Do-it-yourself headboards can be an easy way to make high-impact, low-cost improvements to bedroom decor. These two ideas are from Singapore's Home & Decor magazine: one's a cushy take on upholstery and the other's an addition of wood moulding to the wall surface behind the bed...
The cushy headboard requires 9 small cushions (or batting-wrapped panels) that are covered in complimentary fabrics. The panels are fixed in a grid at the head of the bed and finished with fabric-covered buttons.
The moulding headboard simply requires a length of wood moulding cut to frame a section of the wall behind your bed. Painted in a contrasting color to the wall, it will pop out as an architectural detail, as pictured. We'd love to give this idea a go but paint the trim the same color as the wall for more subtlety.
(Images: Winston Chuang, Home & Decor and Darren Chang, also Home & Decor)
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I like the first one a lot but not a fan of the second. It's like the outline of a headboard and not an actual headboard.
I'd like to see a DIY for a winged headboard...
...surely it couldn't be that tough?
I've done something similar to the second one in my bedroom, except I stretched fabric on the wall inside the frame. I also used a thicker moulding than what is pictured and don't have the decorative add on at the top. It cost less than $15, it's completely customizable, it's easy and it doesn't take very long to do.
is it just me, or are both of those examples really tall for headboards? They seem a little out of proportion.
Of the two, I like the idea of the first one the best, but I would probably only do two panels high, or do all one color and different spacing of the tufting.
I think the second one looks to thin/flimsy. Maybe if the whole 'headboard area were painted a different color than the wall.
I like the moulding idea, it gave me an idea to make sideboards out of empty old-fashioned frames and a little shelf. It could look great with a lamp and some polaroids of your family fixed straight on the wall inside the frame.
http://www.notyourgoddess.blogspot.com/
I agree that they seem really tall... I suppose they are supposed to be the major focal point in the room but they do seem a bit out of proportion. The first picture looks weird because the bed is so low and the headboard is so tall.. It might look better if it was a huge and high king size bed. I like the idea of the first though.
Hey BEPSF I once saw on a design show on either HGTV or DIY Network where they took the back and sides of a winged couch to make a winged headboard... you should be able to find the instructrions on either of the websites. I wish I could remember which show it was exactly to help narrow down the search... but I'm sure you'll be able to find it no problem with a little time!
I like the upholstered panels idea, personally. The moulding is just a little too non-headboard to me...even if it was more inconspicuous. But it is a cheap DIY way to get something up there so you definitely made your point! I would like to see more of these!!! I know there are tons of ideas out there!!!