Adding a headboard to a bed

[Pyrrhagena]

Specifically to this bed: flaxa

What do I need to think about? We need to put it under a sloping ceiling (height of upright wall is 1.02m so I don't think its practical to have the head that end which means we need something so DS and I can sit up in the bed and read a book.) and so need a headboard. Is there any reason I couldn't do this myself? Would effectively bolting some wood onto the end work.

DH wants to buy a new bed (and give this one to DC2) but I am loathe to lose the extra storage and I really think that we should have a spare bed under DC2's bed. (DH is not sure it's necessary) I think it would be more practical If one of the DC are ill or if we need someone to stay (DH thinks we won't everyplace have people to stay - we are trying to avoid my parents being able to invite themselves over! But I am likely to need an operation soon and won't be able to lift things for 2 weeks so might need MIL to stay).
I need to convince him I can make a bed head and we should invest in a spare bed! Would it be easy to do and how do I make it sturdy enough to withstand my DC?

Fix the headboard to the wall, not the bed.

You can make your own with a piece of mdf cut to size, padded with wadding or foam and fabric of your choice over the top. Use a staple gun to fix the fabric at the back. Hang it on the wall and Bob's your uncle.

Alternatively you could use a nice piece of wood or even melamine covered chipboard to match the bed and fix that to the wall.

You'll be able to find tutorials on YouTube. I did that when I needed to make a headboard for a guest bed to stop the pillows falling down the back of the bed. Actually you can probably buy ready made ones on eBay.

Sorry - just re-read your post and think the head end of the bed will not be against the wall. Okay so make headboard as before and then you need some of the supports which you fix to the headboard and slide over screws and washers fitted to the head end of the bed. Just search eBay for headboard supports and you'll find what you need.

Watching this as I need to do the same...

I've been having a look online and almost everything is how to make one which can go against the wall or how to add one to a bed that is meant to have one! I'm thinking the best way to make a sturdy structure is to effectively make a bookcase and bolt it to the bed to give it the weight to withstand being climbed on.

The Ikea page you linked to shows a headboard for the flaxa bed, and the instructions for putting it together and attaching it to the flaxa bed are online - if you're good at DIY you could probably use those instructions to help you build & attach one yourself.