10 Dorm Bed Headboards That Will Make Your Room 10x Comfier and Cuter

The standard college dorm bed often comes with a firm (and, let’s be honest, less-than-comfortable) mattress and a twin XL wooden bedframe. What it doesn’t typically include, though, is a sturdy headboard. What’s the point of a headboard? It can make lounging in bed comfier, prevent your pillows from sliding off in the middle of the night, and offer another way to make your bed the well-styled centerpiece of your room it’s begging to be.  

Since dorm beds are often lofted to some degree, attaching a headboard can be tricky, and while your bed doesn’t necessarily need one (the no-headboard look can lend itself to a modern dorm aesthetic, anyway), some students miss the chic backdrop and cozy atmosphere that a backrest provides. When you’re looking to stylize your bed and add some extra support at the same time, these 11 dorm bed headboards are here to help you do just that.

When you want a backrest that’s strong and solidly built, a Velcro wall panel is a great way to achieve it. This dorm bed headboard is conveniently designed to stick right to your wall so that it doesn’t shift around at night. And it comes in a variety of geometric designs and a range of patterns, from plain to eccentric, so it can fit whatever vibe you’re manifesting for your dorm. 

You can easily recreate the look and feel of a headboard with a wide, headboard-style pillow. Not only will a nice, fluffy cotton pillow behind your back be sure to keep you resting well, but it’ll give your dorm bed a classic bedroom feel. It’s lightweight and easy to move — which is perfect, considering you’ll probably want to use it for semesters to come.

When you’ve lofted your bed or propped it up on risers but still want a more traditional headboard look, then a height-adjustable headboard is a great way to ensure a perfect fit. This headboard lets you customize your sleeping experience by adjusting the backrest to exactly your preferred height. 

Another option is to create a cozy nest with a luxuriously large wedge pillow — this one even has a pocket on the side where you can tuck your phone. These pillows are designed to enhance your sleep; plus, this form of dorm bed headboard is a perfect statement item for anyone looking to curate a glam living space, thanks to its tufted details.

University dorms famously lack storage for keeping a year’s worth of clothing, school supplies, and toiletries. If you have more things than you have drawers or shelves, solve two problems at once by choosing a freestanding headboard with built-in storage. This kind of functional headboard gives you some extra room to tuck away your things and stands up on its own, meaning there’s no installation involved. It’s an efficient frame that will support you, and your things, while you sleep. 

Looking for a dorm bed “headboard” that’s more plush and portable than anything? Then you might actually consider a cozy backrest pillow. These pillows make lounging in bed comfier, while also giving your place a homey ambiance — all without the hassle of moving a large piece of furniture into your dorm. When your priority is comfort, this is a simple, but still cute, alternative to give your bed some more personality throughout the semester. 

A cost-effective way to get the cutest tufted headboard is by making one yourself using an unconventional object: the pool noodle. By attaching several of them to a plywood board with hot glue, draping your preferred fabric on top, and stapling it down to the board, you’ll have just made an inexpensive and modern DIY pool noodle headboard. 

Adding a headboard to your bed can be as easy as putting a rug behind it — no, seriously. As DIYer, influencer, and Apartment Therapy 2023 Design Changemaker Emily Shaw demonstrates, you can take a small space rug that matches your room’s design and make a DIY headboard by simply hot-gluing it onto a piece of sturdy cardboard. Mount it to the wall behind your bed with a few Command strips, and voilà: an adorable accessory for your room that doubles as a testament to your creativity. 

The only materials you need for this DIY — also courtesy of Shaw — are a large piece of foam board, a few picture frames (you can find these at the dollar store), some strong glue, and some spray paint. Shaw shows how you can simply take apart the frames, glue them to the foam board to create a grid, and spray paint it whatever color you’d like. Let it dry, adhere it to the wall behind your bed, and you have a customized headboard for just a few dollars.  

Boho-chic is definitely an it-aesthetic for 2025 fashion, but who says this style has to stop with your clothes? If you have a sewing machine and want your room to feel like a cozy Coachella tent, then you should definitely make this curtain canopy to put behind your bed. Just sew some mini-tassel fringe onto a curtain, loop it around an embroidery hoop with a knot at the end, and you’ll have an adorable canopy that gives your bed an artsy flair. If you’re too busy packing with no time for a DIY, you can also buy a similar bed canopy online and have it delivered to campus.