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17 Budget Headboards

November 25, 2014

By: Farima Alavi

A beautiful headboard for your bedroom can get costly. Find ways to reuse items or make your own headboard to create the luxury look without the price.

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Contemporary Teen Bedroom With Yellow Accents

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Decal Dreams

A decal is one budget-friendly way to add style to the head of your bed. RMS user dodi used the decal as inspiration for the room's design.

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Low-Cost Luan

Designer Kara Paslay made this headboard from a thin piece of stained luan for this small bedroom. She adorned the luan with spray-painted painter's tape in a geometric motif. The look is great for dorm rooms or guest bedrooms.

Photo: Design by Maureen Tilibio; Silhouette image courtesy of Susie Harrington of Petite Prints

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Whimsical Silhouette

A do-it-yourself headboard is the best way to get a one-of-a-kind look without the cost. Designer Maureen Toribio used some wood, chalkboard paint, primer and a handmade stencil to create this whimsical headboard. The silhouette adds a youthful touch and the chalkboard allows for fun and creativity. Silhouette image courtesy of Susie Harrington of Petite Prints

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A Little Corkiness

What better way to display your child's art than a corkboard? Cork is a versatile material that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Designer Kara Paslay recommends using cork flooring material because it is less costly than buying cork tiles.

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Behind Closed Doors

RMS user fleamarkettrixie loves to reuse items she has around the house. She used old closet doors and a settee to make this truely vintage headboard.

Bedroom With Wood Accent Wall, White Bedding and Metal Headboard

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Marvelous Metal

Adding sparkle and texture to your bedroom doesn't have to be costly. This shining headboard was made from corrugated metal usually used for roofing purposes, and it only cost about $30. Design by Kara Paslay.

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Window of Opportunity

When looking for items to decorate your bedroom, designer Jessica McKay suggests looking for pieces you already own and transforming them into something new. This headboard is made from an old paned-glass window from a barn door. It was too small for a standup mirror, but it works great as a budget-friendly headboard.

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Vintage Textiles

A great, simple way to personalize a standard white headboard is by using vintage textiles. In this bedroom, designer Jennifer Jones used a kilim rug down the center of the headboard to add pattern and to reference the client's love of travel.

bedroom with grasscloth headboard and red bedding

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Inexpensive Luxury

Use a padded headboard to create a warm, comfortable feel in your bedroom. To get the look without the price, find two large cushions from a discount store and attach them to a piece of plywood covered in grass wallpaper. It has the look of luxury but won't empty your wallet. Design by Shoshana Gosselin.

Yellow Bedroom with Patterned Headboard and Black and White Bedspread

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Color Happy

When choosing a headboard, pick one bright color as your inspiration. RMS user sford used yellow, black and white pieces of fabric and old frames to create a fun, dramatic effect in her bedroom.

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Cottage-Style Shutters

Designer Layla Palmer created an impressive cottage-style headboard using shutters, paint and sandpaper. The weathered look is easily created by wiping some of the paint off the brush before applying it to the shutters.

Contemporary, White Bedroom With Platform Bed

From: Andreas Charalambous

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Elegant Alternative

Hanging artwork behind the bed is an elegant alternative to getting an expensive headboard. Designer Andreas Charalambous adds the artwork as the sole source of color in this bedroom.

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Chalkboard Frame

A headboard doesn't have to span the entire width of the bed. Designer Melaine Thompson painted an old round frame to match the four-poster bed then painted a piece of wood with chalkboard paint. This budget-friendly headboard allows the mind to be creative by being able to write different messages.

Two-Tone Wooden Headboard in Neutral Wood Trimmed Bedroom

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Two-Tone Plywood

Designer Nicole Potter uses a two-tone, oversize plywood headboard as an inexpensive way to create warmth and drama in this room. The darker wood frames the headboard giving it a defined look. The recessed light creates a calming effect.

Wallpaper and wreath create a focal point.

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Wallpaper Magic

Give an ordinary headboard an extra flair with a little wallpaper, paint and glaze. Designer Kara Paslay used a roll of paintable wallpaper along with hanging wall decor to create this unique, inexpensive look.

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Glamour on a Budget

RMS user Tendenza Fl was on a small budget when designing this Hollywood-style guest bedroom. To save money, she chose to skip out on buying a headboard. However, she was able to add this glamorous design with some painter's tape and a bold paint color.

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White Tile Headboard

Reusing materials in unexpected ways can add a creative and budget-friendly design element to any space. Designer Nicole Potter used reclaimed tiles set in metal frames to give a checkerboard effect. Bright pillows with black bedding will help offset the cold tiles.