Alternative Headboards

Lattice

Turn lattice into a headboard that is both practical and a work of art.Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images

Paint lattice in a color that matches your bedroom color scheme and decor. Screw a 5-foot tall piece that is as wide as your bed to the wall. Use the lattice to hang scarves, hats and sunglasses. Place plate hangers on it to display vintage or nouveau art pieces above your bed. It's also a place to display mementos, photos and souvenirs from trips and shopping excursions. When you want to change the look of your room, it's as simple as swapping out the items that are hanging from your versatile headboard. A word of warning: Make sure whatever you hang above your bed, especially if it's a heavy item, is secure, so that it doesn't fall on you during sleep.

The depth and height of room dividers are an optimum alternative to traditional headboards.Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Create one of the easiest headboards you'll ever own by simply positioning a room divider between your bed and the wall. A wrought-iron room divider works well for Spanish-style decor. An Asian-inspired screen complements contemporary styles. For those who need to feel more "involved" in the process of making a headboard, simply paint three narrow pieces of plywood and screw hinges between them.

Release your artistic side by using the space above your bed as a canvas. If you have the artistic ability, then the sky's your limit. Even if you aren't a trained artist, there are several options from which to choose. Tape off an area that actually looks like the outline of a headboard. Paint the wall on the outside of the tape one color and the area inside the tape another. Once it's dry remove the tape and enjoy your new headboard. Stencil your name or flowers or even favorite quotes above your bed to take the place of a traditional furniture piece.

Let curtains take the place of your headboard.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images

Hang curtains above your bed. You don't need to push your bed underneath a window in order to use curtains as your headboard. Hang a rod at the top of the wall. Use a fabric that complements your room and matches the other window treatments. If your bed is already beneath a window, use ornate tie-backs to pull the drapes open.

Take an old weathered window frame and hang it above your bed in its less-than-perfect state for a vintage touch. Sand and paint it in bright colors to make the space pop. Wallpaper the window panes with different samples for an eclectic look. You can also hang black-and-white photo copies inside the panes to create a nostalgic headboard.