This TikTok-Approved DIY Is the Cutest Way to Display Your Photos (It Doubles as a Headboard!)

The key to making your dorm a space where you want to hang out is to find dorm essentials that are functional and cute, like colorful storage boxes or printed wall hooks. One way to quickly imbue your dorm with personality is to hide boring walls with art, posters, and bulletin boards. And if you want a one-and-done solution for a very large blank space, this bulletin board DIY is the answer — it can even double as a headboard. 

You only need two supplies and a flat staple gun for this DIY, as creator Lauren Liberg (@laurenliberg on TikTok) demonstrates in this TikTok video showcasing the process. If you’re ready to get started, here’s how you can turn a foam board into a fabulous bulletin board and bring some life to your walls. 

The first step in making this board is collecting your materials.

• Foamular insulation board 
• Linen sheet (or curtain)
• Flat staple gun

If you can find an old neutral fabric curtain, that is perfect. In the TikTok, the creator used a linen curtain. You could also look at the thrift store for a cheap one, or even use an old sheet or tablecloth. If you want to add a pop of color, use a colored or patterned curtain for the board. 

Next, you’ll want to buy a foamular insulation board from The Home Depot. Depending on size, the prices range from $9 to around $44. Liberg didn’t specify exactly what size she used, but it looks pretty large, so a 3-foot-by-7-foot board, which costs $30, should give you a similar final product.

Once you have the materials, you’ll need to spread out the sheet on a flat surface and place the board on top. To secure the sheet on the board, fold the excess material over to the back and staple it down. 

When you flip the board over, it should be perfectly flat and ready to decorate! You can use push pins or staples to secure photos, invitations, and drawings onto the board. However, you don’t need to decorate the board before you hang it on the wall. You can continue to add or take away decorations once the board is secured on the wall. 

To secure your DIY bulletin board to the wall in your dorm, you can use Velcro tape or Command strips. Just make sure to look at the weight limits and add enough to sustain it. If you’re in an apartment where you can put nails or screws into the wall (after checking with your landlord, of course), you can try to do something similar to what Liberg shows in the video — it appears she drills four metal brackets into the wall to support the board. She has two brackets on the bottom, and two on the top, and rests the board on them.

There’s nothing better than a multi-purpose DIY, and that’s exactly what this board is. In addition to being a bulletin board, it can also serve as a cute headboard above your bed. To match the width of a twin XL bed, you’ll need a board that’s about 38 inches wide. 

To assemble the headboard, you can make it exactly the same way as you would the bulletin board, but instead of putting it on the wall over a desk, hang it on the wall about 10 inches above your bed. This way, you will have space to prop up your pillow, while still seeing the board. Plus, you will be able to lie back on it with the support of your pillow.

This headboard is extremely personal, as you can customize it with your favorite photos, printouts, and drawings. You can also personalize the board by adding criss-crossed ribbons, like you’ll sometimes see on bulletin boards. Because you can use any color sheet on the board, you can find one to match your room’s bedding and color scheme. If you have neutral colors on your bed, using a bright, colorful sheet for your bulletin board headboard can be an awesome accent piece.