The headboard is often the most visually prominent element of a bed, serving as the bedroom's natural focal point. Beyond aesthetics, a well-chosen headboard provides comfortable support for sitting up in bed, protects your wall from wear, and helps anchor the bed visually in the room. Whether you're buying a complete bed frame with integrated headboard or selecting a standalone piece, understanding your options helps you make a choice you'll love for years.
In This Guide
Popular Headboard Styles
Headboard designs range from barely-there minimalist panels to dramatic statement pieces that dominate the room. Understanding style categories helps you narrow options quickly.
Panel Headboards
The classic rectangular headboard, panel designs range from simple flat boards to frames with raised or recessed panels. Wooden panel headboards in traditional styles feature moulding details, while modern interpretations embrace clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Panel headboards work with nearly any bedroom style and offer a balanced, timeless look.
Upholstered Headboards
Fabric or leather-covered headboards provide cushioned support for sitting up in bed. Common upholstered styles include:
- Button-tufted: Classic dimpled surface created by pulling fabric into buttons. Formal and traditional.
- Channel-tufted: Vertical channels stitched into the surface. Contemporary and luxurious.
- Padded panel: Smooth, padded surface without tufting. Clean and modern.
- Wingback: Extended sides that wrap forward, creating a cocoon-like enclosure. Dramatic and cosy.
Slatted and Open Designs
Horizontal or vertical slats create airy, casual headboards popular in Scandinavian, coastal, and modern farmhouse styles. These designs feel lighter than solid headboards and can make small rooms feel less crowded.
Statement and Specialty Styles
Dramatic options include oversized headboards that extend to the ceiling, live-edge timber slabs, woven rattan and cane designs, geometric patterns, and arched or curved tops. These choices become the room's defining feature and require careful coordination with other elements.
Consider your bedroom's overall style before falling in love with a specific headboard. A gorgeous ornate headboard will fight with minimalist furniture, while a simple panel may underwhelm in a room designed for drama. The headboard should enhance your existing direction, not contradict it.
Material Options
Headboard material affects appearance, durability, maintenance, and price. Each option brings distinct characteristics.
Solid Wood
Timber headboards offer warmth, durability, and timeless appeal. Hardwoods like oak, walnut, and Australian species provide exceptional longevity and can be refinished if damaged. Softwoods like pine cost less but dent and scratch more easily. Wood headboards suit traditional, Scandinavian, coastal, and rustic styles particularly well.
Engineered Wood and MDF
Medium-density fibreboard with painted or veneered finishes provides the look of wood at lower cost. These materials work well for painted finishes and intricate moulding details that would be prohibitively expensive in solid timber. Quality varies significantly; better products use thicker material and more durable finishes.
Metal
Iron, steel, and brass headboards range from delicate scrollwork to bold industrial grids. Metal suits contemporary, industrial, and traditional styles depending on the specific design. Powder-coated finishes in black or white offer durability, while brass and chrome provide luxurious accents.
Upholstery Materials
Fabric options include linen (casual, textured), velvet (luxurious, dramatic), cotton (durable, versatile), and performance fabrics (stain-resistant, practical). Leather provides elegance and easy cleaning, while faux leather offers similar looks at lower cost. Consider cleanability and durability alongside appearance.
Key Takeaway
Match headboard material to your lifestyle. Upholstered headboards offer comfort but require more maintenance. Wood and metal are more durable for households with children or pets. White and light colours show dust and marks more readily than darker options.
Sizing and Proportion
Headboard dimensions significantly impact visual balance and practical function. Too small looks timid; too large overwhelms the space.
Width Considerations
The headboard should be at least as wide as the mattress, but slightly wider (5-15cm on each side) creates better visual proportion. Wall-mounted headboards can extend even wider, potentially spanning the entire bed wall for dramatic effect. Very wide headboards can substitute for bedside tables if they include integrated shelving.
Height Guidelines
Standard headboard heights range from 60cm to 90cm above the mattress top. Consider these factors when choosing height:
- Short headboards (under 70cm): Modern and minimal, but may feel insubstantial. Work best with statement bedding or wall art above.
- Medium headboards (70-90cm): Balanced proportion for most rooms. Tall enough for comfortable sitting support.
- Tall headboards (over 90cm): Dramatic and impactful. Best in rooms with high ceilings (2.7m or more) where they won't feel cramped.
Ceiling Height Relationship
As a rough guide, the top of your headboard should sit at least 45-60cm below the ceiling for visual breathing room. In rooms with 2.4m ceilings (standard Australian height), headboards above 120cm total height (from floor) start to feel crowded. Higher ceilings allow for taller, more dramatic headboard choices.
Attachment Methods
How a headboard attaches to the bed or wall affects stability, flexibility, and installation requirements.
Frame-Mounted Headboards
Most complete bed frames include headboards that attach directly to the frame's side rails via brackets or bolts. This creates an integrated unit that moves together when repositioning the bed. Frame-mounted headboards are stable and require no wall attachment, but you're limited to headboards designed for your specific frame style.
Wall-Mounted Headboards
Headboards attached directly to the wall offer maximum flexibility. You can pair any wall-mounted headboard with any bed frame, and the headboard stays in place when moving the frame for cleaning or rearranging. Installation requires finding wall studs or using appropriate wall anchors, and the headboard won't accommodate bed height adjustments without reinstallation.
Freestanding Headboards
Some headboards sit on the floor and lean against the wall, secured by the weight of the bed pushed against them. These require no installation but may shift over time and need occasional repositioning. They work best for lightweight panel designs rather than tall or heavy headboards.
Heavy headboards must be properly secured to prevent tipping, particularly in households with children who might climb or hang from them. Wall-mounted installations should penetrate wall studs, not just drywall, for adequate support. When in doubt, consult a professional installer.
Comfort Considerations
If you spend time sitting up in bed reading, watching screens, or working, headboard comfort matters significantly.
Padding and Support
Hard surfaces like wood, metal, and thin upholstery provide little cushioning for extended sitting. If comfort is important, look for upholstered headboards with at least 5cm of padding. Channel-tufted and button-tufted designs typically offer less padding than smooth padded panels. Test by pressing firmly with your hand; you should feel cushion before hitting the underlying structure.
Angle and Shape
Vertical headboards provide firm back support but can feel uncomfortable for extended sitting. Slightly angled headboards (10-15 degrees from vertical) allow more relaxed positioning. Curved and contoured designs may cradle you comfortably or feel awkward depending on your body position. If possible, test before buying.
Height for Sitting
When sitting up in bed against the headboard, you ideally want support for your entire back, including your head. This means the headboard should extend at least 60cm above the mattress top, higher if you're tall or use thick mattresses that elevate your sitting position.
Your headboard choice balances aesthetic preference, practical function, and budget. Take time to consider how you actually use your bed, not just how it looks in styled photographs. A beautiful headboard that leaves you uncomfortable when reading in bed will disappoint daily, while a well-chosen functional piece brings satisfaction every time you settle back against it. For guidance on integrating your headboard into the broader bedroom design, see our bedroom styling guide.