Give Your Heirloom Quilt A Place Of Honor With A Headboard Hack

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Heirloom quilts are undoubtedly stunning. The colors, the craftsmanship, the legacy — there's nothing like snuggling underneath one on a cold winter's day or admiring the splash of color they bring when draped over the back of the couch. However, finding the perfect spot to showcase a priceless treasure is tricky, especially if your living room is already loaded down with blankets. Instead of tucking that quilt back into storage, put your family heirloom on display by hanging it behind your bed as a DIY headboard.

Many designers believe a headboard can create a cohesive look in your space, but with queen-sized versions ranging from $100 to $300 and beyond, purchasing one may feel like an extravagance. Using an heirloom quilt as an easy DIY headboard can upgrade your bedroom without breaking your budget.

There are two things to consider before displaying your quilt: how much it weighs and if you're comfortable altering it. It's important to know how much the quilt weighs because the last thing you want is for it to fall off its mount in the middle of the night, right? Thanks to their fabrics, batting, and size, quilt weights can range from a few pounds to seven. If you aren't sure of the weight, use the bathroom scale to get a general idea.

Now that you know its weight and your comfort level, choose how to hang your quilt. If you have a heavier quilt and would prefer not to alter it, using a curtain rod may be the best option. Start by measuring where you want the top of your "headboard" to be. Then, install the mounting brackets into studs for extra security, and slide in the rod. (Metal rods are ideal for heavier quilts, while wood rods are good for light to medium-weight ones.) For a cohesive look, spray paint the rods and hardware. Once dry, drape the quilt over the rod for a DIY headboard.

Have a lighter quilt you'd like to display? Command Large Picture Hanging Strips are a popular, no-alteration method for light quilts. After you measure and mark where to display the quilt, use sewing straight pins — like Sunenlyst Sewing Pins — to pin a strip onto the left and right inside edges of the quilt, and another in the middle. Install the corresponding strips to the wall, then press into place. If you're handy with a needle and don't mind altering the heirloom, sew on a hanging sleeve to the back of the quilt by sewing the edges of a long piece of spare fabric together (at least the width of the quilt) and whipstitching it to the top inside edge of the quilt. You can then thread the quilt onto a curtain rod and hang from brackets or a wooden dowel and tie cotton twine or ribbon on the edges to add some personality.