apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Use an Expedit bookcase from IKEA and a simple low bed or Malm in the same color.

I think a space divider as a headboard would be more effective. For one thing, I think it will be difficult to find a headboard that is finished on both sides.

I use an Ikea shelving room divider (Expedit), and have an Ikea (Malm) bed backed up to it. They are both the same finish, so it works pretty well. And very cheap.

Why not have one made by a local carpenter?

I third the IKEA Expedit idea.

When I had a studio apartment I used large bookshelves to separate the kitchen area from the living area of the room. For my bed I used a futon (not a choice for everyone) folded in half with pillows for the backrest. It worked out nicely. Luckily, my studio was a large box and this arrangement was ideal.

In that drawing above, notice how those hanging lamps above the table are directly in front of the TV as viewed from the couch?
Just saying.

West elm also sells a bookshelf that looks similar, you could use as both a divider and storage/display. It is on wheels that lock, so easy to move around if you need a change.

Love the picture.

And the head boards!

Is the expedit bookcase sturdy enough to withstand a couple of bumps or two?

"Is the expedit bookcase sturdy enough to withstand a couple of bumps or two?"

Is it against the wall loaded with heavy objects in the bottom or is it in the middle of the room filled with heavy objects in the top?

Are you bumping it with your vacuum cleaner or your intoxicated boyfriend/linebacker?

I did a similar idea with cube storage from Target and did not think ahead! Since it's not an attached headboard and it's not backed against a wall, I can't lean against the "headboard" to read, watch tv, or anything! Another time, I would do things differently.

I was thinking more in the middle of the room with a moderate amount of books evenly distributed and not the vacuum cleaner kind of bumping.

You are not supposed to top load Expedit shelving too heavily -- it's a diagram in the instructions! If you keep the heavy books and things near the bottom and use the top, more visible shelves for light weight decorative items (or leave the spaces empty!) I would think it would be pretty stable. You could always attach it with brackets to the bed like a regular headboard for extra stability, if you wanted to.

I wouldn't be likely to lean on a free-standing headboard if not backed up by a wall, anyhow. Pile up pillows to lean on or use a chair...

I found something for you but they seem to be out of stock:
http://www.headboardsusa.com/4-1063498-B001TLW94Y-Tiburon_Espresso_Cali_Metal_Full_Queen_Size_Headboard.html