Instead Of Tossing Her Bed Frame, She Put A $40 DIY Headboard In Front

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Maya Drozdz wanted a more vintage look but found that her bed’s headboard could not be detached. Rather than replace the working frame, she bought a $40 headboard at auction, painted its fabric with diluted chalk paint, added patterned fabric to the border and attached it in front of the original.

Maya Drozdz updated her bedroom without replacing its queen-size bed frame, placing a refurbished $40 auction headboard in front of the existing, non-detachable headboard. In an Apartment Therapy report, Drozdz described painting the secondhand headboard’s fabric and adding patterned trim to achieve a more vintage look while keeping a bed she said was still high quality.

Drozdz told Apartment Therapy that her taste had shifted from the bed frame’s modern aesthetic toward an eclectic, vintage style. She initially hoped to change only the headboard, but the original was built into the frame and could not be removed. She realized a king-size headboard could sit in front of the queen-size one, allowing her to keep the bed and add a different look.

Her first plan was to reupholster the auction find, but the stapler she had was not able to handle its thick fabric. Drozdz then researched painting stained upholstery and chose dark gray-teal chalk paint, mixed with water. She said the first layers looked poor and made her nervous about the result. After four light coats, she said, the fabric was covered without becoming crunchy; she sealed it with furniture wax.

To finish the headboard, Drozdz glued Morris & Co.’s Golden Lily fabric in the Sunshine colorway along its upper border. She added thick rope cord at the seam between the new fabric and painted upholstery, both to cover the join and to conceal imperfections. Metal adapter brackets connected the added headboard to her existing bed frame.

A Bed Update Without Replacing the Frame

The project offers a specific alternative for people whose bed frame is still usable but whose built-in headboard no longer suits their room. Rather than discard the existing frame, Drozdz used a secondhand piece as a visual layer, making the change without replacing the bed as a whole.

The reported $40 purchase price is the cost of the auction headboard, not a confirmed total for every material used. Paint, wax, fabric, rope cord and brackets were also part of the project, and Apartment Therapy’s account does not provide a complete materials budget. The example shows how adapting a piece and working with its existing upholstery can reduce the need for a full furniture replacement, though results and costs will depend on the bed and materials.

Why the Headboard Could Not Be Removed

Drozdz’s bed was a high-quality frame she had bought years earlier, but its headboard was not detachable. That limitation shaped the project: instead of replacing one component, she looked for a way to position another headboard in front of it. She said the larger piece fit in front of the queen-size bed without issues.

The original plan to reupholster the auction headboard changed when her stapler could not manage the thick fabric. Drozdz said she researched painting the stained material before choosing diluted chalk paint. Her account describes a project-specific approach, not a guarantee that every fabric, paint or bed-frame combination will work the same way.

“I have a really high-quality bed with a vaguely modern aesthetic that no longer suits me.”

— Maya Drozdz, as quoted by Apartment Therapy

Total Cost and Long-Term Wear

Apartment Therapy identifies the headboard’s $40 auction price, but does not state the project’s full cost, including paint, furniture wax, fabric, rope cord and metal brackets. The report also does not specify the project’s completion date or provide independent testing of how the painted upholstery holds up over time.

It is not clear whether the headboard’s brackets or placement would suit other bed frames. Drozdz said the king-size headboard fit in front of her queen-size one; that does not establish that the same arrangement will work with different frame designs, room layouts or headboard weights. The source does not detail any additional installation or stability checks.

A Project Without a Reported Follow-Up

Apartment Therapy’s account presents the completed bedroom update and Drozdz’s description of the process. It does not announce a follow-up, additional work or a later durability assessment. Readers considering a similar setup would need to check the dimensions and attachment points of their own frame and headboard, and account for all materials rather than treating the auction price as the total project cost.

Key Questions

How much did Maya Drozdz pay for the headboard?

Drozdz said she won it at a local auction for $40. The report does not give a total cost for paint, wax, fabric, cord and brackets.

Why did she put the new headboard in front of the old one?

The original headboard could not be detached from the bed frame. Drozdz said a king-size headboard fit in front of her queen-size headboard, letting her keep the existing frame.

What did she use to change the headboard’s upholstery?

After her stapler did not work for reupholstering the thick fabric, she used chalk paint mixed with water. She reported applying four light layers and sealing the painted fabric with furniture wax.

What decorative details did she add?

Drozdz glued Morris & Co.’s Golden Lily fabric in the Sunshine colorway along the upper border and added rope cord at the seam to cover the join and imperfections.

Will this approach work with any bed frame?

The report describes Drozdz’s arrangement, not a universal fit. She used metal adapter brackets, but the source does not say that the same headboard or attachment method will suit other frames.

Source: rss