No Headboard Ideas

You may have chosen the perfect color to paint your bedroom walls and selected just-so bed linen and soft furnishings. But are you stuck with a headboard that doesn’t fit your new scheme?

There are a huge number of design solutions to choose from whether your bed is sans headboard, or if the existing one isn’t right for your new design. 

The style of bedhead wall you choose will depend on your bedroom theme, your budget, and how handy you are with some tools. But there is certain to be a no-headboard solution for your gorgeous bedroom interior.

Overarching Design

A simple way to create a feature behind the head of your bed is to paint on a design. A painted arch is both on trend and easy to do yourself. Choose the paint shade to complement the other colors in the room. For example you could pick out a color that’s in your bed linen. 

If you don’t trust your painting skills, you can buy a large decal to fix to your wall. To enhance this feature, you can add a shelf above the same width as the bed. Trailing pot plants and succulents in a row will look pretty, especially if you have a boho aesthetic. 

Cool White Bed Ledge

In a large bedroom with a brick wall, you can create a functional, sleek design feature by building out from the wall. Or you could build a recessed shelf in existing drywall.

This will give you a ledge on which you could put pictures and ornaments. Looks super cute! Or you might want to add a lamp or two for late night reading. 

Painted white, this will be at the heart of a minimalist’s dreams. If you like a little more decoration, you can hang art above to provide more to draw the eye.

Shelves Above Your Bed

One of the most straightforward ways of enhancing a plain bed wall is to add some shelves. Two shelves hung in an offset way in natural wood will add an adorablefeature to a dull bedroom wall.

If you have neutral bedding then you might like to continue the natural tones with white and beige colored ornaments. 

And a top design tip, turn your book spines to the wall so that the white pages are on show. Though, a warning, this is not a look for the true bookworm who will need to proudly display their book collection!

No Headboard Shiplap Detail

If you like a country design style, or perhaps hanker after the farmhouse aesthetic, then you might like to install shiplap on your bedroom wall. 

For a more rural aesthetic, you could leave the shiplap in natural wood. For a cuter, cleaner look, paint it white. But if you like a versatile modern wall, you can paint your shiplap in a dark charcoal gray or a navy blue. 

White bed linen will pop against a dark wall and you can add lighting and a nightstand in a rich wood tone.

The Devil’s in the Decal

If you like a dreamy bedroom scheme then you can add a detailed decal to your bed wall. Giving you the best of both worlds in a detailed pattern or mural but in a shaped design, this is a dramatic look with minimal effort. 

Ensure your wall is freshly painted and clean, and affix the decal so it rises up from the floor as a two-dimensional headboard. Then layer pillows and cushions to further the romantic interior theme.

Fabric Headboard Alternative

If you have a large piece of fabric you’re dying to show off but you’re not sure how to display it, this could be the answer!

To create a wow in your bedroom, a bold fabric print can be hung on the wall of the bedhead. Either fix a rod to the wall over which you can hang the fabric. Or simply attach the fabric to the wall with upholstery pins. A unique yet simple look.

Color-Block Paint No Headboard Solution

You may have seen the color-block paint trend where you can create a zone in a room through the use of a wall paint. 

This technique will work well if you have no headboard and fancy adding a little color to your bedroom. You can mark out a rectangle from the floor up to a couple of feet above the bed and extend it a little beyond the width of the bed. 

Then all you need to do is paint inside the lines. Who would have known that such an easy technique could look so good?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

For a wonderfully effortless design to substitute a headboard and to add panache to your sophisticated bedroom design, you can hang a mirror. 

Choose a large, round style for an unexpected design detail. And if you’re into the rural look, why not also fix a plaster bull’s head above!

Art Panel for Bedroom Pizazz

A no headboard look works well for Eastern style design. You can instead hang a large artwork over the bed. Against white bed linen, this will make the perfect focal point.

And to add the designer touch, you can fix a shelf to one side of the bed, and add natural pots and ornaments. Ensure your wall is pristine and that your art complements your paint tone.

Unusual Wood Headboard Feature

For a headboard effect that looks truly bespoke, fix gorgeous natural wood panels with a polished surface. But keep the design rustic, so the way they are cut matches the curved grain and knot of the wood. 

If you can find a striking natural wall display like this, then paint your wall white, and keep bed linen fresh to allow your wood feature to stand out.

Bright Bedroom Art 

For a colorful boho look, you can turn the whole bed area into a cozy feature. Adding a group of photos or pictures in similar tones and designs will create a super personal collection. Then trailing plants hung from the ceiling will add a softness.

If you’re using bright golds in your lights and shelving, orange cushions will echo the brightness and will pop against a sage green wall. And for a comfy den ambiance, add as many cushions and pillows as you dare!

In Summary

No headboard is no drama and, in fact, can give you versatility to try a number of designer looks in your bedroom.

You might like to paint a block shape or add a decal design to the wall for a simple yet hugely effective feature. Or perhaps some art or a wood installation is more your thing. And a fabric wall hanging is a modern but simple way to add grandeur to any bedroom. 

For a practical alternative, adding shelves will give you somewhere to store treasures or to add useful lighting. Spoilt for choice? Think about the style that will make you both sleep easy and enjoy waking up.