Headboards for Beds Ideas

Doors

• Front doors aren't exclusively for entryways anymore. Bring one into your bedroom and create a unique headboard. Measure your bed to get the length needed. Purchase a front door at a home improvement store, thrift shop, or yard sale. Arrange the door horizontally or vertically to see how you like it. If you don't want to hang it up, try using your bed to hold the door against the wall. Also, try closet doors or cabinets doors lined beside each other instead of regular doors. Don't worry about finding a door the same color as your bedroom. Buy unfinished doors and paint or stain them any color you like.

Old Windows

• Allow the old to have new use by utilizing old windows as a headboard. Leave the windows plain, stain the glass or add curtains for mock window treatments. As a trompe l'oeil, paint an outdoor scene behind the windows or even a sunset. Make sure to hang the windows high enough so your head will not bump against the glass. Otherwise, Better Homes and Gardens states on its website, "Remove the glass and install fiberboard or thin plywood over the back for safety." Shutters are another way to get the look of windows behind your bed without glass.

Stencils

• Stencils are a great way to have a headboard without the extra hardware, plus, since it is only painted on, you can change it with another coat of paint when you get bored with the design. You can find a variety of stencil designs at the local craft store. If you don't find anything you like, don't hesitate to make your own stencil. Apply the stencil to the wall behind the bed, making sure that it is large enough. Try whimsy, oval or real headboard replicas. Stencil a bright color on a dark wall or use a dark color on a light wall to make it stand out from the wall. "Use acrylic paint or specially formulated stenciling cream," suggests Better Homes and Gardens at bhg.com.