Finding the Best Headboard for Your Bedroom
Do you feel like your bedroom needs a change, but you’re unsure what to do about it? Sometimes, even purchasing something as basic as a headboard can completely change the appearance of the room.
Looking for a headboard with personality? Here are our picks for the best headboards you can find online – find one that matches your bedroom style.
| Rank | Product | Highlights |
| #1 |  LUCID Mid-Rise Upholstered Headboard
|
|
| #2 |  Signature Design by Ashley Paxberry Adjustable Headboard
|
|
| #3 |  24KF Headboard
|
|
| #4 |  Prepac Queen Bookcase Headboard
|
|
| #5 |  Modway Emily Headboard
|
|
| #6 |  Modway Serena Headboard
|
|
| #7 |  Ashley Neilsville Butcher Block Panel Headboard
|
|
| #8 |  Rosevera Givanna Upholstered Headboard
|
|
You might be interested in: The Best Headboards for Your Bedroom
Best Headboard for Your Bedroom
1. Editor’s Choice: LUCID Mid-Rise Upholstered Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: wooden frame, polyester upholstery
- Available Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Full XL, Queen, King/Cal King
- Color Options: 6
Available in multiple colors and design options, the LUCID headboard is a customer favorite. It is designed using a Siberian larch wood frame and is covered in polyester upholstery.
It’s a bed-frame-mounted headboard, so you’re going to have to make sure the brackets match your bed. The headboard also comes with optional wall mounts. You can choose between the many different sizes, so it doesn’t matter if you need it for a twin or a Cal king bed.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
2. Runner Up: Signature Design by Ashley Paxberry Adjustable Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: wood
- Available Sizes: Twin, Full, King
- Color Options: 1
If you’re ready to step up your headboard game, I have the perfect product suggestion for you. This Signature Design headboard is such an intricate piece. It almost feels like a piece of wall art and not just a wooden headboard. With its boho-style carving, it’s definitely a piece that doesn’t fit in just any bedroom.
If there is one thing I didn’t like about this is the fact that the ¼-inch bolts needed to attach this to the bed frame are not included with your purchase.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
3. Most color options: 24KF Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: wood frame, foam padding, fabric
- Available Sizes: Full/Queen, King/Cal King
- Color Options: 19
When you make an upholstered headboard, one of the major benefits is that you can dye the fabric in any color you want. Not a lot of manufacturers do that, which makes the 24KF headboard stand out from the crowd.
With 19 different color options, you can pretty much customize the color of your bed just the way you want.
The vertical channel design adds a lot of elegance, while the curved top side is definitely a trademark that we love to see. Underneath the upholstery, you have generous foam padding, making this a great headboard for people who watch TV or read in bed.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
4. Best with storage: Prepac Queen Bookcase Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: wood
- Available Sizes: Queen
- Color Options: 1
If you lack storage space or want a new spot to place your family photos, this headboard adds style and storage to your bedroom. It has three storage compartments and a simple yet attractive design that will go with any decor. Adjust the central shelf to your liking.
It’s a free-standing headboard, which means you won’t have to bother with drilling holes in anything to install it. I wish we could see more color options for this product, but the functionality it adds to your bedroom surely compensates for that.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
5. Best faux leather: Modway Emily Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: plastic frame, vinyl upholstery
- Available Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
- Color Options: 2
Leather furniture pieces are very expensive, which is why a lot of people turn to faux leather. While a leather headboard can cost thousands of dollars, you can get this faux leather one for next to nothing.
It features a plastic frame and faux leather upholstery with button-tufted accents. You can find it in most standard bed sizes, ranging from Twin to King. You also can opt for expert assembly, but that’s going to cost you extra.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
6. Best Budget: Modway Serena Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: metal
- Available Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
- Color Options: 4
If you were looking for a simple metal headboard that could easily find its way into farmhouse decor, this is the right product for you. It’s made with powder-coated stainless steel plugs a reinforced ladder beam which contributes to the sturdiness and simplicity of the design.
This could be a perfect addition to a teenager’s room, especially if they intend to decorate the headboard with fairy lights. You get four sizes to choose from, as well as four color options.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
7. Best Rustic: Signature Design by Ashley Neilsville Butcher Block Panel Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: wood
- Available Sizes: Full, Queen
- Color Options: 2
Rustic headboards can be true masterpieces, even if some of them look like their 500 years old. This particular one has a distressed wood look that makes it feel like a masterpiece.
It’s designed with a butcher block finish that goes on top of the replicated pine grain. Even if it features an open-slat design, the space between the slats is almost non-existent. If you were looking for a rustic headboard to cover up some wall defects, this might still be a viable option.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
8. Best Tufted: Rosevera Givanna Upholstered Headboard
Key Specs:
- Material: wood frame, linen upholstery
- Available Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
- Color Options: 3
The Rosevera Givanna headboard looks and feels like a timeless piece. It has a warm design, filled with button-tufted accents and the possibility to choose between three different colors. The basis of it is made from wood and covered in linen upholstery.
Another advantage that speaks in favor of this product is the fact that you can adjust its height from 40 to 52 inches. It comes with predrilled holes, wall mounts, and drywall anchors, just in case you want to attach it to the wall instead.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
You may want to read: 51 Unique DIY Headboard Designs & Ideas
Do You Need a Headboard?
No, but there are benefits to having one. Currently, headboards serve a rather decorative purpose. In the past, they used to be a lot more functional. Since homes weren’t properly isolated, walls would get pretty cold, causing sleepers to feel thermal discomfort.
Headboards acted as a buffer between the sleeper’s head and the cold wall. They still do that to this very day but heating the home isn’t such a big problem as it used to be.
Pros and Cons to Using a Headboard
The benefits of using a headboard definitely outweigh the cons. Let’s look at some of the reasons why someone would want to purchase a headboard.
— Extra Support
Your bed is your nest and it’s more than a place to sleep. There are a lot of things people do while they are in bed, from scrolling on their smartphones to reading. Extra support for your neck and back may be helpful if this describes your situation.
— Keeps Wall Safe
When placed against the wall, there are chances it will move and scratch it. The edges of the bed rub against the wall, you touch the paint or wallpaper with your hands while sleeping, and you might even scrape the paint as you move at night.
A headboard will separate your bed from the wall, preventing any damage that might happen when they come into contact.
— Keeps Pillows Off the Floor
If you don’t have a headboard when you sleep, you might be familiar with the feeling of waking up in the middle of the night to discover that your pillow has vanished. A headboard can help prevent that because there is no more room between the wall and bed for the pillow to squeeze in.
In addition to having a headboard, selecting the appropriate pillow for your bed can also assist with this problem and allow you to enjoy a better night’s sleep in the long run.
— Adds Extra Insulation
Most experts on the topic state that the ideal sleeping temperature is between 60- and 67-degrees Fahrenheit.
If you wake up with chills in the middle of the night, a headboard may be beneficial in keeping your room warmer by providing additional insulation between you and your wall. Headboards were originally used to keep a person warm while they slept.
A headboard can provide the additional insulation needed to keep the cold out of your bed when your bed is against a poorly insulated wall
— Can Provide Storage
Certain headboard designs have integrated storage, which is really beneficial if you have a small bedroom. Equipped with cubbies and shelves, these headboards act like smaller bookcases or cabinets. That means you can store anything from family photo frames to books you like to read before bed.
While there are also a couple of drawbacks to using a headboard, they are mostly circumstantial. Yet, they are still worth mentioning simply because you might not have thought about these scenarios.
— Can Be Costly
If you’re hoping to stick within a limited budget, skipping the headboard may be the best option for you. Headboards can be pricey, and they are not required in every bedroom. Everything from your bed frame and mattress to your bedding and pillows can pile up quickly and cost a lot of money.
— Takes Up Floor Space
Every square inch counts in a tiny bedroom design, especially for individuals with limited space. When it comes to headboards, they might take up important space that could be better utilized elsewhere.
You will save valuable floor and wall space by foregoing a headboard, and your bedroom will feel less claustrophobic. You may want to explore a smaller mattress size if your bedroom is on the smaller side.
Consider hanging an art piece on your wall as a decorative accent piece in lieu of a headboard. A piece of art provides an excellent opportunity to exhibit your particular aesthetic and sense of style.
You may want to check out: How to Attach a Headboard to a Bed Frame
Different Types of Headboards
There are many different ways to classify headboards. They can be divided into categories based on the material they’re made from, the style of their design, or even how they are installed.
If you classify them based on how they are mounted, you have your:
- Wall-mounted headboards – Simple to install but require drilling the wall behind them.
- Bed-frame mounted – They are installed directly on your bed frame, so they need brackets compatible with the bed.
- Free-standing – They are not attached to anything and can stand on their own. Some models include storage.
Headboards are also labeled according to their style, so you know which one best fits your existing bedroom decor:
- Traditional – Often made from wood and featuring rich elements.
- Slat – Made from wood or metal and with vertical slat spindles.
- Contemporary – Feature clean lines, minimal graining on wood, and a smooth surface.
- Shabby chic – Encompasses distressed headboard, great for romantic bedrooms.
- Elegant – Upholstered in luxurious fabrics, feature ornate carvings and designs.
What to Consider When Buying a Headboard
• Materials
Headboards are made from a wide range of materials, from metal to wood. Some of them are covered in upholstery and have added padding for more comfort. Padding isn’t something you really need because you already have pillows for cushioning.
However, if you spend a lot of time reading or watching TV in bed, the extra material could be beneficial. Choosing a certain headboard material is almost always a matter of style. If you pick headboards covered in fabric, you need to be sure the material is resistant to wear and tear.
• Size
The size of your bed is also important when picking a headboard. Many alternatives, especially frame-mounted ones, are designed to a specific bed width.
You can always choose bigger or smaller wall-mounted or free-standing headboards, but knowing your bed’s width helps while purchasing.
• Ease of Installation
As mentioned before, headboards can be installed in one of three ways. Some of them are mounted directly on the wall (they require drilling holes into the wall for that), some are connected to your bed frame (as they have predrilled legs), and some are free-standing.
Naturally, free-standing models are easiest to set up because they don’t need to be connected to anything.
• Storage
Some headboards include shelves, drawers, and cubbies, allowing you to store a multitude of different items. These are good for small bedrooms because people usually need all the extra storage space they can get.
Storage can be used for functional purposes (keeping bedding items or even towels inside the drawers), while others are decorative (they can hold photos, souvenirs, trinkets, mobile devices, etc.).
• Budget
High-end materials, such as real wood, superior leather, or pricey metals can easily push the price of a headboard into the thousands of dollars range. Exotic finishes and oversized alternatives might be costly as well.
Having said that, you do not need to spend a fortune on a gorgeous headboard. Home goods retailers provide amazing selections ranging from $100 to $500. You have complete control over your spending, which is determined by your personal tastes and preferences.
The Bottom Line
A new headboard can transform even the most basic bed frame. Headboards used to be attached to mattresses to better insulate sleepers’ heads. Nowadays, most headboards are just decorative. However, they might be useful if you need extra storage or want to read or watch TV in bed. For more great revs like this, check out our list of the best bed frames!
Photo credit: Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock; Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock;
Iglenas/Shutterstock; Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock;
Sanja_85/Shutterstock