If you are looking to get a new headboard but don’t want to spend more than $50 to get it done, here are a few ways to do it yourself on the cheap.

This doesn’t mean that you need to spend lots of time on it either.  Some of these options only require 1-2 hours of your time.

Buy One Used

Search thrift stores or online classifieds for a used board.  I see cheap headboards on Craigslist all the time.  One of the best ways to find them cheap is to look at bedroom sets.  I’ve sold lots of bedroom sets and headboards can be hard to sell.  Call someone who is selling a headboard as part of a bedroom set and ask if you can buy just the headboard at a discounted price. You can paint it any color to match your bedroom style.

Fabric Headboard

I love this tutorial one that was made from a pegboard with some foam and fabric.  She claims to have done it for less than $10 and with less than 1 hr of time.

There are also other ways you can build one cheaply by attaching wood beams to a board and then covering with fabric, painting, or staining the wood.   Here is a tutorial for this style. http://www.mayricherfullerbe.com/2015/06/diy-upholstered-twin-headboards-easy-way.html

The headboard doesn’t necessarily attach to rails.  If you can use cheap wood and get your fabric at a discounted price (use the 40-50% off coupon at JoAnns) then you easily can complete the project for under $50.

Rug Headboard

Thrift stores can give you a great deal on a tapestry or rug headboard. This option is so easy to install you could switch it out for each season! With only a few minutes and a level, you could have a headboard for well under $50

Window Headboard

Old windows have a beautiful farmhouse feel. Add a window frame to your bed, with either a mirror or empty. The wood will mimic traditional headboards and give your room a warm rustic feel.

Bookcase Headboard

Whether it is a new bookcase from Ikea, an old garage sale find, or even fabric amazon deals, bookcases make great functional headboards. Use tall ones, short ones, it really doesn’t matter. Just keep in mind the depth of your bookcases. You will want thin ones, so your bed doesn’t protrude out too much.

Pegboard Headboard

I love this idea! How easy is this? Pegboard can be purchased at your local hardware store for very little. Then simply adhere it to your wall with either nails or…command strips! Yes, no holes in the wall are required! The reason l love this idea is because it can also be a great organizer for your personal items and give you a canvas to decorate and add color to your room. Let’s do this!!

Paint a Headboard

Instead of actually creating a headboard, you can also just nail trim to the wall (painted) and frame fabric or paint the inside of that space to make it seem like there is a headboard, even though there isn’t.

You could also use wallpaper inside that space if you found a wallpaper design you liked.  This is probably one of the cheapest options and possibly the easiest in that you only need to pay for the trim and a little paint or fabric.  The only drawback is that you would have to repaint that wall when you move.  Unless you can do it with fabric that will detach from the wall easily.  That way you may be able to do it with just a few holes to fill.