How to Choose a Headboard: Styles, Height, Fabric and Fit
Choose a headboard that is at least as wide as the bed, tall enough to lean on comfortably and in proportion to the ceiling and window. Upholstered styles feel soft and quiet; tufted and wingback designs add drama, while panels keep it simple.
Key takeaways
- Width: at least as wide as the bed frame; slightly wider looks more generous.
- Height: tall enough to lean against with a pillow, and in proportion to the ceiling and any window.
- Style: button-tufted is classic, channel-tufted is modern, wingback is cosy and panels are simple.
- Fabric: velvet-look feels rich; smoother weaves are easier to wipe and brush.
- Readers in bed benefit most from a padded, upholstered headboard.
How do you choose a headboard?
Start with how you use the bed: if you read or watch TV in bed, choose a padded, upholstered headboard. Then check the size: at least as wide as the bed frame and tall enough to lean on, in proportion to the ceiling and any window behind it. Finally, choose the style and fabric that suit the room and how much care you want to give it.
Which headboard styles are there?
| Style | Look | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button-tufted | Classic, deep and padded | Statement and traditional rooms | Dust collects in the buttons |
| Channel-tufted | Vertical padded ribs; modern | Modern and glam rooms | Vacuum along the channels |
| Wingback | Side wings that wrap the pillows | Reading in bed; cosy rooms | Takes a little more width |
| Upholstered panel | Flat or panelled fabric | Calm, simple rooms | Less cushioning than tufted |
| Wood | Natural and warm | Rustic and minimal rooms | Hard to lean against |
| Metal | Light, open frame | Small and industrial rooms | Cold and hard; can rattle |
What size headboard do you need?
- Width: at least as wide as the bed frame, so the mattress does not stick out. Slightly wider looks more generous; very wide can frame the nightstands too.
- Height: tall enough to sit up against with a pillow behind your back. A tall headboard suits a high ceiling; keep it lower under a window or sloped ceiling.
- Depth: padded and wingback headboards stand further from the wall, so the bed needs a little more length in the room.
- Room for nightstands: leave enough wall at each side for a nightstand and a lamp or wall light.
We do not list headboard heights for our beds online, so ask us to measure the bed you like, or see it in the showroom, before you decide.
Which headboard fabric is best?
- Velvet and velvet-look: rich colour and a soft feel. The pile can mark when pressed and shows dust, so brush it gently.
- Textured weaves: hide everyday marks well and feel relaxed.
- Smooth, tight weaves: the easiest to brush and spot-clean.
- Light colours: brighten a room but show marks, so keep hair oils and fake tan away from them.
Our fabric cleaning guide explains cleaning codes and how to treat stains on upholstery, and our upholstered vs wooden bed guide covers the wider choice.
Which headboard suits your room?
- Small bedroom: a panel or channel-tufted headboard in a light colour keeps it feeling open.
- High ceiling: a tall, tufted headboard fills the wall and adds height.
- Reading in bed: a padded wingback or button-tufted headboard is the most comfortable.
- Kids and teens: a padded headboard is softer to lean on, and a bold colour gives the room personality; see our kids bedroom ideas.
- Under a window: choose a lower headboard that stays below the sill, and keep cords away from the bed.
Shop the look
Headboards on our beds
Every bed we sell is upholstered and comes with its own headboard and a built-in storage base:
- White Queen Storage Bed: an arched, channel-tufted headboard with gold edging. See our white bed bedroom ideas.
- Brown Queen Storage Bed: a wide, panelled headboard in a modern geometric pattern.
- Royal Blue Storage Bed (120 x 200): a velvet-look, button-tufted headboard with an inset gold frame.
- Pink Storage Bed (120 x 200): a tall, button-tufted wingback in dusty pink.
- Cream Wingback Single Bed: a tall, button-tufted wingback in cream.
- Grey Single Storage Bed: a channel headboard with curved gold inlays.
Browse all our beds, or ask about our fabric colour matching service if you want a headboard to suit a particular room.
Try our headboards in Hamilton
The best test is to sit up against a headboard. Come to Home Centre Green, 110 Lancing Dr, Unit 2, Hamilton, ON L8W 3A1, with free parking outside, and try the styles in person.
We are open Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. We are closed on Sundays. Call or WhatsApp us on (905) 253-0202, or send us a message.
Frequently asked questions
How tall should a headboard be?
Tall enough that you can sit up and lean against it with a pillow behind you, which for most adults means it should rise well above the top of the mattress. Keep it in proportion to the room: a very tall headboard suits a high ceiling, while a lower one sits better under a window or a low ceiling.
Should a headboard be wider than the bed?
It should be at least as wide as the bed frame, so the mattress does not stick out past it. A headboard slightly wider than the bed looks more generous, and a very wide one can frame the nightstands too. Leave enough wall at each side for the nightstands and lamps.
What is the most comfortable headboard?
A padded, upholstered headboard is the most comfortable to lean on, especially for reading or watching TV in bed. Button-tufted and channel-tufted styles add extra cushioning, and a wingback headboard wraps around the pillows and feels sheltered. Wood and metal headboards look good but feel hard.
Is a velvet headboard a good idea?
Yes, if you like a rich look. Velvet and velvet-look fabrics feel soft and show colour beautifully, but the pile can mark when pressed and shows dust, so vacuum it gently with a soft brush. Keep hair oils and fake tan away from it, and blot spills straight away.
Does a headboard have to match the bed frame?
No, but on an upholstered bed the headboard is usually part of the frame, so it matches already. If you buy a separate headboard, match the colour or the style of the room instead. A contrasting headboard can work well against a plain wall and simple bedding.
Home Centre Green Design Team
The team behind our Hamilton showroom. We help customers choose Turkish-made sofas, beds and carpets every day, and we write these guides to answer the questions we hear most in store.
