Can you show other angles in the room. Most often beds have bedside tables beside them and dressers are not right beside them. It is hard to tell in your pic what the space is like. A headboard is nice and helps finish a bed off but not a dealbreaker in my opinion

No need for a headboard. Can you put the bed on riser feet to make it higher? I like a desk or dresser next to a bed that doubles as a bedside area. But, your set up will be more functional if you can make the bed closer in height to the dresser.

You could then get a long bedskirt to cover the risers.

Any chance of a photo of the entire room? Thinking the bed could go under the (short?) window and the wall could be the headboard.

I think all beds look and function better with aheadboard We just got an adjustable bed and I am still trying to figure out how to do aheadboard the pillows fall behind the bed now .. I will say the room looks very girly area ll your guests girls ?

Look at upholstered headboards if you decide you need one. A variety of colors available, and not very expensive...

I think it’s a perfectly lovely guest room and I would have no issues staying there comfortably. Head board is personal preference but it looks fine without it. Anyone could make do for a few days with the dresser as a nightstand, but if you will be having couples spend the night, then I would want something to use as a nightstand on the left. most impotant for me is a reading lamp and you have that covered.

I'd add a pale gray headboard, in a velvet, as pillows DO slide behind.

As to a guest space? Guests will sleep where you put them. Who will be the guests? Grandkids, teens, adult friends?

The room has the feel of young teen girl, and fine if that's what you're after!

Would suggest adding a headboard. It will protect the wall and will keep oils from hair and heads from staining the wall.

The bed looks very comfortable with pretty lilac throw and white bedding. Add a headboard, small nightstand or shelf big enough for a cell phone and eyeglasses, and a power strip for recharging devices. It looks like you are in the middle of moving things out of the bookcase and off the dresser, so there will be room for the guest's things.

Always add a headboard for a finished, cohesive look to a bedroom. It makes a big difference.

Add a small nightstand to each side of the bed unless there is no other space for the dresser. (I assume dresser is empty for guests to use). Instead of the odd shape rug, purchase a runner rug for the right side (looking at photo). Easier to clean under beds without the rug there. It does look a little girly but you know your guests.

All from Ballard Designs

Beautiful ideas! Thank you so much. I will be adding to the room with some of the suggestions provided. Thank you very much. My daughter, Grandson, Brother in Law usually stay in this room. I change out the bedding and add photos of each person before they arrive. For the Grandson I've add horses and nature. I'm thinking of a pretty glass water container as well. Keep the ideas rolling. I love them!

Jean Mae Mah, you sound like a super hostess!

Personally, I don't think a headboard provides essential function unless the head of the bed is not against a wall. I wouldn't feel unwelcome in a guest room just because it didn't include a headboard. Of course, a headboard can look very nice, even if not strictly necessary or useful. I like a lot of the ideas folks have given you above.

I advise against hanging anything on a wall that is at the head of a bed. I won't even hang a ceiling light fixture over my bed. (Once you've been through an earthquake, you think about these things differently!)

It is a very nice room, although I do think the dresser is a bit high to function as a nightstand. I always like to stay overnight in my guest rooms to see what works and what doesn't. I love that you change out bedding and pictures for each guest. How thoughtful!

"Would suggest adding a headboard. It will protect the wall and will keep oils from hair and heads from staining the wall."
Exactly why fabric headboards gross me out. I'd rather keep a wall clean than have hair oils/dirt being left on an uwashable headboard. Wood would be easy to clean.

The age old issue of 'too girly' was mentioned. Back in the day I tried a girlier look in our master bedroom, but quickly took pity on DH but I kept the beautiful white embroidered with pink roses and crocheted lace edging comforter, for my one day guest room. I LOVE it when the wives come and say "Oh what a pretty room"! I figure males can stand a night or two in girly and the girls feel so pampered!! As far as headboard I agree pillows sink w/o one, and it's just and unfinished look. I have an upholstered headboard in a creamy vinyl so I don't have the 'eww gross' issue some have thinking of other heads touching cloth. The best of both worlds, sanitary and comfortable.

No one leans their head on an empty headboard fabric or wood or anything. Everyone uses their pillow for comfort.

I think you can easily change things a bit for guests to avoid the girly look for the guys . It is good to hear you change things up for diferent guests . I usually put the dresser in the closet in my guest rooms and then can have 2 proper night tables there really is no need for a big dresser even in a guest room. The book shelf is cute but mayb could be gone and a lower type cabinet pulled out for the grandson .

Yes, it needs a headboard and a night stand, and what is all that clutter on the dresser?

"No one leans their head on an empty headboard fabric or wood or anything. Everyone uses their pillow for comfort"
So why the need to protect the wall with a headboard? A wood headboard is cleanable; fabric gets dust and hair grease and dander, just the same as a wall would.

No headboard needed. I'd eliminate or move the wall shelves instead to have a more similar height of furnishings in the two adjacent areas. I like that you use a dresser as nightstand to reduce clutter for a more peaceful room.

I like a headboard for the stated reasons, but for me, a fabric headboard is a hard no for the dust factor, same as fabric behind a bed and a rug underneath. I agree with Valinta for pointing out that it can be easier to clean under a bed without one. I'd move that pretty rug in front of the dresser even if the edge goes under the bed. Plus with the rug's current position sticking out from under the bed, it poses a trip hazard for some folks.

Please post an after pic when you're done!

Having a headboard looks nice. Makes the bed look more complete not just like it’s a mattress. Personal preference is type of headboard. Those claiming there is something gross or unclean about a fabric headboard shouldn’t get one but they are not hard to keep clean and lovely. It is not challenging to vacuum and clean up dust on a headboard just like it isn’t off a night stand.

We all have our own standards.

I don't see how a fabric headboard is any different from any other fabric furniture such as a chair. But my experience has been that if someone has an "ick" about something, they can't help it and it's futile to try change their mind with arguments. Best to just agree to disagree.

Exactly, Partim. Great reply.

I will confess that I have fabric headboards and I like them. I dust them when I dust the rest of the room. They don't give me the ick.

I also don't have easy-clean clear plastic covers on my living room furniture, like some of my friends' parents did when I was growing up.

From the guest perspective, I wouldn't care if there was a headboard or not, and I wouldn't care about anything else I see in this room. I'd just be grateful my host was kind enough to let me stay with them and I'd look forward to early morning chats over coffee. Maybe I'd appreciate it if there wasn't clutter on the dresser. I'd like to have room to place my own items like a cell phone.

From the perspective of the host, I'd be surprised about all the different perspectives raised about a headboard. I'd be conscious that some people think they are important and that some people are really concerned that a headboard not be fabric. If I could afford a headboard I'd get wood, metal, or leather, not fabric, but only because some people seem to worry about the dust. If I couldn't afford a headboard, I wouldn't worry about it. The bed and kindness of hosting are more important.

ok ok