Are there any alternatives to having a headboard?

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A headboard is the focal point of most bedrooms, but what if your bed doesn’t come with one? Do you go down the traditional route and buy a luxury headboard from a retailer or make one yourself? 

DIY headboards give you the creative freedom to come up with something completely original that suits your room’s decor. They’re also cost-effective, which is good news for anyone trying to save money.  

Find inspiration with these DIY headboard ideas to try at home. 

1. Wall hanging

Fabric wall hangings are a great alternative to a traditional headboard. You could buy one off-the-shelf or create your own. Choose from different materials, colours, and patterns to suit your room’s decor. 

For an equally striking but unusual headboard, consider a macrame hanging.

Macrame is a type of textile that is made using different knotting techniques. If you’re into crafts, this is a fun skill to learn, and you can put the results to good use above your bed. 

The bottom line – fabric wall hangings are easy to hang and cost-effective to make or buy. The only downside is that they can be hard to keep clean.

2. Wallpaper and decals

Creating a feature wall at the head of your bed is a cost-effective way to create something eye-catching that doubles up as an alternative headboard. 

There are plenty of ways to use wallpaper to make a headboard. You could fill a large frame with a bold, patterned wallpaper the same width as your bed or use thin strips on either side of your bed behind your bedside tables.

If you don’t like wallpapering, try wall decals instead. They’re easy to apply – simply peel and stick! You’ll find them in lots of fun designs, which makes them ideal for kids’ bedrooms. 

The bottom line – it’s cheap and easy to use wallpaper to create a headboard, but if you’re not confident at decorating, try decals instead. 

3. Shelving units

It’s possible to create a headboard using a shelving unit and get some much-needed storage at the same time.  It’s the perfect place to store the books you read at bedtime.

From cheap flat-pack furniture to custom-built pieces, there is a type of shelving unit to suit all budgets. 

If you’re considering this instead of a traditional headboard, check you have enough space before you commit to anything. A shelving unit will take up more room than an upholstered headboard, effectively increasing the length of your bed.

If space is tight, consider using wall-mounted shelves above your bed instead. 

The bottom line – shelving units double up as a headboard and storage, but before you decide to take this route, ensure you have enough space to accommodate the shelves.

4. Painted headboard

Painted headboards are increasingly popular with students, first-time buyers, and renters who want something quick and cheap, but be warned, you’ll need a steady hand for this one. 

A half-circle in a bright, bold colour can add a fantastic focal point to your bedroom. If painting a semi-circle puts you off, why not opt for a rectangle or another geometric shape that is easier to paint? 

For the artistic among you, consider painting a mural behind your bed for dramatic effect or commissioning an artist to do it on your behalf.

The bottom line – this is a cost-effective alternative to buying a headboard, and you can choose from hundreds of colours to suit your home and personal style. 

5. Artwork

In place of an upholstered headboard, consider hanging a large piece of art above your bed or several small pieces to create a gallery wall. It’s easy to do but could be costly if you buy your art from a dealer or directly from the artist. 

If you’re not fussy, then prints and cheap canvasses work just as well as the originals. Pick pieces that tie in with the theme of your room or mean something to you. You don’t have to fill your frames with art – photos, postcards, maps, and cinema posters also work perfectly. 

This is an opportunity to make your home your own by putting a creative slant on your alternative headboard. 

The bottom line – this is an unusual way of creating a headboard, and it’s probably the most personal of all the ideas for headboards we’ve listed in this post. 

Can you buy a bed without a headboard?

Manufacturers and retailers recognise that not everyone wants a traditional headboard or can afford one. That’s why some beds don’t come with a headboard as standard, and you have to add it as an extra.

We offer our customers the option to buy our ottoman beds without a headboard, giving them the freedom to choose their own or make something themselves.

Our customers are an inspired bunch, and we love seeing what they do with our beds. There are lots of talented people out there who are creating unusual alternatives for headboards. 

Alternative headboards – the key takeaway

We’ve listed some of the most popular headboard alternatives, but there are lots more we haven’t covered. A quick search on Pinterest will reveal some quirkier ideas, from upcycled wooden oars to repurposed curtains.

This is your chance to get creative by adding something that suits your personality. It’s not all about looks though – your headboard needs to be practical too. Consider how you’ll keep it clean and how comfortable it will feel to lean against when you’re sat up in bed. 

If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like this post on storage beds without headboards.