Any kind of hanging fabric — even a floor rug — can be used as a cheap and simple headboard. You might want to try a tapestry headboard as a temporary solution or, if done with care, it can be grand permanent bedroom feature.
It was recently pointed out to me that I need a headboard for my bedroom. I've been looking for something cheap and handsome, but I haven't found anything I like yet. Still, the austerity of the wall behind my bed is haunting me. So as a temporary measure, I took an old rug out of my closet and hung it over my my bed. I was shocked at how polished it looked. It took about 5 minutes to hang, and I had instant satisfaction. In fact, it looks so great I might not take it down.
I used the elegant mounting method of hammering nails straight through the fabric into the wall. However, if you're concerned about maintaining the integrity of your fabric, there are several ways to hang a tapestry. The two best methods are rods and Velcro. Remember, never use adhesives on fabric or hang any flexible material with rings because unevenly distributed weight causes sagging.
Images: 1. Fay Fortune Drapery Design 2. Apartment 132: Headboard Ideas 3. Shelterpop: Meet Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Designer To The Stars 4. August Black 5. Design Crisis






Shaw's Original Fir...
I like it. Anyone know of a source for the nightstands/bedside tables/chests in pic 4? I like the industrial look ... even though I'm not sure they're metal.
I really don't like that end table in the first picture. It looks very out of place, not to mention impractical. I would have that flower kicked to the floor by morning.
The third one is my favorite - thanks for such a clever post!
Love the last one with the TRUE tapestry and the very simple minimial furniture in front.
I have a tapestry "headboard" in my guest room -- another consideration for doing this is that they take up virtually no space. My guest room is pretty tiny, and there is other storage furniture in there at the foot of the bed. With a furniture headboard, there wouldn't be enough space to walk around the bed, but the tapestry visually balances the armoire and still permits the armoire to even BE there!
Textiles-used-as-headboards are also a great way to improve the feng shui of a bedroom. Having no headboard leaves you "anchorless" and frequently off-kilter with higher casegoods towering over the bed. Bringing in the fabric hangings gives balance to solve that issue. I love the first shot but NOT the mirrored angled pieces to each side....this is creating multiple knife edges and also too stimulating with the mirrors.
Mine is a screen from my favorite Houston thrift shop, The Guild Shop. See below
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qF6ln4u0Q_IEd3HIuKtEFj1Ne_iAcG7wfAc5G8ny4Z8?feat=directlink