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Upholstered Headboards – Good Decorating Decision?

Considering an upholstered headboard for your bedroom? I’m sharing why it was one of the best decisions we made. You’ll love these gorgeous options!

Sometimes we make design and decorating decisions that we end up regretting. Take the chocolate brown leather ottoman I purchased for my family room 5 years ago. First off, I’m usually not a fan of leather because I find it cold in the winter and sticky in the summer. Secondly, the colour seemed a bit dark for my style. However, I thought it would be durable and it was a bargain.

Within a few months, I wanted to send it back. It taught me valuable lessons, including don’t let price be the deciding factor, and always go with initial instincts. Originally, I was looking at a square button-tufted ottoman in a blue-green fabric. To this day, I wish I had it! (Eventually I’ll sell my ottoman and replace it with something I love, but I have other projects on the go that take precedence.)

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Upholstered Headboard

In contrast, one of the best purchases I made several years ago was an upholstered headboard (inspired by the Pottery Barn Jameson shown below) for our bedroom. I had it custom made by a mattress constructor who charged me less than what it would’ve cost to make my own. The piping detail was something I didn’t think I could get right on my own, and I wanted something solid that would last. It was one of those no-brainer purchases!

If someone asked if I’d do it again, my answer would definitely be “Yes!” The only thing I’m considering changing after 6 years is the fabric. That’s as easy as making a slipcover (which will be part of another post).

Tan Upholstered Headboard by Pottery Barn

Pros of Upholstered Headboards

Upholstered headboards add softness, coziness and warmth to a room that you simply can’t get with wood. I like to read in bed, so it’s definitely the best option for me. If you’re a TV-watcher, it’s also a great choice.

I also love the fact that the options for shape, fabric, size and detailing are unlimited. You can simply add texture or make it more of a feature depending on the fabric selection. Fortunately, they’re fairly easy to construct for the DIY-er, and can be changed up down the road.

Cons of Upholstered Headboards

Because they’re fabric, upholstered headboards can trap dust and require special cleaning to remove stains. Depending on the fabric, regular vacuuming is all that is needed. It’s best to select a high-performance upholstery fabric for your headboard.

Depending on the depth, upholstered headboards tend to take up more space in a bedroom than regular headboards. For small bedrooms, it’s definitely something to factor in.

Upholstered Headboard Options

If you’re considering an upholstered headboard for yourself, or if you already have one and want to change it up a bit, here are some options that I definitely think are good decorating decisions.

For more bedroom decorating ideas, check out these tips for styling a bed.

How to Style a Bed with Pillows

Looking for a new mattress? Read our Leesa Hybrid mattress review.

Do you have any decorating decisions you regret making? What have you knocked out of the park? I’d love to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly in the comments below!

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Wishing you a fantastic weekend!

Shauna at Satori Design for Living Blog - Home Decor, DIY, Vintage Finds, Recipes

9 Comments

  1. Wow it sounds like you took the words out of my life. Exactly 5 years ago we bought dark brown leather furniture and I hate it it’s soooo cold. We all hate sitting on it. My best purchase ever was my high end upholstered headboard that is inset into a wooden frame, it’s a king bed frame wit a low profile wooden frame and footboard if that makes since.  I love it so much I re-created a cost effective upholstered headboard for my son for let’s just say quite a bit less. I’ll be making another one soon out of a crib for my two year old so stay tuned. Lesley

  2. I love all the beautiful headboards you show here, especially that striped one- I just pinned it. I so agree with you about not making purchases based on price. So many times I’ve made that mistake, and then ended up with something that I’ve kept for maybe a few months (hating it the whole time) and then either given away (or thrown away!) or just shoved into a box and forgotten about. My favorite things in my home are the ones that I bought based purely on instinct, because I loved them. And now it’s not like I ever look at them and even remember what they cost because to me they are priceless. I am all about saving money when decorating, but sometimes only the original (not a diy’d version and not a cheapo version) will do. 

  3. Found you via the Linky Followers Blog Hop 2! Following you via Linky. Come visit my blog, when you have a moment to spare! Tera

  4. Great post! We started Heady Bed a couple of years ago because we saw a need for more unique upholstered headboard options. Check us out if you have time!

  5. Where in Calgary did you get your headboard made? I would like to get an upholstered daybed made.

    1. Hi Angela, I had our headboard made by Halstead (Deerfoot Meadows). That was 5 or 6 years ago so you’ll have to check and see if they’re still doing headboards and what their prices are like. Good luck!

      1. Thanks Shauna! If it is out of my price range than my Husband and I will be making a daybed out of old doors that I have stored at the farm. I was hoping to keep those to make a couple of head boards this summer though. 

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