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This Budget-Friendly Headboard DIY Instantly Makes Small Bedrooms Look Way Bigger

Blair Donovan
Blair DonovanSenior Editor of Style at Apartment Therapy
I’m Apartment Therapy’s Senior Style Editor, where I write and edit content focused on the latest interior design trends, expert decorating ideas, and must-see new home products and brands. I also especially love profiling emerging artists or designers, as well as delving into design history topics — whether it’s uncovering the origins of mid-century modern furniture pieces or recapping the biggest U.S. home styles from the past century. Previously, I’ve held editorial and copywriting positions at Brides magazine and Macy’s. In my 6+ years of experience, I interviewed celebrities and well-known designers like Sarah Jessica Parker, Sabrina Bryan, Nate Berkus, and Jeremiah Brent. In 2023, I also designed a dorm room-themed space for Apartment Therapy’s annual New York-based pop-up event, Small/Cool. Whenever I’m not keeping tabs on the next TikTok “core” or buzzy IKEA collection, I’m most likely reading a book on my stoop, online shopping, or looking for the best tacos in New York (recs are encouraged).
published Sep 6, 2024
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Dark earth tone painted bedroom.
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Credit: Kristin Karch

Finding a bed frame or headboard that’s both stylish and small-space-friendly is no easy feat — you want something that doesn’t overwhelm the room, but also adds some personality and feeds into your design aesthetic. If you’re consistently striking out in the shopping department, the good news is you can make your own customized headboard, thanks to one DIY that’s perfect for maximizing square footage in small bedrooms (yours will look so much bigger!). 

Designer Madison Malaga of CM Interiors shared a TikTok video detailing a bedroom makeover for her aunt. The space originally had an oversized rustic bed frame, and the headboard and footboard made “her room look a lot smaller than it actually is,” Malaga explained. To combat this, she decided to DIY her own 14-foot, low-profile headboard that spanned the entirety of the bedroom wall.

Malaga first sourced a few pieces of plywood from The Home Depot. She notes these usually come in 4′ by 8′ sheets, but they can cut them in-store if you know the exact sizes you want. You’ll need to measure out your bedroom wall beforehand to determine how much plywood to buy anyway, so come prepared with the dimensions.

Next, she used batting from JOANN and wrapped it tightly around each piece of plywood, securing the edges in the back with a staple gun every three to five inches. Then came the fun part: adding fabric. Malaga chose a rich chocolate brown velvet, but you can personalize your own upholstery with anything from a classic striped design to a simple neutral linen covering. Just layer it over the batting, making sure it’s completely taut and wrinkle-free, and repeat the stapling process.

As an optional step, Malaga cut a hole in the back of one plywood piece for electrical cords, after which she connected all the panels from behind with metal strap ties and wood screws. “I would recommend doing two metal strap ties where each one meets,” she added in the video. Finally, she mounted the headboard on the wall with individual D-ring hooks (one per panel), and voilà! Malaga also flanked the mattress with matching round nightstands on either side to break up the boxiness and uniformity of the elongated “bed frame.”

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Credit: Craig Kellmann

The key to pulling off this DIY is making sure the headboard covers the full length of an entire wall, so choose one that’s on the shorter side and not obstructed by windows. Ultimately, the finished product looks so high-end, gives off the illusion of a much larger space, and is easily customizable with your dimensions and choice of fabric. Plus, you can take a cue from the bedroom pictured above and experiment with headboard shapes or incorporate floating nightstands into the setup.   

Filed in:
Bedroom
DIY
Small Spaces