Five hacks to transform Ikea’s Malm bed

The humble Ikea Malm bed is as basic as beds come.

At $329 (for a Queen size) it’s one of the most affordable beds around, but you can customize it to make it look a lot more expensive.

Showcasing minimalist clean lines and a plain oak timber veneer headboard, the Malm is a timeless design that works as it is, and suits a range of décor styles.

But it really comes into its own when the headboard is customized to make a totally unique design.

Here are some clever headboard hacks – including some with step-by-step tutorials – to inspire you.

Rustic charm

Did you see my home before and after on the blog? Click the link in my bio and go to DIY tutorials for the blog post and video. See all the ex rental, stuck in the '90s rooms in my home transform to Scandinavian rustic light spaces. 🔨 This is my bed that got a new rustic look with some vinyl floor planks (swipe to see before) #homemakeover #ikeahack #mynesthome

In this hack, the headboard and frame have been covered in gray wood vinyl planks. Head to Hester's Handmade Home for the video tutorial.

Scandi style

Ach herrje, heute bin ich ja ganz eingeschüchtert von euren tollen Schlafzimmern 🙊 Wie schön schlaft ihr bitte? 😳 Meins habe ich euch in letzter Zeit ja schon recht oft gezeigt, aber ich freue mich, dass ich immer noch so viele Nachrichten von euch dazu bekomme ♡ Vor allem zu meinem IKEA-Malm-Bett-Hack! [Anleitung auf dem Blog] Es ist so toll zu hören, wie viele von euch es nachbauen! Das freut mich wirklich sehr und ist das allergrößte Kompliment, das man bekommen kann.. So.. jetzt zeig ich euch noch meine #faves von gestern und dann ich bin platt für heute [Ja, so ein IKEA Tag kann ganz schön anstrengend sein 😅☝🏻] und freue mich auf einen entspannten Resttag! Und @tini_busch Schön, dass wir uns heute wiedergetroffen haben 🙋🏻Ich hoffe, du hast trotz der kleinen Verzögerung noch eine schöne Runde gedreht 😂✌🏻Lustig war's! ______________________________ #wohngoldstück #interiorblog #interiorblogger #germaninteriorbloggers #instagraminteriorchallenge #iic #iic2017 #tag10 #bedroom #iicbedroom #instahome #inspiration #meinikea #ikeahack #malmbett #solebich #couchstyle

Here, the owner has attached pale raw timber planks to the bedhead for a restrained Scandinavian look.

Reclaimed timber

We're back!! Missing my family in WV already, but glad to be back home to my own bed. Excited to catch up on some fun things to share with you this week after I've been MIA for so long! This weekend will definitely consist of house cleaning, grocery shopping, and emails. What are your big plans?!

Over at Sugar and Cloth, the Malm has been customized with adhesive timber to recreate a reclaimed wood look. Here is the full tutorial.

Luxe velvet

Ikea

It’s always fun when Ikea hacks its own products, and this is no exception. Here, the humble Malm has been transformed with padded velvet for a luxurious boutique hotel look. Get Ikea’s step by step tutorial here.

Playful and pretty

Learn how to make a simple headboard slipcover to change up bedrooms without the commitment -- it has a super cute storage pocket for bedtime friends and flashlights. I made it for @diynetwork #diywin

In this DIY, the owner has customized the Malm headboard with a slipcover, which includes a handy storage pocket. Get the tutorial here.