Above the board. What do you do with the space above the headboard? As we saw, some people leave it bare to great effect. But if your headboard and wall are somewhat subdued, adding art or decorative items will make the room come alive. A series of drawings, paintings and etchings give walls dimension. Designers like to work in odd numbers; one, three and five are favorites. In this composition, the patterned bedding is what makes this composition pop, breaking up the solid colors on the wall, headboard and doors.