Choosing the Perfect Headboard – Headboard Buying Guide

Given that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, the importance of a good mattress can’t be understated. And while the comfort of your bed is absolutely essential, from a design perspective, it can also be a focal point in your space, and can dictate the ambience in your room.

Your headboard is the key when it comes to style – not only can it provide you with a lovely, comfortable place to relax against while you read the morning papers, it can also make a real design statement. If you’re not sure what to look for when buying a headboard, our headboard buying guide will hopefully give you some inspiration!

Headboard Style

Let’s start with style. In decades gone by, the headboard wasn’t really a consideration, it came with the bed and served a functional purpose. That has all changed in recent years, and you can now choose from a whole plethora of shapes, sizes and styles, ensuring you can find the perfect headboard to complement your décor.

So what style is right for you? Does your room feature a traditional or contemporary interior? Do you like the idea of a minimal design that doesn’t really draw attention or would you prefer something that really stands out and makes a design statement?

Bucklebury Headboard

Traditional headboards tend to be fairly low in height and tend to blend into the surroundings rather than take centre stage. Contemporary headboards can be very sleek and streamlined. For example, the Bucklebury Headboard Range is an elegant, timeless headboard that offers you a traditional design, while the Wokingham Headboard Range offers you a sleek contemporary aesthetic, perfect for a more minimal interior.

Esher Headboard

Other standout styles include Chesterfield-inspired designs, such as the Windsor Headboard Range and scroll headboards, such as the Esher Headboard Range. These headboards are designed to draw the eye and it’s not hard to see why!

If you can’t decide between the various styles, use our view in your home technology to see which headboard looks most at home in your interior.

Headboard Material

Once you’ve decided on the style of your headboard, the next decision is what kind of finish you’d like to have.

From traditional linens and cottons, to plush velvets, boucle and tweed, there’s a lot of different materials available, it’s simply a case of working out which one works best in your space. Make sure to consider any other furniture and accessories, such as rugs, lighting etc – what kind of aesthetic do you want your headboard to bring to your interior? And do you want it to stand out? If so, velvets and boucle inevitably turn heads. If you want something minimal that will blend into your interiors, linen and cotton are great choices.

While the material is a big decision, the colour you choose will also really make a difference to the aesthetic of your interior. If you’re going for a pared back look, neutral colours such as creams and greys are a sensible and stylish option but if you want to make a real statement, bold shades such as mustard and plum will make your bed really stand out.

It’s hard to make the final decision. If you can’t decide between different material or colours, take advantage of being able to order up to 8 free swatches in the post. Sometimes it really helps the see the material in your room and put it up against some of the other furniture and accessories in your space.

Practicalities

There are a few practicalities to consider when choosing a headboard. Do you use your headboard a lot – ie do you like to lean against it while reading at night/in the morning? If so, a cushioned headboard is a good option, such as the Lyndhurst Headboard Range.

Lyndhurst Headboard

What size bed are you choosing a headboard for? If it’s for a single or double bed, a tall headboard might look a little overwhelming – make sure to use the view in your home software to check it looks the part.

If you like to change your interiors on a regular basis, it makes sense to choose a timeless design and colour, that will work with various different interior styles.

Finally, if the headboard is for a children’s room, think about the material – a stain resistant finish is a great option!

Making the decision

You may have never actually put that much thought into your headboard before but if you’re thinking of purchasing a new one, it makes sense to give it some due consideration as the style and upholstery you go for can change the whole look and feel of your room.

Spend some time looking at the furniture you’ve got (unless you’re completely refurbishing your space), the colour of your walls and accessories and work out what you think is going to work well with what you’ve already got.

Happy shopping!