23 Upholstered Headboards to Make Any Bedroom Feel Like a Retreat

Monochromatic Look

Headboard design ideas can either be bold, subtle, or something in-between. For a look that sits somewhere in that middle spot, blend your headboard into its surroundings with a subtle color shift. Paint the wall behind your headboard a shade or two lighter than the headboard's fabric. A barely-there difference will give your headboard the presence of a whisper rather than a shout.

• Learn How to Make Your Own Upholstered Headboard

Tufted Upholstered Headboards

Headboards provide a transition from the cozy, pillow-topped mattress to the cold, flat wall. The smooth transition can be made through color, comfort, or texture. For a texture that matches the thickness of the bed, employ a headboard that has deep tufts. Tufted headboards with thicker padding allow for deeper tufts and a more luxurious look. For a bit of whimsy, consider using patterned or different colored buttons in the tufts.

Nailed It

Nailhead trim offers a classic, tailored finish to king upholstered headboards. Whether you're building or buying a headboard, choose a nailhead trim that stands out so the elegant detail isn't lost on a patterned or boldly colored fabric. Also consider the size of the nailheads. They might look apparent up close, but take a step back and see if the heads are large enough to distinguish from a distance.

Style Bridge

Cream or white headboards are anything but boring in our book. Curving high above a bed piled with luxurious linens and plush pillows, this headboard makes a sensational style statement. Its elegant shape and lush tufting play off the dramatic bedding, but the linenlike quality of the fabric speaks to the bedroom's charming primitive qualities—whitewashed paneled walls, jute rug, and wicker table—marrying the rustic with the sublime.

Dual-Function Headboard

Placing a bed in front of a window is not a common furniture-arranging practice, but in this light-filled bedroom, the bed's placement serves a practical purpose. The tall upholstered headboard obstructs the view from the window for privacy's sake while still allowing some light through the top and providing a comfortable backrest to lean against in bed. The upholstered headboard design helps it stand out against the creamy white drapes hung from the window.

Go Bold

For a look that piles on the contrast, choose a headboard upholstered in a graphic, two-tone fabric. Here, a large-scale pink, lavender, and blue pattern stands out against a white paneled wall. A bit of cohesiveness brings contrast under control, ensuring the look is daring, not disparate. In this bedroom, pale pink sheets topped with a tufted comforter pulls together the wall color and the headboard. DIY upholstered headboards like this are a great way to use flashy fabric you've shied away from in the past.

• Learn how to make this simple tufted headboard.

Dual Design

If you love the look of curved posts and a classic wood frame but crave a comfortable upholstered back, look for a hybrid headboard. An offer like this offers the best of both in one piece. Here, the jute-like material in the headboard matches the tan window treatment. Meanwhile, the wood border blends in nicely with the paneled walls. This beachy blue room is fun, unique, and totally on-trend.

Refreshing Color

Make a standard 8-foot ceiling appear higher with a tall headboard. Standing at a stately height, this gold-and-gray upholstered headboard is simple in shape, but it draws the eye up and creates the illusion of more vertical space. In a palette of neutrals, a jolt of color gives a room distinct personality. For balance, pick a colorful piece that also carries one of the room's main neutral hues. The white nailhead trim on the headboard fabric tempers the dark gray so it isn't jarring the way a solid velvet headboard would be.

Added Structure

Give a king upholstered headboard a little bit of structure with a solid wood frame. Here, a band of richly stained wood frames the caramel-color velvet upholstered panel, coordinating the bed with the bedside table. The rest of the room seems to float on air with neutrals in the rug, bedding, and walls. The theme of natural wood ties the space together as it also appears in the slipper chair and reading nook table.

Hybrid Headboard

The best upholstered headboard design ideas show their versatility. Here, the tufted headboard marries the soaring height of a poster bed with the soft luxury of an upholstered headboard. A tufted gray panel fits between the posts, which direct attention toward the bedroom's detailed crown molding. The dark finish on the bed frame is reflected in the room with the bedside bench and desk chair.

Sweet Dreams

A pair of shamrock-green headboards sets the sweetly preppy tone in this bedroom designed for two. The cloudlike shape of the headboards is whimsical, but the crisp white linens and walls keep the whimsy in check to create a look that will last from childhood to teenagedom. The lamp above is made from the same fabric of the pillows, though it would also look nice in the same hue as the headboards. To store items beneath the bed, add a matching bed skirt for a polished finish.

Neutral & Detailed

While a monochromatic palette is chic, extra details can give it a little pizzazz. This upholstered headboard is almost the exact same soft oatmeal color as the wall behind it, but its elegant silhouette and unique sides make it stand out while maintaining an uninterrupted plane of neutral. The same principal applies to the bedding and the rug: It's in the same neutral hue, but with subtle pops of color that bring it to life.

Double Luxe

There are so many ways to dress up a king upholstered headboard. To make an extra-luxurious statement, opt for a headboard in an elegant fabric and a rich color. Here, velvet and chocolate brown are the material and color of choice. A complementary blue-and-gold color pairing balances the rich headboard, while a luxurious curtain hangs behind the bed in an elegant demeanor.

On the Double

Proving that two is sometimes better than one, a double row of nailhead trim punctuates this headboard's simple shape and blue upholstery. In another double take, a mirrored wall behind the bed serves as a secondary headboard. The mirrored bedside table reflects the neutral colors in the room while the solid-colored upholstered headboard grounds the light and airy design.

In Coordination

When choosing an upholstered headboard to match a wallpaper, consider matching the fabric to one of the less dominate colors within the pattern of the wallpaper. In this elegant bedroom, a gold quilted headboard would have been striking, but it would have competed with the dominant metallic-gold leaf pattern in the wallpaper. Instead, the headboard fabric matches the secondary ecru abstract flower blossoms, which creates a visual connection between the walls and the bed.

Carved in Style

The best kind of DIY headboard doesn't sacrifice comfort for style, Here, the sculptural shape of this upholstered headboard mimics the look of carved wood, but it's much softer to lean against. A cushion underneath the fabric helps maintain its bouncy look and encourages snuggling up with a good book in bed. The velvety blue upholstery picks up the flourishes on the bedding and throw pillow, so it all looks a part of one cohesive set.

Perfectly Patterned

In a room filled with gorgeous patterns and colors, a simple headboard can be just as much of a standout as an ornamented one. This quilted headboard is tall to stand up to luxury of the rest of the room. Overhead, the ceiling is painted a similar color to keep the neutrals from overpowering the room. Blue accents in the pillows, blankets, and rug also help keep the luxurious bedroom grounded.

Delicious Chocolate

Mocha-color tufted-silk upholstery on a wraparound headboard envelopes this bed with luxury and comfort. The simple textures of the fabric-and-wood frame contrast the grass-cloth-covered walls, just like the metallic gold accents offset the hushed neutrals in this bedroom.

Tip: When using a wraparound headboard, be sure to pull your nightstand out from the wall a few inches. If it's pushed too far back, you may lose sight of your alarm clock as you lie down at night.

Scale Matters

Scale and rhythm are key principles to successful pattern-mixing. In a space filled with gray walls, an oversize cheetah print fabric on the upholstered headboard offers a welcome contrast. The orderly pattern introduces a steady rhythm to the equally-wild bedding and decor on the walls and bedding. A larger-scale cheetah pattern ensures that the fabric isn't lost among the room's elements the way a smaller pattern could have been.

Bridge the Gap

Dark steel blue walls envelop this crisp white headboard for a cool, contrasting look. Silver nailhead trim bridges the chasm between the brightness of the headboard and the steely gray undertones of the wall. When working with stark contrasts, look for an element, such as this nailhead trim, that will tie the opposites together. Elsewhere in the room, bright pops of orange and coral bedding bring some needed light touches to the space.

• DIY Headboard Ideas

Textural Neutrals

Layers of touchable textures mix and mingle around a basic natural-linen headboard. The headboard is tall, but not overpowering with walls that are a similar hue. On the bed, neutral bedding sets the tone for the room with a four-post bed frame to match. At the foot of the bed, two velvety-soft chairs sit to form a comfortable conversation zone in the primary bedroom.

Cool Contrast

Not all upholstered headboard ideas have to lean traditional. In this contemporary primary bedroom, a heavily toned-down color scheme is brought to life through bold accents. The upholstered headboard is a striking orange and the wall behind boasts a graphic design element that adds interest. With a funky lighting fixture and bold throw pillows, the result is an eye-appealing balance that makes a big impact in this room.

Big Personality

Add style to a plain wall with an extra-high tufted upholstered headboard. The dark velvety blue fabric adds richness and warmth to the bedroom. Matching the glamorous feel of the space, a gold bedside table is decorated with a large ambient-light lamp and fresh flowers. Long, silky drapes that touch the floor make the room appear larger than it actually is. With a headboard like this, even a queen would feel right at home.