In the world of bedroom décor, a headboard is one element that can be as traditional or as unconventional as you like. Headboards add a lot to the room’s design and often serve as the main focal point. Considering the perfect headboard for your space is about more than looks, however. Store-bought headboards come with a hefty price tag and second-hand headboards can be hard to find, especially in decent condition and in a style you actually like. These days, many thrifters and DIYers, as well as designers with an eye for unique upcycles, are looking beyond traditional headboards and have made an art of using unconventional items as frugal headboard alternatives.

One chic thrifted item that makes the perfect headboard is a vintage room divider. Room dividers date back to the seventh century when members of China’s elite class began using them to designate private and communal spaces. They quickly became a medium for artists and served as functional masterpieces. The tradition of ornate room dividers has endured over the ages, and dividers are made from all manner of materials, styles, and designs. This makes them excellent candidates for a headboard, as you can find just about any look to suit your space. Whether you want subtle simplicity or over-the-top maximalism, the right room divider headboard will elevate your entire bedroom.

The challenge with using room dividers as headboards is finding one that matches your bed’s width. You’ll need to know your measurements when you shop. For a quick reference: Twin beds are 39 inches wide, full beds are 54 inches, queens are 60 inches, and kings are 75 inches wide. Room dividers vary so widely in size that it’s just a matter of finding the right one. 

If you find a beautiful vintage divider you love that isn’t quite the right fit, you can still make it work for your headboard. An oversized divider will become a true statement piece in your bedroom, and a small divider can be embellished to suit your space. For example, you can experiment with hanging the small divider horizontally on the wall, add matching items on either side to create width, or DIY your own room divider to layer behind the vintage divider and complete the look.  

The key to scoring a unique headboard secondhand is creativity. If you can look beyond the original intent of the item, the possibilities for unconventional headboards are endless. Reclaimed wood, rustic doors, shabby-chic shutters, and bookcases are all headboard-worthy thrift store finds to look out for. Even a rug can be transformed into a DIY boho-chic headboard. Yet, perhaps the ultimate thrifty headboard idea is no headboard at all. Paint is another inexpensive and creative design hack for a modern twist on a traditional headboard. Similarly, you can save hundreds by fashioning a faux wallpaper headboard out of Dollar Tree materials. Whatever you decide, you’ll love how it adds style to your bedroom.