I Love This IKEA TARVA Headboard Hack (It’s Giving “Luxury-Inspired Goddess”)
Some room transformations are filled with so many DIY projects that it’s tough to appreciate each individual one — and Nicole Herrick’s DIY-filled bedroom redo is one of them. Nicole upcycled nightstands, made her own Kelly Wearstler-inspired lamps, assembled her own pendant light, and reupholstered an old armchair in bouclé fabric. All that is extremely impressive, but my personal favorite project is her headboard, which transforms an IKEA bed frame into what she now calls “a luxury-inspired goddess,” and I think it deserves a little celebration of its own.
When I see people taking on projects to save a little money, it really inspires me, which is why I love this sentiment from Nicole’s previously published Before & After: “If you want to save money and have the time, DIY EVERYTHING!” she says. And, needless to say, her DIY headboard definitely paid off.
Here’s how she DIYed her cloud-like cushioned headboard.
She started with a TARVA bed frame with a slatted pine headboard, but she actually cut off the bed’s existing headboard and was left with the frame.
She used MDF to create a new headboard, adding round edges using bowls.
She attached foam from an old mattress to the MDF to give it some cushion and carved the foam mattress a bit to give it the curved shape she was after.
She wrapped the MDF and foam in batting and stapled it on.
She wrapped the batting-covered headboard in her fabric of choice, a neutral suede. (Personally, one of my favorite parts of the project is the color choice because I love neutrals. If Nicole decides to switch up her bedding, it’ll still match the headboard.)
She repeated this process two more times to create three headboard pieces with rounded corners.
Here’s how she attached the new upholstered headboard to the IKEA frame.
She attached a few extra wood pieces to the TARVA frame for support.
She attached her new MDF, foam, batting, and fabric to the wood support pieces using screws and liquid nails.
The final result is a cozy, comfy bed with a one-of-a-kind style. “No one would ever suspect its bones are IKEA,” Nicole says. See her full room redo (including the nightstand, lamp, and armchair DIYs) here.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
