GOOD website! ____________________

I've seen so many alternatives to headboards. I've seen where people have put a curtain rod above the bed, just high enough for a headboard, and hung a curtain. They can be taken down and washed or changed out. Also, I've seen metal pieces of work, and just paint it the paint it the color to accent your room. Also, I've seen gates, low tables with plants. They were all just beautiful.

I actually posted an article in my home improvement forum called small rooms/big ideas which had to do with headboards in a small space.


I have enclosed the link for The book case head board. this is a great way to make usuable space and creating something functional and fun!


Hope you like it!