Let Your Headboard Inspire the Whole Bedroom
Whether you want the headboard to stand out or blend in, here are some tips for creating a beautiful and seamless sanctuary
A great headboard is a work of art that grounds a bedroom. Often, a show-stopping headboard makes enough of an impact that a room will feel complete with hardly any additional decoration. But there are some basic components every room should have, regardless of whether the headboard is a statement piece or a silent partner supporting other high-octane elements. The challenge is styling them to achieve a finished product that is both beautiful and balanced.
Browse headboards in design photos
Browse headboards in design photos
Wallpaper and headboards. The headboard in this design makes a bold statement, as does the wallpaper behind it. However, the fact that the headboard is upholstered in a neutral solid textile makes the intricate silhouette jump off the wall. The night table, lamp and lampshade all indicate a feminine softness, while the wallpaper introduces an adventurous note.
If you have busy wallpaper you don't want to hide, let it sing! A loud wallpaper won't always work well with an intricate headboard, but the two absolutely coordinate in this composition. And the simple black lampshades inject a little edginess.
Color, texture, pattern — a complete composition. While the wallpaper in this room isn't particularly loud, it is inarguably a pattern, but the designer didn't shy away from bringing in additional patterns and bold colors (in the bedding), texture (in the deep tufted headboard), materials (burled wood night table/vanity, high-gloss lamp base) in addition to artwork. There is a lot to look at, but it's all presented in such a way that you want to linger in the room a while to catch all the subtleties in the design.
A standalone headboard. When the headboard is itself a work of art, little to no embellishment is required. In fact, additional visuals might detract from the special beauty of such a statement piece.
When the headboard is a wall, the other elements in the room become exceedingly important. This room could look stark, but the soft blue curtains, chandelier in place of a traditional bedside lamp and overall lightness give this room a soft, airy feel.
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.
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.
Pair a large work of art with a large headboard, especially when the art is the prominent color feature of the room. Even the bedside lamp in this design is diminutive, allowing the art to take center stage.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with art is hanging it too high. In some cases, it's not necessary to even hang it, ensuring it stays nice and low for optimal viewing. A headboard that doubles as a shelf affords a great art-leaning ledge. The scale of the art in this design works particularly well with the height of the headboard. I also like the play of shapes: The rectangular headboard pairs well with the unusual oval night table.
Play with scale. A small painting hung above a strong headboard offers a bit of unexpected whimsy in an otherwise tailored room.
I particularly like the play of scale employed in this room with twin beds. The verticality created by the striped bedding, tall headboards and central lamp brings the eye up to the small illustrations above the beds.
The low headboard in this room is underlined by the clever DIY wall treatment. This is a particularly great idea for a room with low ceilings; keeping the headboard low and providing lots of breathing room between the bed and the art will trick the eye into thinking the room is taller than it is.
Low art. It isn't a requirement to hang art above a bed. Install it next to the headboard for a more approachable height.
Consider keeping things off balance. The asymmetrical placement of the painting to the left of the bed is balanced by the Gehry chair on the right, while the tailored headboard, bedding and matching night tables keep the look from getting out of control.
Fill the wall. Don't be fooled by all the minimalist talk; if you are a maximalist, go ahead and fill those walls up. All of the elements in this room — the bold headboard, bright bedding, sculptural lamps and art — create a lively composition, thanks to beautifully coordinated colors.
Employing mirrors. Traditionally, mirrors have been used to give rooms the illusion of being large, as well as reflecting light, which is a great solution for a darker room. The light from a table lamp in front of a mirror will bounce off the glass and fill other parts of the room.
A small room benefits from the same elements as a larger one. The round mirror above the mansard headboard is a fun contrast, while all the textures (headboard, bedding, flooring, curtains) give the room depth and sophistication.
More: 11 Inventive Headboards
More: 11 Inventive Headboards