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While there are those of us who relish the opportunity to customize a space from top to bottom, particularly with IKEA hacks, there are others who would rather not. This second cohort appreciates a hard-won update, of course, but that doesn’t mean they’re as willing to do the work themselves.
And if you’re ever wondering which group designer Emily Henderson would find herself in, it turns out it’s the latter. “I’m in no way an IKEA hack pro,” she says. “I am always in awe of the people who create the coolest things out of IKEA furniture.”
But even if Henderson is more comfortable styling a space rather than building it from scratch, that doesn’t mean all IKEA hacks are off the table. We asked her for her favorite project featuring the beloved Swedish retailer, and she had a low-lift but undeniably transformative one to offer. “One hack that both my team and I have done involves the Tarva wood bed frame,” she says.
If you’re in the camp that mostly admires IKEA hacks rather than attempts them, this is the DIY equivalent of dipping your toe in the pool. Given the straightforward composition of the headboard, it’s the ideal base for an easy upholstering project—where the biggest challenge will likely be choosing your preferred fabric.
To upholster the bed frame in her son’s room, Henderson layered two sheets of batting beneath vintage fabrics. “For another idea, my team’s alumna, Julie Rose, painted the frame black and then sewed a large cushion to drape over the headboard. There are so many ways to hack this wildly affordable bed,” she says. Make sure you’re using a staple gun to secure the batting and fabrics in place, and watch those fingers as you get the job done. Who cares if you aren’t a DIY pro? With a headboard as comfortable as this project promises, you’ll still rest easy.