The Emily in Paris sunburst headboard is actually a $20 DIY hack

If you spent the festive season binge-watching Emily in Paris, you're probably already familiar with her dreamy Paris apartment and equally stunning sunburst headboard. However, while Emily's clothes might be designer, her headboard is actually a $20 dried leaves hack. 

We were introduced to the first season of Netflix sensation Emily in Paris in 2020. The show was created by Sex and The City's Darren Star, and follows American marketing executive Emily Copper living her best life in Paris. 

When the series returned this Christmas the costumes and interiors didn't disappoint in bringing to life the hottest new home decor trends. But we were also excited to see the return of Emily's sunburst headboard.

While the decor behind the bed might look like an expensive piece of wall art, it was actually a DIY headboard design, created by set designer Christelle Maisonneuve using dried tropical leaves. The designer told Domino magazine that she brought them at a wholesale flower market and secured them to the wall with staples and glue in a fan pattern.

'The artistic direction for Emily’s apartment was ‘charming but simple,’ and as soon as I noticed the leaves at the market, I thought they’d make an interesting headboard,' says Christelle.

The sunburst design was inspired by early-20th-century mahogany Thonet beds and 70's rattan peacock beds. Rattan bed heads have been a huge trend in bedroom ideas recently, making this a savvy way to hop don't the trend without breaking the bank.

If you don't have access to a wholesale flower market we have found a similiar style of dried leaves available to buy on Etsy for under $20. We should also note before you start stapling your walls that the set walls were made out of plywood. However, Christelle's steps should work for drywall too, just ensure to choose a strong glue that can hold the leaves without damaging them.

However, this smart hack does have one rustling-related downside. 'The dried leaves were making so much noise when Lily Collins [who plays Emily] was moving in the bed!' says Christelle.

If you're itching to try this budget bedroom idea, it might be smart to include a protective cover over the leaves near where the pillow rest. Happy DIY-ing!