20 Stylish Headboard Ideas to Refresh Your Bedroom
Interior Styling Blog for Real Homes: Ideas, Advice & Inspiration
Hi, I’m Sandra, this blog is about interior styling for real homes. If you love interiors and want your home to feel stylish, pulled together, yet still personal, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ll be sharing practical styling advice to help you edit, layer, and finish your home with confidence, alongside articles on what’s happening in the interiors world — from design events to colour stories - so you get the full picture. I also take you on tours of beautifully styled homes from around the world, offering inspiration and styling ideas to steal for your own space. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level.
In today’s post, I have over twenty very different headboards to show you for ideas and inspiration, from plush velvet fluted styles to DIY options, including vintage shutters and a headboard made from a piano music roll.
GORGEOUS HEADBOARD IDEAS AND INSPIRATION
Photo credit: Darlings of Chelsea
I’ve been meaning to replace my headboard since I moved into my new home. I’ve made do with a temporary bamboo screen that was stuck to the wall with Velcro, and it has now seen better days. So, recently, I have been checking out all the different headboards and, as I realised that there are so many beautiful options out there, I thought I’d share a few of my finds with you. The headboard pictured here is the Lyndhurst model by Darlings of Chelsea, and I chose it as the lead headboard for this feature because it's a timeless piece that is also about attention to detail. With the clean, straight edges, refined stitching, and its added cushioning and button detailing, it strikes the perfect balance of being stylish yet comfortable and effortlessly chic.
When deciding on what type of headboard, first up, you need to consider the shape and size, and whether you go for something classic or contemporary, small and neat, or extra wide for that five-star hotel feel. Then there’s the question of material – wood, metal, bamboo, cane or fabric? And if you're leaning towards an upholstered headboard, think about whether you want something luxurious, like velvet and silk, or a natural-looking material like wool or linen. Then there’s the colour scheme, possibly the most important aspect, plus the dilemma of whether it should be plain, geometric, striped, or floral? Just to add another thought, you don’t have to have a conventional headboard. You will see from some of the images in this feature that you can use slated wood, vintage shutters or even repurposed piano music!
Before you even start looking, think about how you like to dress your bed. Are you prepared to change this for new linen and accessories, or do you want your headboard to complement what you already have? Personally, I am very happy with my blush pink washed linen and grey bedspread from Morocco, so I want a headboard that works with these. I am leaning towards a print as, having seen all the gorgeous fabrics at Focus on Design, I’m keen to bring pattern into my interior. But before I make a final decision, I’m going to have another run through of the ones I am featuring here, so let's take a look at 20 very different headboards.
SCALLOP-EDGED HEADBOARD
I picked this headboard as one of the first to show you as it’s a modern classic - versatile enough to work in a variety of interior schemes and bedroom settings. It has a scalloped shape but with a softer, more contemporary contours than traditional designs. The subtle earthy-toned stripe blends beautifully with the relaxed linen, pillows and throw by Tielle, who dress the beds of one of my favourite stylish hotels, The Pig, proving how effortlessly you can style the bed to complement your headboard in a beautiful, understated way.
Photo credit: Tielle by Tradelinens
VINTAGE SHUTTER HEADBOARD
This is such a simple yet incredibly effective way to create your own unique headboard. These vintage French shutters were sourced by an interior stylist for her daughter’s bedroom, adding a touch of rustic charm and bringing vintage into the room. The bed has been dressed in soft, pared-back neutral tones with washed linen, perfect for achieving that natural, crumpled look that pairs so well with vintage pieces.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
PADDED LINEN HEADBOARD
Padded headboards offer the perfect place to lean back and unwind, as they are soft, supportive and super comfy. I particularly like this style of headboard where it is edged with a seam and is also slightly wider than the bed itself, which makes more of a statement piece. This bed is from Naturalmat and is upholstered in a gorgeous tangerine tone in washed linen. It’s completely sustainable, padded with recycled denim and organic wool for extra comfort and conscience.
Photo: Naturalmat
POURED-PLASTER HEADBOARD
This stunning headboard is custom-made with poured plaster and created as one seamless piece with a bed frame and side tables. It was designed by Natalie Saunders at Desert Wild to feel cloud-like as a beautiful sculptural feature. You can see more of this dreamy vacation home, which has more poured plaster details, in my full blog post featuring Desert Wild.
Photo credit: courtesy of Desert Wild
PRINTED HEADBOARD WITH MATCHING SOFT FURNISHINGS
A printed headboard always adds instant style and interest to a bedroom, but Mindthegap have taken it one step further with their striking Journey to Eden Chinoiserie print. Here, the headboard is matched with cushions and a bedspread in the same fabric - pattern drenching at its best.
Phot credit: Mindthegap
A CLASSIC LINEN HEADBOARD WITH A STATEMENT SHELF
This headboard belongs to a very stylish friend who has a fantastic eye for interiors, and it’s such a clever example of how to create a layered, two-tiered headboard effect. After cladding the walls in tongue and groove, she had a timber box built behind the bed, running from wall to wall. This acts as a second headboard and doubles up as a shelf – perfect for displaying artwork and artefacts. The other benefit and design detail is that it also has the light switches seamlessly integrated into the wood. The bed has a simple shaped linen headboard which sits beautifully in front of the wood, adding softness and balance to the scheme.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
DIY CORRUGATED HEADBOARD
This is a truly unique industrial-style headboard crafted from a weathered piece of corrugated iron salvaged from the original outbuildings of a farm that has since been transformed into stunning barn conversions. The contrast between the crisp white linen and the raw metal gives the bedroom a more balanced feel, while a printed throw adds a touch of elegance and softens the space.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
STRIPED FABRIC HEADBOARD
This striped headboard in a soft green, grey and yellow really steals the show. The bed itself has been kept pared back with white bed linen and cushions, allowing the headboard to be a stand-out feature in the room. A luxurious stone-washed cotton waffle throw from The Fine Cotton Company pairs perfectly with the grey-toned stripes. Notice how the three botanical prints above the bed echo the green of the headboard and tie the whole look together.
Photo credit: The Fine Cotton Company
PIANO MUSIC ROLL HEADBOARD
I photographed this home for a magazine and was instantly impressed when I spotted this clever idea for a headboard - it’s simple yet striking. At first, I was unsure what it was made from, until the homeowner explained it was originally a piano music roll, the kind used for self-playing pianos, which had been tied into place and repurposed as a headboard. It is such a unique piece, full of storytelling charm. It just goes to show that a headboard doesn’t have to follow tradition and, as we’ve seen from several examples in this article, it doesn’t even need to be attached to the bed. So, get creative and reimagine materials in an unusual way for something truly unique to you.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
SILVER METALLIC ROCOCO-INSPIRED HEADBOARD
This is a headboard, shown here in my guest room, and I actually chose it to pair with the brushed steel bath within the room for that ultimate touch of luxury. It’s a French-inspired Rococo style, similar to the Button & Sprung one I mentioned earlier, though with a slightly different silhouette. To give it a contemporary feel, I styled the bed in dark grey washed linen combined with lavender-toned pillows, which softens the look. The photo was taken in my previous home and I’m now considering painting it, something I always suggest if you want to refresh a headboard. Painting a headboard gives you more flexibility to either find a shape you like from a store, repurpose one you already have, or find a thrift store bargain and transform it to a colour that suits your interior scheme.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
CLASSIC CANE HEADBOARD
Cane is a timeless classic. Its warm, natural tone makes it incredibly versatile, and it can work in country-style interiors, or in a coastal home. The headboard pictured here is teamed with stripes in a rich dark olive from The Secret Linen Store, mixing both fine and large stripes to add depth and texture to the bed. You can find cane headboards from online stores, as well as alternatives to cane, such as wicker or rattan, which offer similar tones and work well to give your bed that organic, less formal, feel.
Photo credit: The Secret Linen Store
LIVING ROOM STYLISH DETAILS
This fabric headboard is simple yet effortlessly stylish, suspended above the bed on leather straps that echo the warm brown tones of both the wooden bed frame and shelf, making the whole room feel cohesive. It’s essentially a freestanding panel held in place by the straps, which is ideal if you have a bed frame that isn’t particularly high. While it looks striking in this all-white room, it doesn’t steal the spotlight from the other standout elements in the room, like the dramatic dried palm leaves above the bed. If you like this look and want to see more styling ideas from this gorgeous vacation retreat, The JTH Tucson in Joshua Tree, check out my blog post on stunning vacation homes.
Photo credit: Margaret Austin Photography Courtesy of Sara & Rich Combs, The Joshua Tree House
HAND-CARDVED HEADBOARD
Here is a true classic - a hand-carved headboard. It’s a timeless choice for traditional bedrooms, period homes and for the hopeless romantic, bringing character and charm into any space. The Cocoon Bed by French Bedroom, with its sweeping, undulating shape creates a soft, enveloping silhouette that adds a sense of grandeur to the room. Carved headboards come in a range of styles from the ornate Rococo and Baroque-style, to the more paired-back shapes with subtle contouring. When choosing one, look for quality craftsmanship and solid wood like the one pictured here, crafted from oak, stained with a satin varnish, and upholstered in luxurious velvet. A well-made carved headboard will not only look beautiful but will last for years.
Photo credit: French Bedroom
SPACIOUS MASTER BEDROOM WITH AQUA TONES
What I really like about this wooden slatted headboard is its generous width, as it gives a natural feel to neutral interior schemes. The washed oak finish gives off those soft, beachy tones that make this style of headboard perfect for a coastal or contemporary home. This particular model, made from individual slats by Naturewall, is not only stylish but easy to install with an adhesive. You can also customise it to fit your bed exactly - whether you prefer a narrow panel that reaches towards the ceiling, or a wider version that extends well beyond each side of the bed.
Photo credit: Naturewall
HERITAGE-STYLE HEADBOARD
This headboard is a gorgeous blend of a French-inspired Rococo shape upholstered in a traditional William Morris print, giving it a true English Country feel. With its asymmetrical curves and ornate silhouette, I personally think that the shape is one of the most striking, which is why if you scroll down you’ll spot my silver rococo version. The frame of the bed from Button and Sprung is also covered in the same fabric and would work beautifully in heritage homes and country cottages. Finally, notice how the bed has been styled with soft green and brick-toned cushions and bedlinen, which complement the print perfectly.
Photo credit: William Morris at Home by Ashley Wilde and Flood Studio
Fan-Back Rattan Headboard
This is a retro-style headboard made with looped and woven cane from rattan, which was hugely popular in the 1960s and 70s. With its natural materials and artisan style, it draws inspiration from mid-century design and traditional Balinese craftsmanship, yet it also feels very current and is ideal for relaxed coastal homes and boho-inspired aesthetics.
Photo credit: Unsplash
VELVET WINGED HEADBOARD
This headboard is classic, with subtle winged corners, and is upholstered in a rich dark navy velvet. It’s a timeless design and would suit most interiors and look particularly striking in period homes against patterned wallpaper. Once you’ve chosen your headboard colour, it’s all about how to dress the bed. Contrasting colours, like the rust cushion here, bring warmth and interest. The great thing about a headboard in a solid colour is it allows you to introduce pattern through cushions and throws. Notice also how the navy of the headboard ties in with the linear detail in the rug. It's these subtle connections that really give the room a cohesive feel.
Photo credit: @amystoddartstudio @snookphotograph Button & Sprung
INTERGRATED HEADBOARD PANEL
This was a house I photographed for Modern Rustic magazine, and the full-height wooden headboard was a real standout feature. It was custom-made to carry the same wood used in the living areas, reintroducing the architectural features to the bedroom. Made from wide, horizontal timber planks, it’s much more than just a headboard, as it is integrated with shelving that runs behind it and a floating shelf alongside the bed. It feels minimal yet still inviting and is a clever way to incorporate a headboard into a bedroom.
Photo credit: Sandra van Aalst
EXTENDED FLUTED HEADBOARD
Last but definitely not least – as one of my favourite styles is the extended headboard. I have one myself where I incorporated the switches for the wall lights either side of the bed, which makes the headboard feel integrated into the bedroom design. Fluted headboards, like this one, have recently become popular as they look plush and have more detail than a plain design. This rich velvet version by Covet House really takes centre stage. The green velvet ottoman ties in perfectly, while the gorgeous beige and deep green-toned bed linen completes the whole look.
Photo credit: Covet House
LET’S SUM UP
I hope you have enjoyed checking out all these rather different headboard ideas. This post will be my first of the year in a brand new series on bedroom styling and decoration. Previously, I featured stylish bedroom ideas; you can check out the post here, but I am now diving deeper into all the different elements that make up a beautiful bedroom, including how to design for better sleep. Having met with a sleep coach, I can show you the individual elements for a beautiful bedroom that can help you get truly restful sleep. So keep an eye on the blog for this forthcoming bedroom features.
