This trend has been on the grow for a while now, but it’s a good solid DIY project that isn’t too difficult and can really change your bedroom. There are a million-and-a-half sets of instructions floating around the Internet for how to do this, but sadly a good two-thirds of the designs closely resemble the headboards seen at say, the Hilton Garden Inn. That is, it looks like someone tacked the backseat from a ‘79 Impala above their bed. (But, but, that would be wicked awesome!!!).

The whole “I Love Lucy” double twin bed thing aside, the headboards make this guestroom feel too much like a hotel.

To contrast, this guestroom set up avoids the pitfalls of solid-color upholstered headboards.

The most basic headboard consists wood wrapped in fabric. Doors are useful, generally two stacked horizontally. You frame the headboard using moulding. It depends on the look you want. The key player is the fabric/quilt/rug you choose. The results of this can be good, if you do it right and use good fabric. Here’s a few examples.

This one uses a fun pattern, and the colors work well together.

A easy to do fabric headboard, cost is under $70.

However, this column isn’t just things you can find with five minutes of Googling. Instead, I’d like to present some interesting outside the box ideas for headboards.

First off, I have a mild obsession with chalkboard paint. I wouldn’t advise this for the master bedroom but perhaps for a kids room (if you have ‘em).

Chalkboard headboard, click photo for more info.

Distressed wooden shutters turned into a headboard.

A “light” headboard. I really like the way this looks, however it’s not the most practical headboard, seeing as you have to turn it off at night. However, the creator has some cool how-to photos.

A headboard made from reclaimed redwood lumber. Here are instructions, though I can’t say getting reclaimed redwood is cheap (or easy).

These are obviously just a few ideas to get you started. For more detailed instructions on how to actually construct and mount a headboard, you can get started with:

• How-To: Build Your Own Headboard [Apartment Therapy]
• Headboard Ideas [HGTV]
• Build an Upholstered Headboard [DoItYourself.com]