Ikea headboard designs are plain on purpose, and that blank finish is exactly what makes them such a rewarding base for a makeover. Smooth panels, simple shelves and neutral colours leave plenty of room for your own paint, fabric and finishing touches.
Paint, fabric, rattan and a few smart add-ons each push the same basic piece in a very different direction, from soft hotel-style upholstery to a sunny, woven boho backdrop. Below are twelve makeover ideas grouped by technique, followed by ways to combine them and a few honest warnings about where projects tend to go wrong.
Ikea Headboard Blank Canvases Worth Starting With
Photo Credit: Ikea
Storage panels, shelf headboards and woven styles make the best starting points, because each offers a surface that responds well to a makeover. Ikea’s range changes by country and season, so treat the examples below as types to look for rather than a fixed shopping list.
- Flat panel storage headboards such as the Brimnes, which Ikea shows in white, black and grey with built-in shelves. Its smooth front takes paint and fabric accents well, and the shelves give you somewhere to add colour.
- Wooden shelf headboards such as the Mandal, shown in a birch and white finish in a wide 240 cm size. Wood tends to forgive sanding and repainting more than foil does, although the product description should confirm the material before you start.
- Clean white shelf styles such as the Nordli, whose crisp lines suit a painted wall or a contrasting accent behind them.
- Woven styles such as the Tolkning, a natural wicker headboard with a diamond pattern that already delivers texture before you add anything.
Choosing between them comes down to the finish you want. Painted looks suit smooth panels, upholstered looks suit flat fronts and woven or cane looks suit almost any plain shape, so match the makeover to the surface rather than forcing a favourite idea onto the wrong model.
Ikea headboards are sold separately from bed frames in many markets, so check width, height and fixing method against your bed before ordering. Some models mount directly to the wall, which affects how and where you can add lighting or fabric later.
Paint Turns Plain Panels Into Colour Statements
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Paint is the cheapest way to change an Ikea headboard, and the effect is dramatic because colour changes how the whole bed reads from the doorway. Surface prep decides whether the finish lasts: foil and laminate need a light sand and a bonding primer, then two thin coats rather than one heavy one. Test on an inconspicuous patch first.
Colour Drenched Panels
Painting the headboard in the same shade as the wall makes it look built in, almost like panelling. Deep green, inky navy and warm clay all suit this treatment because the bed linen becomes the contrast. Choose a matt or soft-sheen finish, since gloss highlights every small imperfection in a flat panel.
Paint the wall and the headboard in the same session so the colour matches exactly, and tape the edges for a sharp line.
Prep follows the same order on every surface: clean off dust and grease, sand lightly, wipe down, prime, then paint in thin coats with proper drying time between each.
Two Tone Contrast Frames
Painting a block of colour on the wall behind the headboard, wider and taller than the panel itself, creates a frame without any carpentry. White headboards against a dusty blue or sage rectangle look deliberate, and the shape can be a square, a tall rectangle or an arch. Mark the outline with painter’s tape and a spirit level, step back to check the proportions, then paint.
Shelves With a Colourful Interior
Storage headboards with adjustable shelves offer a neat opportunity, because the inside of each shelf can be painted in a bolder shade than the outer frame. Terracotta, mustard or deep teal inside a white or wooden shell makes books and ornaments pop. Remove loose shelves before painting so the colour stays crisp at the edges.
Fabric Wraps Bring Hotel Softness to Hard Panels
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Upholstery turns a hard panel into something comfortable to lean on, which matters if you read or watch screens in bed. Flat-front headboards are the simplest to wrap, while shelf styles often work better with a separate padded board that sits in front. Choose fabrics suited to furnishings and follow the supplier’s care guidance.
Bouclé for Tactile Warmth
Bouclé has been one of the most talked-about headboard fabrics this year, and its looped texture hides small wrinkles better than flat weaves. Cream and oatmeal shades suit most schemes. Wrap it over thin foam or wadding so the surface looks plump rather than stretched and keep the weave running in one direction.
Linen With Contrast Piping
Natural linen finished with narrow navy or charcoal piping gives a tailored, almost bespoke look. That crisp edge makes a budget headboard read as custom made, and ready-made piping cord is sold by the metre. Linen creases easily, so steam it before stapling, then pair it with relaxed linen bedding for a coordinated, lived-in feel.
Velvet in Deep Tones
Velvet in sage, plum or terracotta suits bedrooms where a bolder colour is welcome. Designers have been leaning towards richer, deeper upholstery shades lately, and velvet shows them off best. Keep the pile running in one direction and choose a hard-wearing performance velvet if the bed doubles as a lounging spot.
Three Rattan and Cane Routes to Instant Texture
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Woven texture warms up cool, flat finishes, which is why rattan and cane keep appearing in bedroom styling. Ikea’s own woven headboard is one route, and cane webbing on a plain panel is another.
Natural Wicker Straight From the Box
Ikea’s Tolkning headboard comes in a natural wicker colour with a diamond weave, and it is described as free-standing, which keeps installation simple. It needs very little styling beyond layered bedding. Warm white walls, a wooden bedside table and cream linen let the weave do the talking.
Cane Webbing Over a Plain Panel
Cane webbing, sold by the metre by upholsterers and craft suppliers, can create an open-weave insert in the middle of a painted frame. Cut a thin board to size, fix the cane inside a painted border, then attach the finished panel over a plain headboard. Soaking the webbing briefly makes it pliable and it tightens as it dries, so follow the supplier’s guidance.
Woven Echoes Beyond the Headboard
If the headboard itself stays plain, repeating woven texture nearby creates a similar effect. Rattan pendant shades, a cane bedside cabinet or a woven bench at the foot of the bed pull the theme together without altering the headboard. This route also suits rented rooms where permanent changes are off the table.
Which Smart Add-Ons Actually Earn Their Place?
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Lighting, shelves and tidy cable routes earn their place because they solve everyday bedtime annoyances. Anything involving mains wiring, such as hardwired wall lights or new sockets, should be handled by a qualified electrician.
Glow Strips Behind the Frame
Warm white LED strips fixed behind a wall-mounted headboard create a soft halo on the wall. Choose around 2700K for bedrooms, add a dimmer or remote, and avoid cool white that feels clinical at night. Plug-in kits keep the wiring simple, and the glow also disguises small gaps between panel and wall.
Wall Mounted Reading Lights
Plug-in swing arm lights on either side of the headboard free up the bedside tables and put light exactly where it is needed. Route cables neatly with clips or slim covers painted to match the wall, and keep flex clear of the bed so it cannot snag. Brass or matt black finishes add a design detail that makes a budget headboard look considered.
Shelf Ledge Charging Stations
Storage headboards with built-in shelves already offer a handy spot for phones, books and glasses, and some Ikea models include cable management details to keep chargers tidy. Adding cable clips, a small tray and a multi-plug extension positioned out of sight completes the setup. Keep extension cables off the floor and away from bedding.
Mixing Makeover Methods Without Crowding the Wall
One technique should lead while another supports, otherwise the wall starts to feel busy. These pairings balance texture, colour and function without competing.
| Combination | Look | Effort | Best for |
| Paint and cane | Sage painted frame around a cane panel | Medium | Boho and cottage bedrooms |
| Fabric and lighting | Bouclé board with warm wall lights either side | Medium | Hotel-style and small rooms |
| Paint and glow strips | Colour drenched panel with a soft LED halo | Low to medium | Dark, moody bedrooms |
| Wicker and plug-in lights | Woven headboard with reading lights and a nearby shelf | Low | Rented rooms and quick refreshes |
Scale mistakes show up most often. Headboards narrower than the bed, or fixed too low, look unfinished whatever the finish. Mock up the size with painter’s tape or paper templates, then live with it for a day before drilling or painting.
Trade-offs are worth weighing too. Fabric feels softer but marks more easily, whereas paint wipes clean but can chip at the edges, so keep a small pot for touch-ups.
Picture a rented one-bed flat where drilling is off limits. Pairing a free-standing woven headboard with plug-in reading lights and a leaning mirror would create a layered, finished bedroom without a single new hole.
Backdrops That Look Chosen Rather Than Assembled
Every Ikea headboard starts from the same promise: a clean, adaptable shape. Texture, colour and lighting decide whether it ends up looking generic or personal.
Colour deserves a final check before any tin is opened. Hold fabric swatches and paint samples against the wall in morning and evening light, because bedrooms often look quite different once lamps come on.
Start with the feeling you want, whether cosy, calm or bold, pick the one technique that delivers it, then add a single supporting detail and stop. That restraint is what makes a budget headboard look like a design decision.
Editor Pick: Vibrant Striped Headboard Ideas to Make Your Bed the Focal Point.
FAQs
Can you buy an Ikea headboard without the bed?
In many markets, yes. Ikea sells headboards separately from bed frames, so you can mix and match, but check the width and fixing method against your bed first.
Can you paint an Ikea headboard?
Often, with proper prep. Foil and laminate surfaces need a light sand and a bonding primer, and a small test patch shows how the paint behaves. Check the material in the product description before sanding.
Can you upholster an Ikea headboard?
Flat-front panels are the easiest to wrap with foam, wadding and fabric stapled at the back. Shelf styles usually work better with a separate padded board that sits in front.
How high should a headboard sit?
High enough to support your back when you lean on pillows and to hide the gap behind the mattress. Some Ikea headboards mount on the wall, which lets you choose the height yourself, so mock it up with tape before fixing.
