Headboards

A headboard is one of the most cost-effective ways to change the character of a bedroom without replacing the whole bed. The right headboard adds structure, height, and personality to the bed, and makes the difference between a room that feels considered and one that feels unfinished.

The first decision is fitting type. Floor-standing headboards extend to the floor and anchor to the bed base using struts, giving a very stable and polished look. They suit most modern bed frames and create a seamless, built-in appearance. Strutted headboards attach via legs or struts at the back of the headboard and either stand independently behind the bed or fix to the divan base. They are lighter and easier to move, and suit those who want flexibility or are working with an older divan base.

Height has a significant effect on how a headboard reads in a room. A tall headboard of 130cm or more creates a statement focal point that draws the eye and gives the bed genuine presence. A lower headboard of 80 to 100cm sits more quietly and suits rooms where the walls, art, or other furniture are meant to be the visual focus. Getting the headboard height in proportion to the room's ceiling height is worth thinking through before choosing.

Fabric choice largely mirrors what works for upholstered beds. Velvet is one of the most popular choices for statement headboards, with its sheen and depth working well with the scale of a large panel design. Boucle has become increasingly popular for its textural quality in neutral colourways. Linen and woven fabrics suit more relaxed, Scandi-influenced bedrooms. For a divan bed where the base is already upholstered, matching or deliberately contrasting the headboard fabric with the base creates either a cohesive set-look or a considered two-tone effect.

Size matching is essential. A headboard should match the width of the bed it is paired with. A double headboard at 135cm suits a double bed, a king headboard at 150cm suits a king size bed, and a super king headboard at 180cm suits a super king. Fitting a headboard that is narrower than the bed frame looks proportionally wrong and can feel unstable.