Choosing a bed headboard design, or any head board bed design, comes down to two questions: how it looks from the door, and how it feels when you sit up against it with tea or a phone. A pretty board that hurts your back at night is a bad buy.
This gallery shows 15 headboards in different shapes, materials and heights, each with the mattress size it was built for. You will also find a height table, a comparison of fixing methods and the mistakes we see most often in workshops. For the whole wall behind the bed, visit the main bed back design page.
Unique Bed Headboard Design Shapes
Shape changes the mood of a room more than colour does. A unique bed headboard design can be an arch, a scallop, a wing or a board that seems to float.
- SizeDouble 48 x 75 in
- BuildPly, blush fabric
- StorageLift-up box
Three soft scallops along the top edge make this board playful without being childish. Works well in a daughter's room or a guest room.
Tell your carpenterGet the scallop template drawn full size on paper and approve it before the ply is cut.
- SizeQueen 60 x 78 in
- BuildPly, walnut veneer
- StorageNone, open legs
The board hangs on the wall and stops short of the floor, so the bed looks light. Cleaning under and behind it is easy.
Tell your carpenterFix with a hidden French cleat into the wall and keep 6 inches clear above the floor.
- SizeQueen 60 x 75 in
- BuildPly, rust textured fabric
- StorageHydraulic lift
A tall arch gives the room a strong centre and makes a low ceiling feel taller. Rust fabric hides small marks.
Tell your carpenterKeep the arch peak 5 ft from the floor for a 9.5 ft ceiling, no higher.
- SizeKing 72 x 78 in
- BuildPly, olive fabric
- Storage4 drawers
Three square blocks fixed with gaps between them. If one gets stained, only that block needs new fabric.
Tell your carpenterMake each block removable with Z clips so you can re-cover one at a time.
Modern Bed Headboard Design Latest in Laminate and Wood
For a modern bed headboard design that is easy to keep clean, laminate and veneer lead. The bed headboard design latest looks pair a matte laminate with one strip of wood or metal.
- SizeDouble 48 x 78 in
- BuildPly, matte laminate
- StorageHydraulic lift
Matte sage laminate with fine grooves feels calm and does not show fingerprints. Easy upkeep for a busy home.
Tell your carpenterOrder a fingerprint-proof matte sheet, and have grooves routed before pressing it on.
- SizeQueen 60 x 78 in
- BuildPly, black and oak
- StorageLift-up box
Black laminate with one oak band across the middle. Strong and simple, it suits a room with white walls.
Tell your carpenterUse a solid oak band, not a printed strip, so the edges stay crisp.
- SizeKing 72 x 78 in
- BuildMDF jali, white duco
- StorageHead box shelves
A jali (cut pattern) panel lets warm light glow through at night. Pick a simple geometric pattern for a modern feel.
Tell your carpenterAsk the electrician for low-voltage LED strip behind the jali and a switch near the pillow.
- SizeDouble 48 x 75 in
- BuildTeak, cane, natural PU
- StorageNone, open legs
A teak frame holding a woven cane panel. It breathes in hot weather and looks right in both modern and old homes.
Tell your carpenterAsk for factory cane sheet fixed with a beading strip so it can be swapped later.
Bed Back Rest Design for Sitting Up Comfortably
If you read, work or watch shows in bed, the bed back rest design matters more than the look. A bed headrest design should support the lower back and the head together.
- SizeQueen 60 x 78 in
- BuildPly, grey fabric
- StorageHydraulic lift
The padded board leans back about 10 degrees, so sitting up feels like a sofa. Loved by people who read at night.
Tell your carpenterBuild the tilt into the frame with a wedge, around 10 degrees, and use firm foam.
- SizeDouble 48 x 78 in
- BuildSheesham, linen fabric
- StorageLift-up box
A long round bolster runs along the top rail and cushions the neck when you lean back. Simple and very comfortable.
Tell your carpenterFix the bolster with velcro and a zip cover so it can be washed.
- SizeKing 72 x 78 in
- BuildPly, oak veneer, fabric
- StorageSide drawers
Two padded rests, one for each side, fixed on a wooden board. Each person gets a rest at the right height.
Tell your carpenterPlace the pads so their centre is 14 inches above the mattress top.
- SizeQueen 60 x 75 in
- BuildPly, teal fabric
- StorageNone, open legs
Side wings block draught and light from a window and make a cosy reading nook. Best for a cold corner room.
Tell your carpenterAllow 5 extra inches in width for the wings when you check room clearance.
Double Bed Headboard Design and King Size Ideas
Width changes everything. A double bed headboard design must fit the room, while a king board can stretch into side tables.
- SizeDouble 48 x 75 in
- BuildPly, printed laminate
- Storage2 front drawers
A low panel in tile-look laminate gives colour without making a small room feel crowded. Good below a window.
Tell your carpenterKeep total height at 36 inches if a window sill sits above the bed.
- SizeKing 72 x 78 in
- BuildPly, teak laminate
- StorageHydraulic lift
The headboard extends past the bed and holds two floating side tables. One clean line across the whole wall.
Tell your carpenterSize the full headboard at 10 ft so each side table is 18 inches wide.
- SizeSingle 36 x 75 in
- BuildPly, white laminate
- Storage3 under drawers
A simple rounded board in white suits a student room or a small guest room. Looks neat and costs little.
Tell your carpenterRound the top corners to a 4 inch radius so they are safe when sitting up.
Headboard Pages to Explore Next
Each of these galleries goes deeper into one kind of headboard:
- Wooden bed headboard design: slats, carving and fluted wood boards.
- Headboard cushion designs: channels, tufting and padded panels.
- Bed back cushion work: cushioning that spreads across the wall.
- Cushion bed designs: beds padded on the sides as well as the head.
- Gaddi ideas: padded pads that sit on or behind the bed.
- Quilting patterns: diamond, channel and box stitch work.
- Padding and foam: which foam to ask for and why.
- Velvet headboards: rich colours and how to care for velvet.
- Sirana designs: what Hindi speakers call the pillow end of the palang (bed).
Headboard Heights That Feel Right
| Use | Height from floor | Above mattress | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below a window | 32 to 38 in | 8 to 14 in | Keep under the sill |
| Everyday look | 40 to 48 in | 16 to 24 in | Fits most flats |
| Sit up and read | 46 to 54 in | 22 to 30 in | Pad the top half |
| Statement board | 60 in and up | 36 in plus | Needs 9 ft ceiling |
These assume the mattress top is at knee height, which for most adults lands near 22 inches. Low and floor beds need a shorter board.
Ways to Fix a Headboard
| Method | Good for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Bolted to the bed frame | Box and hydraulic beds that may move house | Needs 3 bolts on wide boards to stop wobble |
| Wall-mounted on a cleat | Floating looks, rented rooms with a plain bed | Find pipes and wires before drilling |
| Built into a head box | Extra shelves for books and phone | Adds 8 to 12 in to bed length |
| Free-standing on legs | Old beds without fixing points | Pads on legs to protect the floor |
A head box bed is the most practical if you want storage at the head end.
Headboard Mistakes We See in the Workshop
- Too tall for the ceiling: a 6 ft board under a 9 ft ceiling feels heavy. Stick to the table above.
- Light fabric at head height: hair oil marks cream fabric within months. Choose a darker or wipeable band where heads rest.
- Soft foam: cheap foam flattens and you feel the ply behind. Ask for the density on paper.
- No switch planning: once panels are up, adding a reading light switch means cutting the board.
- Forgetting frame length: a thick padded board can add 4 to 6 inches to bed length. Recheck walking space at the foot.
Bed Design With Headboard or Without
A bed without headboard design suits very small rooms, low windows or a wall already covered in panelling. Pillows then rest on the wall, so use washable paint. For most homes a headboard is worth it: it protects the wall, holds pillows and gives a place to lean.
Questions people ask
What is the most comfortable bed headrest design?
A padded board with a slight backward tilt and firm foam is the most comfortable. Add a bolster at neck height if you read a lot. Flat hard wood is fine to look at but tiring to lean on for long.
What height suits a double bed headboard design?
Most double beds look balanced with a board standing 3 ft 4 in to 4 ft tall, measured at floor level. If you sit up often, go to around 50 inches so your head is supported. Under a window, keep it below the sill.
Is a laminate headboard better than a cushion one?
Laminate is easier to clean and never sags. Cushion is softer and quieter against the wall. Many buyers pick laminate with a cushion strip at pillow height to get both.
Can a headboard be added later to a bed without one?
Yes. A wall-mounted board or a free-standing board on legs can be added to any bed. Measure the frame width and make the board 2 to 4 inches wider than it.
What is the difference between bed head design and bed back design?
Bed head design usually means the board on the bed itself. Bed back design often includes the wall behind it as well. See our bed wall ideas for the wall part.
Which bed headboard design is latest right now?
Right now channel cushions, scalloped tops, wall-hung floating boards and fluted wood are asked for most. Warm hidden light behind the board is also popular.
