Stylish notes on decor :: Headboards

Sometimes there's not a perfect spot in a room for a bed and so one must be created. Oftentimes a traditional headboard won't fit or look right against an oddly sized wall space.  I'm funny with where and how I place my beds. I do not want them directly opposite the point of entry. While a bed can be the room's focal point, I don't want to trip on it as I enter, and sometimes the wall that's best for the bed is also the worst. Placing a bed in the middle of a room, particularly a small room breaks up the space and can make the room feel smaller than it actually is. I tend to tuck beds into corners to open up and allow for as much space as possible - especially in children's rooms. I can't have traditional headboards in my boys' bedroom. The two beds are aligned against the far room separated only by a bedside table. The wall behind one bed is larger than the other and so one bad shares space with a wall and a window. A headboard would block the window and block much desired sunlight from entering the small space. The bed in my room, the master bedroom has the same issue. I wanted the bed placed as far away from the door as possible and I also needed wall space for a large dresser and an oversized armoire. In lieu of traditional headboards, I have used pieces of art to mimic an actual headboard. My old masterbedroom had Cathedral ceilings - it was such a lovely room. To accentuate the height of the room I hung two long, white heavy cotton curtains from a wrought iron pole across the top of the wall, directly behind the bed. This acted like a headboard and accentuated the dramatically high ceiling. The room itself was not very wide and a headboard of our king sized bed would have made the room seem smaller in size instead larger. 

Below are some clever ideas that steer away from the traditional. Turn an old wooden headboard into something more up to date by covering it with some fabric. Use mirrors, maps, and frames. A hand painted wall creates a lovely headboard for a child's room, as do antique doors and mantels. Below you'll see a lovely headboard created from a wall of Spanish tile and another from a simple curtain. For those on a budget, these are beautiful, cost effective alternatives.

Jessica