33 Genius DIY Headboards You'll Want in Your House Now

I’ve completed a few DIY headboard projects over the past couple of years, and each one presents its own particular set of problems. Whether it is tricky upholstery shapes, an unending amount of nailhead trim, or unorthodox building materials, they can be a bear to complete. But in the end, it is always worth it to go to bed each night in front of a piece of furniture that you are proud to have made with your own two hands.

Here is a roundup of some of the best DIY headboards out there, from sophisticated ideas for the master bedroom, to easy-to-achieve fun ideas for the kids’ room. Check them out in the slideshow.

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DIY Headboards

DIY Light Up Headboard

The girls at A Beautiful Mess made an awesome light up headboard out of wood planks and Christmas lights.
Find the project at A Beautiful Mess.
IKEA Hack Stikwood Headboard

This is a super simple IKEA hack to turn a simple white MALM bed frame into a beautiful wood plank headboard, with no additional tools necessary!
Find the project at Sugar & Cloth.
DIY Belgrave Headboard

This DIY headboard features a belgrave shape, nailhead trim, and an interesting dandelion pattern on the fabric.
Find the project at Lovely Indeed.
DIY West Elm Morocco Headboard

Coveting that West Elm headboard you can't afford? This DIY version uses rubber floor mats to recreate the iconic look.
Find the project at Kara Paslay Designs.
Kid's Headboard with Built-in Nightlights

Every kid's room needs a good nightlight, and this starry night headboard has a lighted moon that will keep your kid's room glowing in the wee hours.
Find the project at DIY Network.
It All Started with a Sign

Anything can be turned into an awesome headboard, including old metal signs from auto parts stores. Take a cue from American Pickers and see what you can snap up and turn into a statement piece for your bedroom.
Find the project at Funky Junk Interiors
Rope Design Bedhead

A modern headboard with a really fun design from our friends down under. This would be a great place to clip photographs in a little girl's room.
Find the project at MSN Homes.
DIY Pallet Headboard

Used pallets are a great source for reclaimed wood. This project uses the slats to create a really cool, uneven, rustic feel to contrast with a beautiful, clean, white bedroom.
Find the project at Rice Designs Blog.
West Elm's Window Headboard Knock Off

This tutorial shows you how to make your own version of another West Elm iconic furniture piece using some simple woodworking techniques and some paint.
Find the project at Remodelaholic.
Floral Headboard

This project takes an actual West Elm headboard and dresses it up with some amazing paper flowers. It takes an average blank space and turns it into a fantastical garden.
Find the project at DesignLoveFest.
Upholstered Headboard with Nailhead Trim

This seemingly simple upholstered headboard with nailhead trim becomes an engaging focal point as it extends all the way from your bed up to the ceiling.
Find the project at HGTV.
DIY Floating Headboard

One of the simplest headboards on this list---you just take four pieces of wood, sand and stain them, and then hang them with heavy duty command strips. Perfect for renters who don't want to damage their walls!
Find the project at Hazzard's Hypotheses.
Industrial PVC Pipe Headboard

A simple PVC pipe construction, plus some twine and a few photographs make for an awesome headboard for your kid's room.
Find the project at DIY Network.
DIY Pallet Headboard

Here's another headboard showing the awesome power of wood from pallets! This one skipped the structure and just attached the wood straight to the wall.
Find the project at The Rooster and the Hen.
Framed Tufted Headboard

This headboard was made from an old dresser mirror. This is upcycling at its best to create a cute tufted look for a little girl's room.
Find the project at Make It & Love It.
DIY Antique Window Headboard

This project showcases more found items that can be used for beautiful headboards---this time, some antique window frames attached to the wall.
Find the project at Liz Marie Blog.
DIY Tufted Headboard

Here's another homemade headboard in the popular belgrave shape. A simple fabric color choice makes for a clean and understated look in the bedroom.

Find the project at Thrifty Decor Chick.
Wrought Iron Headboard

Admittedly, this project would take some welding skills, but the end result of turning an old iron gate into a headboard looks pretty slick.
Find the project at Lovely Indeed.
Repurposed Door Headboard

So far we have seen windows, signs, and pallets. Add doors to the list, with this great tutorial on how to repurpose an old front door into a great color-blocked headboard.
Find the project at Country Living.
DIY Book Headboard

This tutorial using old books for a headboard will have your bedroom looking like a display window at Anthropologie in no time.
Find the project at Design Every Day.
Aluminum Siding Headboard

For a masculine look, you can use industrial products to make your DIY headboard. This tutorial uses aluminum siding to create a metallic chrome look in the bedroom.
Find the project at ReNew ReDo.
DIY Tufted Headboard

This DIY tufted headboard with nailhead trim turned out great, and the post puts together a few links that give great instructions on how to do it yourself.
Find the project at Orange Sugar.
DIY Upholstered Headboard

This DIY gives a great tutorial on how to get an interesting shape for your headboard. Pick an interesting fabric, and make sure to get your nailhead trim straight!

Find the project at Hunted Interior.
Salvaged Barn Wood Headboard

I would love to get my hands on some wood like this to make some rustic projects for around the house. This headboard using reclaimed barn wood turned out beautiful, and the chalk writing is an especially nice touch.
Find the project at Design Sponge.
Upholstered Headboard How-to

This tutorial gives a great amount of detail for creating a custom-shaped headboard that is extra soft. The bold fabric pattern becomes the focal point of the room.
Find the project at BHG.
Faux Tiled Headboard

This is a super cheap and easy DIY to make a headboard out of foam faux tiles and Scotch mounting tape. It looks great, though, and you would never guess the whole project cost less than twenty bucks.
Find the project at Sweet C's Designs.
Cedar Plank Headboard

This DIY takes cedar fence planks and uses them to create an interesting headboard shape. The wood is very easy to stain to match your existing decor.
Find the project at Addicted 2 Decorating.
Tiled Fabric Headboard

This custom headboard comes together from individual upholstered sheets of wood. The tiled effect looks great without the bulk of a large piece of wood, while still having a soft upholstered feel.
Find the project at All Things Thrifty.
DIY String Light Headboard

Creating a shape with a string of Christmas lights and cord clips, you can make a headboard appear on the wall very quickly and on a budget. This one also has the added bonus of being a nightlight for the kiddos.

Find the project at Apartment Therapy.
DIY Woven Wood Headboard

A really unique look for a headboard, this project takes wood sheets and weaves them together to create a backdrop for your bed. Their painting technique really makes this an interesting and unique furniture piece.
Find the project at Little Bit Funky.
DIY Upholstered Headboard

This DIY gets a little more complicated than most by adding wings to the side of the headboard. It creates a great look, though, and is well worth the extra effort.
Find the project at Sarah M. Dorsey Designs.
T-Shirt Headboard

We all save up our favorite T-shirts that don't fit us anymore. Instead of making them into a quilt, you can turn them into a DIY headboard. Perfect for the little boy who has outgrown all of his favorite superhero tees.
Find the project at DIY Network.
DIY Tufted Headboard

This tutorial gives the most useful tip of all, using peg board to create your tufts! Gone are the troubles of drilling holes and trying to make all of your buttons line up.
Find the project at Little Green Notebook.