How to Use a Headboard for Decorative Impact
Whether it’s to add color and pattern or bring a certain mood to your room, your headboard can be a handsome focal point
Are you craving a new look for your bedroom but unsure where to begin? A statement headboard can be a good start, setting the tone for the whole room. Take a look at the selection below for inspiration.
Introduce pattern. If you don’t want to commit to decorative wallpaper, why not use pattern on the headboard instead? This ornate design is the immediate focal point of the room, but the soft, complementary shades throughout keep the overall atmosphere calm and restful.
Tone it down. Alternatively, you can use a perfectly plain headboard to break up bold wallpaper. In this striking monochrome design, the square shape of the headboard echoes the geometric design on the wallpaper, and the neat pillows and sleek bedside tables reinforce the uniform look.
Seek out a retro version. Rattan, wicker and bamboo styles lend a boho, 1970s-inspired feel to a room. Trawl eBay and vintage specialists for something similar to this. Remember, you can always paint it a different color to tie in with your scheme.
Let it lead the design. In an all-white room, use the headboard as a place to unleash some creative flair. Choose fabric in a striking pattern and either repeat it on a throw and pillows or pick out a key shade and dot it around the room. White bed linen works best to show off colorful accessories like these.
To create a headboard in a favorite fabric, either re-cover an existing frame or make one from scratch. You’ll need a piece of medium density fiberboard, some foam cut to size, some batting over the foam for extra softness, and your chosen fabric on top. Use a staple gun to secure the edges of the fabric to the back of the MDF and then screw the headboard to the wall with a mirror plate.
Looking for a pro to cover a headboard for you? Find upholsterers in your area on Houzz
To create a headboard in a favorite fabric, either re-cover an existing frame or make one from scratch. You’ll need a piece of medium density fiberboard, some foam cut to size, some batting over the foam for extra softness, and your chosen fabric on top. Use a staple gun to secure the edges of the fabric to the back of the MDF and then screw the headboard to the wall with a mirror plate.
Looking for a pro to cover a headboard for you? Find upholsterers in your area on Houzz
Style with tile. A headboard doesn’t have to be traditional. This arrangement of octagonal tiles fixed on the wall adds a decorative element in a different way. Wooden planks, vintage shutters, stencils or blocks of painted color are variations on this idea.
Browse tile in the Houzz Shop
Browse tile in the Houzz Shop
Button it. A classic for a reason, a button-tufted headboard adds a dash of style to a bedroom, turning a standard bed into something special. Go for a simple linen, as shown here, for an understated approach. For something more dramatic, opt for velvet, silk or brocade.
Browse tufted headboards by material in the Houzz Shop
Browse tufted headboards by material in the Houzz Shop
Go luxe with velvet. Tactile fabrics are great for adding a glamorous touch to a bedroom. A vintage-style headboard like this is a luxurious choice, and the rich moss color and ornate chartreuse wallpaper behind it add another layer of sophistication. The rest of the room is simple, allowing the bed area to take center stage.
Work in storage. A wooden panel behind the bed has the addition of a box shelf in this clever design. With space on top for a nighttime glass of water and a recess for books, this neat solution eschews the need for a separate bedside table — a useful consideration in a small space.
The paneling detail and gray paint finish give the headboard a smart look.
Find storage headboards in the Houzz Shop
The paneling detail and gray paint finish give the headboard a smart look.
Find storage headboards in the Houzz Shop
Let there be light. Fancy a more utilitarian feel? Metal is a smart choice, whether it’s brass, chrome, colored or ever-stylish black. Metal frames come in numerous designs, including ornate ones, traditional brass-knobbed ones and simple shapes like this for a more contemporary look.
Metal frames lend themselves to adding extra details, such as clip-on reading lights like these or a string of fairy lights woven along the top.
Metal frames lend themselves to adding extra details, such as clip-on reading lights like these or a string of fairy lights woven along the top.
Mix and match. Headboard fabric and wallpaper from the same manufacturer line but in different colors give this bedroom its polished look. Go for a fairly subtle monochrome repeat pattern, as shown here, or really up the ante with bright colors and a bold design.
Tell us: What style of headboard have you splurged on? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
More
These 7 Hardworking Headboards Double as Storage
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Dream Bedroom
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Browse bedroom products
Tell us: What style of headboard have you splurged on? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
More
These 7 Hardworking Headboards Double as Storage
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Dream Bedroom
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Browse bedroom products