10 Clever Ideas for Updating Your Headboard

Want to add some pop to the bedroom? These bold headboard ideas are sure to inspire.

Replacing your headboard—or highlighting it with a dramatic wall treatment—is the quickest way to update the look of your bedroom. Take a cue from these 10 designer looks below for a style that’s sure to inspire some sweet dreams.

1. Install a wood wall

There’s no headboard in the master bedroom of this Vancouver condo designed by Moss and Oak—rather, brushed oak floor planks create a unique feature wall behind a pile of cozy pillows from CB2 and West Elm. See more from this light and airy space here. 

2. Get creative with materials

In this Oliver Simon-designed bachelor suite, a piece of salvaged corrugated tin becomes a gritty headboard in the bedroom—perfect for the homeowner’s requested “industrial cabin” theme. See the rest of this Chinatown home here. 

3. Combine a few small mirrors into a dramatic wall

For her own condo, designer Stephanie Brown lined the wall behind the headboard with Ikea mirrors to increase the light in the small space. See more from this pretty white-and-gold space here.  MORE: The Ultimate Beautiful Bedroom Gallery

4. Shelve it!

Built-in shelving at the head of the bed provides a place to showcase fave books and accessories in this Oliver Simon-designed loft. (Although don’t store anything too heavy up there—in an earthquake, that could spell trouble.) See more from this rugged, masculine condo here. 

5. Hang a wall of curtains

In this master bedroom, a wall covered in awkwardly positioned windows resulted in an innovative solution. Moving the windows wasn’t an option, so designer Aly Velji covered the whole wall with linen blackout curtains. “They add a beautiful softness and texture and help create a hotel-style vibe,” Velji explains. See the rest of this Calgary renovation here. MORE: 3 Tips for Designing a Dreamy Bedroom

6. Go big with the headboard

A floor-to-ceiling headboard done up in black velvet—like the one shown here at designer Paul Lavoie‘s Calgary home—is sure to be an eye-catching addition to your room. See the rest of the designer’s Hollywood Regency-style home here. 

7. Upholster panels in your favourite fabric

These yellow upholstered wall panels bring a pop of colour and texture against black-on-black patterned wallpaper in this dramatic space by Mango Design. See the rest of this bold Shangri-La condo here. 

8. Go for glass

This modern beach house designed by Mitchell Freedland features a glass wall separating the bathing area and the bedroom, but it doubles as a sleek backdrop for the head of the bed. See more from this ultra-luxe seaside space here. MORE: Expert Advice: How to Design The Bedroom of Your Dreams

9. Use an oversized photo

In place of a headrest, designer Wendy Williams-Watt  just propped up an oversized framed photo behind the pillows for a dramatic look perfect for the home of a photographer. See the rest of this feminine-chic condo here. 

10. Weave yourself a fresh new look

It’s hard to believe this Matthew Leverone-designed bedroom used to be a garage, and harder still to believe that you can get this headboard look with an afternoon DIY project. Just find or build a rectangular frame and weave straps or strips of fabric together for a rustic-chic look. Get more tips for getting this look here.  

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