8 best headboards to rest your head on and jazz up your bedroom

With its rich upholstery fabric and subtle curvature at the top, the Selene is a sleek and chic number that brings a classic, timeless look to the bedroom. Hand upholstered here in the UK, it boasts top-quality craftsmanship with a fine finish, along with reliably sturdy struts that easily glide into the fittings of the bed base. The padded headboard provides a comfy and supportive spot to rest your head and shoulders, and it comes in a comprehensive range of colours and fabric finishes to suit your style. Go bold with darker hues including rainforest, peacock and maritime blue, or keep it calm with dove, mellow or dusky pink.

This rectangular padded headboard from Wayfair may be simple in shape, but it is all about the patterning that evokes contemporary artwork. With its rich visual texture, it works best with plain, crisp white sheets to give you that high-end hotel look. It’s made with MDF, a polyester filling, and twill upholstery fabric – of which there’s a small range of colourways to choose from: mink, lime, midnight, silver, sky or steel. For an enticingly affordable product, this one boasts a deeper profile than some, giving you more plush for your money, and we can’t argue with that. 

If you like the minimalist look but you want in on a bit of luxury too, Dunlem’s offering marries both with ease. The garland bedhead boasts a fuss-free, rectangular form with a deep polyester padding. It’s upholstered in a quality plush velvet that proves both soft and durable, which is vital given its everyday (and night) use. What makes this one a standout is its solid mahogany struts that are a far cry from the flimsy offerings you get with many individually sold headboards. Choose between rich jewel tones, soft pastels or calming neutrals.

This is a beautifully handcrafted headboard, upholstered in 100 per cent wool, which of course is naturally hypoallergenic and breathable. It proves toasty warm in the winter months and nice and cooling in the summer – a no-brainer for the bedroom, then. While the hidcote gives a nod to the traditional with its curvy shape, it stays on the side of clean-lined and contemporary. Notably, this one is fashioned from an FSC-certified mixed timber substrate, so you can sleep well knowing it’s sustainably made. It also comes in a small range of rich, nature-inspired hues from hemlock to juniper and pine.

This is a statement headboard that means business. It features plush padded panelling with a deep border, along with its sparing buttoning detail. Whether you go with the velveteen or boutique weave upholstery, it proves perfectly luxurious – we love the olive colourway in velveteen, in particular. Unlike most strutted headboards, this one boasts a full-height profile, making it extra sturdy. The whole thing simply slots onto the divan base at the head of the bed. The malham also boasts a good height from the mattress to the top of the headboard, which gives it real presence and an added sense of opulence – and who doesn’t deserve a bit of that?

Habitat’s sculptural statement headboard is crafted in Indonesia from steam bent natural rattan and it proves surprisingly sturdy. In jet black, it brings dark drama to the bedroom, whilst giving a knowing nod to boho-chic, the interiors trend that keeps on giving. Its semi-circular fan-like form provides an attractive focal point, and it may seem delicately woven, but it’s backed up with some pretty impressive engineering underneath. This all-in-one piece doesn’t rely on conventional struts so you may have to get creative in fixing it to your divan base – or indeed, your wall.

This is another full-height headboard that makes a stylish statement. It is handcrafted from solid teak, pale natural rattan and cane, and as such, borrows from Scandi design as much as it is a bohemian-inspired piece. The Sahara boasts a sturdy frame that reinforces the intricate weave. It is also luxuriously tall, with gently curved corners that soften its otherwise boxy shaping. Without conventional struts that attach to the divan base, this one works best when tightly screwed into the wall. Make sure you give it a centred, symmetrical spot for the full effect.

Inspired by classic Queen Anne shaping, this curvy headboard is one dramatic statement piece – even in an unassuming biscuity linen. What makes it particularly striking is its height, which brings a sense of grandeur to the bedroom. It’s worth noting that the smaller sizes come in a more simplified shape with fewer undulations. There’s a huge range of fabrics to choose from, including rich velvets, printed linens and Harris tweeds. And you can expect a fine finish in whichever material you choose, complete with neat piping around the edges. With its full-height profile, it is designed to be fitted flush against the wall or attached to a bed base without any wobbles. Handmade to order, there is a bit of a wait time for delivery, but we think it’s well worth it.