"Ideas and suggestions most welcome!"

I don't think any of those you posted are appropriate. I would go with wood. Your son thinks they are too 'girly' and I agree.

Choice #1 is the only one that I would call masculine. Can we see a pic of the room? With dimensions? Does the head of the bed *have* to go against the window? What size bed is it?

From the male point of view, wood is always better.

I giggled.

I second the male point of view as wood being better- preferably with no intricate design. Simple and wood.

If he is 20 years old and tall then he might find that in a double bed with a foot board he might hit his feet.
What about just a headboard and maybe you could make one in a dark brown material.

If he's going to lie in bed to watch TV, then a solid headboard would be the most comfortable. Or no headboard but a bolster.

dilly you and I are obviously the only ones living in the gutter at the moment - move over, someone else is bound to show up ;-)

Staying out of the gutter .... I think the latter two that you posted are VERY feminine. I would also suggest a solid wood headboard - timeless & probably more functional for the purpose you suggested (something to lie against while watching tv) than the first one you posted. I note that you say you don't want anything "too solid", so not sure what to suggest to address that ...

Nope, not just you and Dilly, Deb. I got a giggle too. {{!gwi}}
I added a link below of a wooden headboard that I think I guy would like.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wood headboard

I also prefer wood.

Ok, ok I get it...wood is good. Before I descend myself into the depths of smuttiness, as tempted as I am, I'll say only thanks everyone for the honest feedback. I really appreciate the reality check so no iron beds. Wood it is!

Ann

I would give a budget and ask him to choose what he wants. He can shop online, ebay, craigslist, overstock. Then you buy it for him. Some men like wood, some like iron, some even like frilly.

Let him buy what he likes :)

Ditto what Pharoah wrote.

When he does move out and get his own place, he can take it with him and you can redecorate the room the way you want.

If he is going to sit in bed and watch TV, upholstered would be the most comfortable. My second choice would be solid wood. Make sure it's securely fastened and doesn't squeak.

What about the inflatable HB that someone (dilly?) started a thread on? Would have to go on wall, not window, but that would be comfy to sit against to watch TV.

But I do like the idea of giving him a budget and letting him get what he wants. Even if he wants to make his own and keep the change. Show him some ideas like the HB made out of a door. TOH did one a few months ago with HB and FB made from a pair of bifold doors.

I agree with ajsmama, that choice #1 is the only choice that I would consider to be fitting in a masculine room. I would use that headboard or a dark wood headboard.

Thanks everyone, points to ponder. Re. giving him a budget, that is a good idea but the truth is my son doesn't care too much and actually doesn't see the need for a headboard. Of course he also doesn't see the need for vegetables, weekly laundering of sheets, or various other odd quirks of my motherly brain that I force him to adhere to, so in truth the headboard is my affectation not his :).

So, good old Target to the rescue, I think. What about this one:
{{!gwi}}

It's on sale with free shipping so I'd be out less than $200. Much simpler and wood at that. Better?

Ann

Looks good . . . Go for it, Ann!!

Ann, your son sounds so much like our son. He recently moved back in and we're hoping to keep him here since we built this home with the idea of our two (then in their late teens) children could live while going to college. That was blown all to heck when our son went to Iraq and our daughter joined the Air Force.
Anyway, back to my point. Our son moved all the decorative items out of the room, which was turned into a guest room, and now has two dressers, TV armoire, desk chair and bed. Yes, without a headboard. He even crammed the bed sideways against the wall to get a better view of the TV. He stands when he uses his laptop which sits on top of the short of the two dressers. Most young men just need the necessities. Not necessarily clean ones either. As in sheets. LOL. We love them anyway.

I agree with hostagrams. You don't want to sell the farm to buy a headboard when he will be leaving in not too many years, right? And he doesn't care much anyways so I like the one from Target.