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Fabric Headboards: 5 Tips to pick your bed's best friend
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Categories :
Bedroom
Thinking of buying a fabric headboard to spruce up your favourite spot in the house?
Let’s be honest—we’ve all become much more attached to our beds and bedrooms over the past few years, what with everything this crazy world (and even crazier country) has been throwing our way!
Your bedroom is your personal space to rest and be restored, and it may be your backup work zone too. So why not make it more inviting and comforting with a touch of extra luxury?
A fabric headboard is the easiest and most affordable way to make your boudoir feel like a 5-star hotel suite. It can also be the final brushstroke to transform your favourite space into the inspirational, creative centre you crave.
If you’re still wondering whether this is going to be a match made in heaven for you and your bed, read on to find out why a fabric headboard is (almost) always a fantastic choice, and what benefits it offers compared to other headboard materials.
And if you’re already convinced, you can skip ahead to our 5 key tips on choosing the best fabric headboard to create the bedroom you’ve been dreaming of.
Why buy a fabric headboard?
A fabric headboard is a great choice for most rooms thanks to the fact that it wins on two levels. Not only does it add an instant and distinctive sense of luxury and style—it also fulfils a very practical purpose by providing a comfortably padded backrest to support you when reading, working or just relaxing in bed. Win-win!
Visually speaking, a headboard can ‘fill in the blank’ on a cold, bare wall, much like a gorgeous painting. And if your bedroom is feeling a bit on the bland side, by highlighting this appealing feature, you’ve got a sure-fire way to inject some quick inspiration, since your bed is naturally the focal point of the space.
You can then take things up another notch by blending or contrasting the colour of the fabric in the headboard with some new scatter cushions, brand new bedding, a throw or matching window dressings to rejuvenate the look of the whole space.
Depending on the choice of fabric, you could warm up a cool room with vibrant shades in luxurious velvet or leather, or cool down a warm room with cool pastel tones in natural fibre or a breathable synthetic.
Fabric Headboards made out of PU fabric is a bold and clean look, a good alternative to leather.
Many people also don’t consider the fact that a fabric headboard is a great way to add literal warmth and insulation to your bed on those cold winter nights!
All in all, a fabric headboard can make a huge difference to the functionality, the style and overall atmosphere of your bedroom.
The benefits of fabric headboard vs other headboard materials
The benefits of fabric headboard vs other headboard materials
1. Greater variety
The standout benefit of fabric headboards is the extensive assortment of colours, patterns, textures and overall designs you’ll find them in.
While metal and wooden headboards are certainly versatile too, fabric upholstered headboards afford a lot more creativity and playfulness when it comes to designing your ideal bedroom. (Delve deeper into how to choose your ideal headboard design here.)
2. Superior comfort & support
Probably the biggest benefit of a fabric headboard is the comfort of being able to lean against it to read, watch TV or simply relax in bed before you’re ready to sleep. No-one likes a cold, hard wall behind you in bed, contorting your neck at uncomfortable angles.
The padding on an upholstered headboard will give you that crucial back and head support to help you stay comfy while sitting up in bed, while the fabric used can add an extra sense of tactile comfort and warmth when you’re getting ready to snuggle in for the night.
The padding of a headboard ensures both comfort and support, which is crucial to your overall health.
3. Versatility in design
Fabric headboards are generally lighter than wooden and metal headboards, and their overall design makes them the best choice for wall mounted headboards.
Likewise, they’re easy to attach to most types of bed bases, and are also available as freestanding headboards. Whatever your existing bed setup, you won’t have a problem finding a fabric headboard that meets your needs.
With the main unique features and benefits of fabric headboards in mind, let’s get to some practical guidelines when it comes to making your selection.
5 Top Tips for choosing a fabric headboard
Depending on whether you’re looking for a headboard for your own room, a child’s bedroom or guest room, or perhaps kitting out a rental or holiday home, you’ll have different priorities for what you’re looking for in a fabric headboard.
Perhaps it’s all about creating a fresh and inspiring look, or maybe you’re just after comfort and practicality. Whatever your situation, here are our five top tips to help you choose the right fabric headboard for your needs and preferences.
1. Consider comfort: Fabric headboard padding & insulation
If comfort is your main priority, the most important thing you’ll want to look at is the level of padding on the headboard. A plush, deep tufted or panelled headboard will feel almost like having a couch back on your bed, and also creates an elegant and luxurious look.
A flatter headboard with less padding will look more sleek and modern, and may be a more practical option for a smaller bedroom—you can always use pillows or scatter cushions to add an extra layer of comfort.
The thicker the padding and the tighter the weave of the fabric, the more insulation your headboard will provide. Natural fabrics generally have a looser weave that’s more breathable and cool, while synthetics like microfibre and velvet have a tighter weave with greater insulation.
Remember to ensure that the headboard you choose is wide enough for your bed and high enough for the tallest person using it to be able to comfortably rest their head back against it.
2. Consider your personal style: Fabric headboard colours & designs
The choice of colours, from neutral to bold and dramatic, can make a bedroom feel warmer or cooler, more spacious or more cozy.
Choose colours to blend in and gently enliven your existing décor, add a splash of brilliance to a more bland or plain background, or add a complete contrast to bring in a new dimension.
Neutral colours are more subtle and will offer more versatility, while bold colours will obviously draw more attention. Aim to choose a colour and pattern that you won’t get tired of quickly, rather than following a fad or sudden whim.
For the greatest variety of colours and patterns, look at modern polyesters, velvets or other types of synthetic materials. Leather is also available in quite a wide range of colours that can add rich warmth or cool sophistication.
Fabric headboards come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and styles. Straight and angular shapes tend to fit a more modern or contemporary look, while wingbacks and rounded designs can feel more elegant, personal and welcoming. Choose a style and colour that speaks to you.
3. Consider the feel: Fabric types & textures
If luxurious texture is top of your list, consider a velvet headboard for the ultimate feel of soft, cozy comfort and a plush pile. Leather is a more sleek option that can still add oodles of warmth, while breathable natural fabrics like linen and cotton will feel cool and refreshing to touch.
Linens and wools in looser weaves may provide an interesting coarser feel to contrast with smooth bed linens. Synthetics come in a variety of coarser or more delicate weaves and textures, from the furry feel suede to the fine texture of microfiber.
You could also consider jacquard with its more classic patterned and textured designs. If you’re the touchy-feely type, choose a headboard fabric that you can’t help but stroke and cuddle up with!
The texture you choose for your headboard will impact the stylistic choices and the sensation you desire.
4. Consider convenience: High vs low maintenance fabrics
Maintenance and cleaning are likely not top of mind when it comes to headboards, but they’re still important to think about, especially if you’ve got kids or pets around. If having a low maintenance, easy cleaning fabric is important to you, then high quality polyester or microfibre is always a convenient low-maintenance option.
Leather is also easy to clean and doesn’t stain easily, as long as you attend to any liquid or oily stains without delay. While natural fabrics stand up well to daily use, they can be a bit more susceptible to stains, and you’ll need to keep them out of direct sunlight to avoid fading.
With its plush texture, velvet can attract dust and pet hairs, so may require regular brushing or vacuuming to keep it pristine.
5. Consider the long-term: Fabric longevity & durability
Most people don’t want to replace their headboard every few years, so it makes sense to choose a fabric that’s going to last well. Genuine leather and high quality polyester (microfibre) and velvet are all excellent choices for durability. Leather, in particular, ages beautifully and is also timeless in its style.
If you decide to go for a cheaper alternative like faux leather or vinyl, bear in mind that while these synthetics offer easy maintenance, they are likely to start showing wear and tear like cracking and peeling after a few years of regular use. Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are organic and antimicrobial, and will generally last well, but can be susceptible to tears, stains and fading over time.
Find your perfect, high quality fabric headboard online
Whatever your priorities when it comes to transforming your bedroom into the ultimate private getaway, Cielo’s wide range of quality fabric headboards offer everything you need in comfort, style, easy maintenance and long-term durability—all at a fraction of the cost of a new bedroom suite!
Ready to create the bedroom of your dreams? Check out our stunning range of contemporary fabric headboards online today.
(Looking for more tips? Read our Ultimate Guide to Buying Headboards on Sale in South Africa).