Headboards come in several sizes—to match the beds they sit behind—and limitless styles.
But what do you do after your baby girl grows out of her princess bed? Or you’ve become tired of the rustic country theme in your bedroom, and you’re ready to try out something more contemporary. Well, you could leave them at the curb or sell them in a yard sale, where someone else will find them and repurpose them. Or you could look at the 50 following ideas and do something with it yourself.
The best part of this upcycle is these headboard ideas are pretty simple to replicate.
1. Coat Rack
Everyone could use a coat rack, even if you live somewhere where coats aren’t necessary. Because there is always something to hang, and using an old headboard to do it is earth-friendly and practical.
2. Idea board
If you come across an old spindle type headboard or footboard this is the perfect project for it. It’s a great project for bloggers, fiction writers, and anyone who would like to keep track of ideas.
3. Command center
A great idea for a home office. You can keep track of messages or just some clutter you would like off your desk. You can even incorporate a chalkboard.
4. Christmas Stocking Holder
No explanation necessary here. And even if you only use it for one month of the year, it would certainly be useful for a lot of people.
5. Porch Décor
I’ve never really thought about how practical a porch hanger might be. But looking at this I’m getting all sorts of ideas. I bet others are too.
6. Doggie Daybed
If you have the room and your pupper is big enough to get up on it, I think this idea is a winner. And they will have lots of room to stretch—not to mention room for their fave toys.
7. Flower Bed
Are you one of those people who are always looking for something to add to the landscape that you can plant something in? Look no further. This is a great idea, and you can paint it in whatever colors work for you.
8. Corner Bench
Sometimes finding something to fill a bare corner can be difficult. Corner tables are hard to find, and often ugly. But a corner bench! What a smart idea. A wise use of space.
9. Door Pediment
Add some pizzaz to a door in your home. You could decorate a small headboard however you like, and it would be a great conversation piece.
10. Garden Gate
Forget about a boring old gate made out of 2 x 4 fencing lumber. Find yourself an ornate—or not ornate if that’s your preference—and use it as your gate.
11. Porch Swing
What a way to end your day. Or maybe even start it. I could see sitting out there with my morning coffee on a beautiful morning. And who doesn’t love a porch swing?
12. Kitchen Sign
Do you have a bare kitchen wall you’d love to do something with? Perhaps we have an answer for you. You could even add hooks to this and hang your larger utensils from it. It would save some drawer space too!
13. Credenza
This project would take some extra work, but it would be well worth it. This would be great for an office or the dining room. You could use it as a side table.
14. Chalkboard
Who doesn’t love a chalkboard? And right now I’m realizing the merits of having one in the kitchen. Depending on the size, you could scribble your recipe on it. I hate scrolling on a device or getting sticky spots on a paper recipes.
15. Organizer
I think this is more a coat rack then organizer, but you could organize scarves and belts on it too. It would be great for a bedroom, depending on the décor.
16. Sofa Table
Sofa tables are such a great idea, especially when you are in an open concept area and using the sofa as a room divider. And it’s another place for nick knacks if you are so inclined.
17. Welcome Sign
Do you have a property where a welcome sign might make sense? A lane way to the cottage, or just a long driveway up to your house? It’s a great landmark to tell people to watch out for.
18. Sign
This is actually made from a footboard, not a headboard. And small enough to make a great kitchen sign.
19. Storage Bench
You can never have enough storage space. This bench with the shelf and basket does a great job at adding some.
20. Bench
I’m hoping this headboard to bench conversion is still a work in progress. Because as is, that looks uncomfortable and unsafe.
21. Shelf
This is a perfect conversion to a bathroom self. Room to hang a bathrobe or towels. And a shelf for fresh towels and some toiletries. I love it!
22. Porch Swing
I’m going to guess some engineering would have to be included in an upcycle like this. Unless it’s just for show, and you don’t need to worry about support and how much weight it can take.
23. Corner Bench
I love this cute little bench. However, since it is a corner bench, I would put it in a corner. I think it just looks awkward, otherwise.
24. Clipboard Photo Display
When the fridge runs out of surface space and you can’t hang anymore pictures, this provides a great backup. And the hooks make it useful for keys and whatnot too. Brilliant.
25. Welcome Sign
Another great idea for a welcome sign. I’m getting a little jealous, wishing I had the kind of house where I could get away with something like this. It’s way better than the welcome mat at the front door.
26. Sofa Table
If you have an idea to create a sofa table from an old headboard, your options will be limited. You’ll need to find a specific style since something spindly clearly won’t work.
27. Bench
This bench was repurposed from both a headboard and footboard. You could either upholster it like this one, or leave it bare so you could use it outside.
28. Gate
I love this garden gate. And it’s hard to tell, but there might be a vegetable garden behind it. This is a great way to keep out deer and other larger creatures.
29. Coat Rack
Is everyone tossing their coats when they come in the door, instead of heading to the coat closet? Something like this might be a good idea, and keep you from losing your mind.
Desk
What a great use of space. Not to mention a great use of an old headboard. The desk could be used for makeup if you added a mirror, of for your new work from home life.
31. Sign
Given the coat hooks I’m guessing this isn’t the final destination of this sign. Regardless, can you think of a more perfect sign for a B&B? Using a headboard is ingenious.
32. Bench
This is gorgeous. And clearly, they’ve reused all for posts from the bed. Forget the pumpkins, I want to sit there.
33. Coat Hanger
You couldn’t use this coat rack anywhere, A lot of entry ways are small spaces, so you’d need a fairly large foyer for this one.
34. Upholstered Headboard
This piece was transformed from something your granny might have in her home to something more contemporary. The original floral fabric and dark wood is gone, replaced with a more modern look.
Sign
More great signage for a bed and breakfast. And it could be put in so many places. Out at the road, on an exterior wall, or even somewhere inside.
36. Bench
Probably not somewhere were you want to curl up for hours with a book, but this is cute. It would make a great accent piece, and you could paint it whatever color works for you.
37. Organizer
Another organizer slash coat rack. I like the distressed edges. If you have the room, this would like great in a mudroom. Great for coats and mittens on strings.
38. Coat hanger
The Cottage Inn sure is getting a lot of signs! This one is smaller, so you could use it in a lot more places. It has a delicate look to it too.
39. Bench
This is a gorgeous bench, and again, I love the distressed edges. Think of a hallway or room you could put this is. And think of a great verse to showcase on it.
40. Chalkboard
A chalkboard for anywhere. A kitchen, an office, a bedroom, you choose. Add a motivational message for the day or week, and you have something functional and helpful.
41. Sign
This is so pretty. Can you see this sitting on your porch? And it’s hard to see, but they also have the names of the family members scripted across the bottom too.
42. Bench
Of all the headboards/footboards I’ve seen upcycled into a bench, this is by far my favorite. Perhaps it’s the seat that does it for me, but this is just gorgeous.
43. Shelf
Do you have a country kitchen, or maybe wish you had one? This would be a great addition. Paint it whatever color you want, and it doesn’t take up a lot of wall space.
44. Storage Bench
With the pink cushions and upholstery, wouldn’t this be perfect for your daughter’s bedroom, assuming she has the room. The best part, you can pick these old headboards up at yard sales for just a few dollars.
45. Gate
You’re not going to saw this apart with a regular saw, but with the right tools, you could have yourself a cute and functional gate. And much more interesting than some planks or posts of wood.
46. Towel Rack
All that white on white is a little blurred, but that is a nice rack. And you wouldn’t be limited to using it as a towel rack. Use it to hang whatever you want.
47. Menu board
What’s for lunch? What’s for dinner? Do you hear that often, and from several members of your family? Save yourself answering every time by putting up the day’s menu in the kitchen.
48. Garden Trellis
This would be a simple project. With the right kind of headboard, you could make yourself a perfect trellis. You could even cut it in half and make two smaller ones.
49. Desk
This would look perfect in your foyer or your bedroom. I think it would make a great makeup table, especially if they have added a drawer.
50. Bookshelf
I can see this over the fireplace mantle. A great spot to highlight even more family photos and nick knacks you would like to display.
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