How to Make a DIY Headboard with Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Want to transform your bedroom in a flash with a bold pop of color? In this tutorial, interior designer and Spoonflower artist Danika Herrick shares how you can quickly and easily create your own DIY headboard with Peel and Stick wallpaper. You’ll learn how she revamped a blank beige dorm room into a cozy space—in just a few steps, and with no heavy lifting!

Danika: While moving into your first dorm room or apartment is such an exciting event, having to decorate it yourself can feel overwhelming. Additionally, trying to find affordable options—especially renter-friendly and stylish ones—can leave you with limited design choices.

Recently, I used Spoonflower to create a one-of-a-kind dorm room that ties together several patterns with a unified color scheme. From fabric to wallpaper to custom home decor items, Spoonflower lets you easily curate a look uniquely your own by mixing and matching designs. Best of all, most of their designs can be printed on all of their fabric substrates and wallpaper types as well as on home decor items like bedding, curtains and throw pillows. 

For this project, my challenge was to decorate an extremely basic dorm room that was a blank slate with off-white walls, beige floors and twin beds. The color scheme I was given included pinks, yellow and corals, so I got to work pulling a few designs together.  

Most dorm rooms and apartments do not want you painting or hanging wallpaper, but Spoonflower’s Peel and Stick wallpaper is so renter friendly! Easily installed on smooth walls, it’s even easier to remove—just peel it off. (Want more installation information? Read “How to Install Spoonflower Peel and Stick wallpaper.”) In this space, I used it in small doses to add color and interest. Think of it like “paint on a roll.” If you don’t like the color of something, cover it with Peel and Stick wallpaper! From dresser drawers to the mini fridge, there are so many parts of dorm rooms that start out as a blank canvas but can be customized to you.   

Originally, I planned to create fabric headboards but then decided to take an easier and quicker no-sew approach with DIY faux headboards instead. By using Peel and Stick wallpaper you can create custom-looking headboards in any shape or size in a few easy steps on smooth, untextured walls. 

To find inspiration, I went online and searched “headboard shapes.” I eventually settled on an arched design. The sky is the limit here, giving you the chance to get creative and choose something simultaneously fun and in your comfort zone. Since this is a DIY project, you’re not limited to just traditional headboard styles. You could use large shapes like circles or even stripes to frame out your bed.  

Do you want it to extend past the bed to add extra framing? If so, will it go all the way to the floor? Or do you want the headboard solely behind the mattress area? Take measurements of the style you prefer first, then sketch it out on grid paper to determine the project’s height and width.  

Spoonflower wallpaper is 24” wide. With that in mind, once you have your project measurements, first divide your headboard design’s width by 24 to figure how many strips of wallpaper you will need. Next, decide how long each strip will need to be. The great thing about Peel and Stick wallpaper is that you can order it in multiple lengths of 3, 6, 9 or 12’ rolls. My bed frame was 38” wide and I wanted my headboard to be about 3’ tall so I was able to use two 3’ strips per headboard.  

Make sure to incorporate the 1/2” overlap seam in the pattern. Figure out where you want the center of your headboard to be and measure outward to mark the edges of the sides. If needed, trim off any extra width along the sides. 

Lightly sketch your headboard shape onto the wallpaper to create cut guidelines.

If your headboard design is symmetrical, I recommend a) sketching one side first, b) cutting the design out and c) laying the cut design facedown along the other edge. Then trace the cut edge on the other side to create a mirror image.

Next, cut the complete headboard design out.  

Create pencil guidelines on your wall that show the headboard’s edges and center point. I like to make my marks on tape, so I have nothing to erase afterwards.  

Starting at the top left of the design, smooth any air bubbles as you go. As you apply the first piece of wallpaper, use a level to keep the edges straight. Continue with your next strip, overlapping your seam and matching your pattern as you go. If you mess up, don’t fret. Peel and Stick is easy to reposition. Once all your headboard panels are up, you can make your bed and admire your handy work!

Creating extra artwork for the room was another easy project. I picked up a couple of inexpensive art frames and then cut a few wallpaper samples to fit. That’s it! With Spoonflower’s extensive design library, you can create a gallery wall using an array of samples or frame large panels of wallpaper to add drama.  

Did you know that most Spoonflower designs are also available in home decor items that are sewn to order? This takes finishing your room to the next level, allowing you to mix and match designs to coordinate with your fabric and wallpaper projects. From tablecloths and napkins, to curtains, throw blankets and bedding, there are endless ways to finish your space! I dove into the bedding section and coordinated a few patterns for duvet covers, shams, pillows and sheets. Speaking of sheets, Spoonflower’s twin XL sheets are perfect for college dorm beds! 

Sheets are printed on Perennial Sateen Grand, which is a buttery smooth, lightweight cotton. I used Pinecone 4 Citrus Yellow for the sheets and Mughal Field Citrus for the duvet covers. I even ordered a pillow sham in Travis Stripe Citrus. Whether you want matching bedding like we did here, or two different print looks on each bed that coordinate with color, Spoonflower has you covered!