How to Make a DIY Pool Noodle Headboard in a Few Easy Steps

10 Materials
$75
3 Hours
Easy

Today, we’re mastering the pool noodle headboard. We’re going to transform a super-boring IKEA MALM bed into a designer-inspired piece with a DIY arched headboard made out of pool noodles.


This IKEA MALM bed hack is super-simple to do and doesn’t take much effort, and the result is beautiful and cozy. Can you make a DIY headboard out of pool noodles? Let’s find out!

Tools and materials:

  • IKEA MALM bed
  • Drill
  • Knife
  • Foam rolls
  • Staple gun
  • Fabric
  • Jigsaw
  • Marker
  • Pool noodles
  • Tape


DIY Pool Noodle Furniture

Discover how to make couches, headboards, stools, and more with these pool noodle furniture ideas.
 

IKEA MALM bed

Arched headboard inspiration


Disassembling the MALM bed

1. Disassemble the bed

Or, you could buy the bed from IKEA and not assemble it to begin with.

Covering the bed with foam

2. Cover with foam

Add foam to the front and headboard of the bed to make it look squishy and comfortable. For the sides, we’ll just add the fabric.

Stapling the foam to the bed pieces

Cut the foam to size, then staple it to the boards.

Trimming the foam with a knife

Be careful not to cover the holes with foam, as we’ll need to see those to be able to screw the bed together.

Covering the foam with fabric

3. Cover with fabric

Now it’s time to cover the pieces with fabric. Make sure you wrap the fabric all the way around the pieces and staple at the back so that the staples won’t be visible from the sides or front.

Assembling the MALM bed

4. Assemble the bed

Now it’s time to put all the pieces together.

Drawing a half circle for the DIY headboard

5. Make the headboard

For the DIY half-circle headboard, I think that the bigger, the better! So, instead of cutting the existing headboard, I’m using a piece from the bottom of the bed and drawing a large curve. You could use any scrap wood you have for this.

Cutting out the shape with a jigsaw

Then, cut out the shape with your jigsaw.

Covering the headboard with foam

Cover the headboard with foam, as you did with the other pieces.

Drawing where the pool noodle will go

6. Add pool noodles

Pool noodles are my best friend. I’ve made a DIY pool noodle couch and pool noodle bed frame. Now it’s time to make a pool noodle headboard!


Place the pool noodle along the curved edge of the headboard. Draw where the pool noodle will go, so we know where to staple the fabric.

Covering the DIY headboard with fabric

Cover the headboard with fabric and staple it along the line.

Taping two pool noodles together

Your pool noodle likely won’t be long enough to go around the whole headboard, so tape two together.

Covering the pool noodle with fabric

Next, add the pool noodle, cover it with fabric, and staple the fabric to the back.

DIY arched headboard out of pool noodles

IKEA MALM bed hack

DIY headboard with pool noodles


Pool noodle headboard

Pool noodle headboard

What do you think of this gorgeous pool noodle headboard and revamped IKEA MALM bed? I’m obsessed with the result. It’s soft, comfortable, and totally doesn’t look like an IKEA piece.


For another IKEA hack, discover how to create a DIY mirror wall out of cheap IKEA mirrors.


What do you think of this DIY arched headboard and bed idea? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Suggested materials:
  • IKEA MALM bed
  • Drill
  • Knife
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