Choose the Right Headboard Type for You

About three nights a week I rescue my hubby from a Youtube-induced coma, slumped over at his desk about to start drooling onto his iPad.  I think it’s time for us to instigate a bed curfew and invest in a good headboard!

Inevitable night-time work sessions aside, there are plenty of great (and non-saliva-related) reasons to get a headboard. We discussed a few of the best ones here. The next question is, with literally thousands of options out there, how do you figure out what headboard design is right for you? 

Before you go on a week-long Pinterest rampage, here are a few key things to consider to help narrow things down and avoid a few frustrating shopping trips—at least one of which is bound to end with an anticlimactic, “But honey, I thought you measured the height of the bed…”

Function First

While aesthetics is probably the most popular reason for buying a headboard, it can also be a very practical and versatile piece of furniture. So decide what your main priorities are:

Or are you looking for a multifunctional headboard design to solve some space issues? (Maybe you’re a collector of books and other magical objects…if you find somewhere to buy a ‘secret bookcase headboard’, please let me know – I’d win wife of the decade).   

Whatever priorities you decide on, you’ll need to be aware of at least one basic practicality – how your headboard will fit, or not fit, to your bed. When it comes to installation, there are basically three types of headboards:

Fixed or Attached

This type either comes as a fixture with a complete bed frame, or as a separate headboard with struts that can be attached to the bed base. The main advantage is that it holds the bedding and pillows in place well, and gives your bed a more unified look overall.

Wall-mounted

As the name implies, these attach directly to the wall and take a little more expertise to install. But because they’re not attached down below, they’re a lot more versatile and don’t have to match the exact size of your bed. This type is also the more common type for multifunctional uses such as storage, mounting lights or adding other cool accessories. 

Free-standing 

The simplest and most versatile kind, this headboard usually has struts to stand on, but simply slips in between your bed and the wall, no installation required. On the downside, because it’s unsecured, you may find yourself with a nightly ritual of having to push the bed back flush with the headboard if you don’t have a carpeted or another non-slip floor.   

Some headboard models can be installed in more than one way, but be sure to check the specs before you buy.

Size it up

Firstly, be sure to save yourself that wasted shopping trip by measuring the width and height of your bed, including any extras like electric blankets, mattress protectors or separate pillow-tops that are a regular feature on your bed.

A traditional headboard that’s wider than your bed will definitely draw attention to itself, but if you want your headboard to make a major statement, it’s better to do it with extra height.  Also remember that the wider the bed, the higher the headboard should be for pleasing proportions. 

Long story short (pun absolutely intended), it comes down to the size of your room and what you want your headboard to do. A modest-sized headboard will add charm and enhance the cosiness of a smaller room, while a design with long lines can also help enhance the sense of space.

On a side-note, if you’re a hoarder of throw pillows (cue groaning husbands everywhere) you’ll want a headboard that can compete with the heights of your obsession and not die a slow and insignificant death behind it. And on a more practical note, if your headboard needs to support you or your partner sitting up in bed, make sure it’s going to be tall enough – no one wants to end up with a pain-in-the-neck-board.   

Sleeping with style 

Now, at last, for the good stuff… At the end of the day, once you’ve got the practicalities out the way, shopping for a headboard should be super fun – it’s one piece of furniture that can totally enhance or transform the look and feel of your bedroom and bring out your personal style, whether that’s elegant, classic, modern, quirky, or just an awesome dose of ‘come hither’ comfort. With today’s massive variety of headboard designs, materials, and colour combinations to choose from, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a great fit for you and your favourite room. 

A good place to start is with picking your preferred material. So here’s a breakdown of the types you’ll come across most. Keep in mind your headboard doesn’t necessarily need to match your room’s current texture palette – in fact, picking a headboard is one of the best opportunities to bring in some textural contrast (did we mention this year’s velvet trend? Oh heck yeah, we did). 

Wooden headboards

They’re kind of like Friends reruns…they never really get old, they bring you that familiar sense of warmth, they fit in with whatever else is going on, and they just keep on going... Yup, wood is a classic, and it’s not going anywhere soon. It’s also constantly being reinvented in more modern, natural and organic designs to fit the contemporary palate. So if you want something solid and versatile that can keep up with changing tastes, and that’s also easy to maintain (not to mention pet-friendly – just in case you’re sharing the bed with the paw patrol), a quality wooden headboard may just be your favourite Friend. 

Upholstered headboards

Velvet, linen, microfiber, leather…upholstered headboards are all about the touchy-feelies, and they can immediately add a more mature and luxurious feel to any room. Plus, some extra soundproofing (unfortunately not against snoring partners).

If pre- and post-sleep bedtime comfort is your thing, an upholstered headboard is the closest thing to adding a couch back to your bed. Wingback or panelled, square or arched, heavily padded or tufted for a plush and elegant look, it all comes down to personal taste. You can even customise a design that perfectly matches your current decor, or makes its own statement – we’ll leave the wording to you.

Metal headboards

Metal is still a popular choice in contemporary bedroom designs. Although it definitely lacks the warmth and comfort of upholstered and wooden headboards, if you’re just going for a particular look – perhaps urban, minimalist, country or vintage - then metal can be a really versatile and often more affordable option, with a long shelf life. Black metal frames in particular can create a very dramatic look, especially set against a minimalist room design.

Something different

If you’re one to take the road less travelled, then perhaps you’ll be drawn to a headboard design that achieves a more unusual look with combinations of natural fibres like bamboo, wicker, wood, leather or even coconut. These unique little personalities work particularly well in casual bedrooms or with country design schemes – but hey, no one says you have to play by the rules! 

Need some more specific ideas? Go ahead, treat yourself to that Pinterest pageant, or pop in to a Cielo store to get up close and personal with our wide range of sleeping beauties.

Happy hunting!