It’s time to stop dreaming of a great headboard and get to work making one. Here are three ideas that will make you smile every time you fall into bed.

Red-letter day: Have something to say? Spread the word with an alphabet soup headboard. Vintage aluminum, wood, or plexiglass letters often are available at flea markets or online auctions. New letters can be purchased through catalogs or at signage shops. Some come with screws in the corners, which can be used to attach them to the wall. Otherwise, attach lightweight letters with double-sided tape and heavier pieces with heavy-duty hook-and-loop tape.

In a good light: Whether you enjoy it for its whimsical look or imagine you’re viewing the stars through a frost-clad windowpane, this headboard can light up a room. It consists of a simple wooden frame that mounts to wall studs rather than to the bed frame. Translucent polycarbonate panels create a soft, filtered effect for the light, which is provided by a set of holiday light strands.

Location, location, location: No need to ask for directions when your bed is an atlas. Gather up outdated maps or a collection of vintage ones and decoupage them onto a headboard, following manufacture’s directions. A helpful hint: Use smaller pieces around tricky curves. If maps aren’t your thing, try wallpaper, sheet music, or even the funnies. This technique is great for hiding a dull, outdated, or inexpensive flea-market headboard with great lines but a few dings or an ugly paint job.