For every home I've lived in, there has always been a room that steadfastly defies decoration, opting instead to act as repository for odds and ends and lack of style. Up until a couple of weeks ago, that room was our bedroom. But thanks to a fortuitous score while photographing a recent house tour the space is finally good for more than jumping on the bed.
Jeremy & Joe's IKEA Mandal headboard hack was great for their rental space where they didn't want to damage the walls, and also meant it was easy to disassemble for their recent move across the country — and sell to an admiring Apartment Therapy contributor.

I opted to keep the headboard simple with just two shelves on either side, so it would become a dramatic accent wall without overwhelming our tiny bedroom. A pair of task lamps from Pottery Barn Teen add some industrial style to the wall.
Images: Sarah Rainwater


Stanley Console by ...
The headboard's colors warm the bedroom nicely.
Did they cover up the window on the left?
I love it. I mean I REALLY LOVE IT!!
Nice! Covering up the window helps it become balanced.
Beautifully done - congratulations!
Fantastic. You know, I know it would've diminished the look, but I think it would be cool to hinge part of it on the left so you can still have access to the window.
One note I forgot to add to the post:
The bed is actually turned 90 degrees to the left from the "before" picture -- we also re-arranged the space. So the headboard actually isn't covering a window, just a blank wall.
Sarah
Sarah,
Oh, thank goodness!
I love the wood detail; so earthy. I like that you used the entire wall because in this case; bigger is better.
i can picture spiders hanging out behind the headboard. ):
I'm confused. Does this post mean you photographed Jeremy & Joe's headboard, then they moved, and you bought it from them and installed it in your home?
Looks nice! I've always wanted a headboard like this except with more shelves. I can never have enough shelves.
hystericglamour, I'm guessing they turned the bed from its position in the first picture counterclockwise 90 degrees to stand up against an empty wall, so that the feet would be pointing towards the window on the right (under which there used to be a black bag of some sort). This would free both windows and no furniture would stand immediately underneath them anymore. Maybe I didn't grasp the layout though.
very nice such a great job
It looks really awesome and I love how the floating shelves work, but I'm with robina821 - curious about keeping it clean. In our bedroom the tops of all those little slats would be covered in dust on a weekly basis.
Very nice work and great bedroom improvement. I like the fact that is so simple and not expensive, and yet refreshed, modern and warm.
@hystericalglamour -- yes, I believe that's precisely what Sarah is saying. She photographed the headboard, they disassembled it, moved it across the country, then sold it to her.
hysteric glamour - you're not confused. that's what the author said. :)
i love this headboard since it came out, but as we already had our bedroom completed (malm, which is also very nice) i just keep dreaming of it sometimes :)
like it very much, makes the room special without taking up space!