A modern bedroom with a large navy blue headboard.

Stylish Bedroom Headboard Designs That Elevate Your Space

ByLauren Summers

When my friend recently asked for help redecorating her bedroom, I knew exactly where to start: the headboard! After changing my own bedroom’s headboard seven times over the years, I’ve learned that this single piece can give a room an entirely new look without the commitment (or cost) of a full renovation. My current favorite is a blue velvet upholstered headboard that adds such richness to our primary bedroom.

Here’s a selection of different headboard designs to inspire your own bedroom makeover.

Natural Material Headboards

Bamboo and Rattan Headboards

A well-decorated bedroom with a rattan headboard, green plants, and natural light streaming through sheer white curtains.

I’ve noticed rattan making a huge comeback in bedroom design lately.

These airy, textural headboards work in so many different styles, from coastal to boho. The natural tones pair beautifully with crisp white bedding or earthy color schemes.

A cozy bedroom featuring a canopy bed with sheer curtains, a wooden nightstand, and a rattan headboard.
A bedroom features a rattan headboard against a dark wall, complemented by neutral bedding, woven wall hangings, and a wicker pendant light.
A bright bedroom showcases a rattan headboard, colorful patterned pillows and throw, and a matching rug, creating a vibrant and eclectic space.
A bedroom features a rattan headboard and matching bench, a canopy over the bed, a vibrant tropical mural, and numerous potted plants, creating a bohemian and nature-inspired retreat.

Solid Wood Headboards

A sleek modern bedroom featuring a walnut wood headboard and minimalist decor.

The simplicity of a wood headboard creates the perfect foundation for any bedroom style. Simple wood panels offer clean lines for a modern look, while rustic wood planks add character. 

I used a walnut finish in our guest room because it plays well with virtually any bedding color or pattern.

A cozy bedroom corner with a wooden slatted headboard, white and striped bedding, and a wooden nightstand holding a plant, lamp, and books.
A cozy bedroom with a rustic design featuring a unique wooden headboard, a beige pillow, a white sheet, a light brown blanket, and a small wooden side table with a brass lamp.

Reclaimed Wood Options

A modern bedroom featuring a reclaimed wood headboard with a rustic patina against white walls and neutral decor.

Each reclaimed wood headboard has its own personality and history. The weathered planks, visible knots, and unique patina (=a naturally aged finish) create a focal point that’s impossible to replicate.

These headboards look especially striking against light-colored walls.

👉 My top tip: Before mounting a reclaimed wood headboard, seal it with a clear matte finish. This prevents any rough edges and makes dusting much easier.

Leather Headboards

A modern bedroom with a tan leather headboard, clean lines, and warm mid-century decor.

Looking for something sophisticated yet practical? A leather headboard might be your perfect match!

The material develops a beautiful patina (i.e. weathered look) over time and only gets better with age. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to maintain: just wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

A well-decorated bedroom with a large tufted leather headboard in rich brown, neutral bedding, matching nightstands with lamps, and a cozy armchair.
A neatly made bed with a large, tufted headboard in a light brown, diamond-patterned fabric, with white and gray bedding and a wooden nightstand beside it.

Upholstered and Fabric Headboards

Classic Tufted Designs

A serene bedroom with a beige tufted headboard and cozy, textured bedding.

If you’re aiming for a luxurious hotel-like feeling in your bedroom, consider a tufted headboard. The deep button details create such beautiful dimension and depth!

A luxurious bedroom features a tufted headboard with gold accents, plush velvet bedding in shades of burgundy and pink, and a faux fur throw, creating an opulent and inviting space.
A bedroom with a tufted blue velvet headboard, matching blue pillows, and wall sconces on either side of the bed.

Channel Upholstered Panels

A luxurious bedroom with a green channel headboard, vibrant bedding, and gold accents.
A bedroom with a pink velvet headboard, a sheer canopy over the bed, and a large plant in the corner.

Channel tufting offers a fresh take on the traditional upholstered headboard. The clean lines can run vertically to make your ceiling feel taller, or horizontally to visually widen your space.

This style really shines in rich fabrics like velvet or linen.

A bedroom with a large, upholstered headboard in a deep red color, a comfortable-looking bed with white linens, and a neutral color scheme.
Luxurious bedroom with a deep purple and gold ornate headboard, white linens, and an elegant bedside table with a decorative lamp and flowers.
Bedroom with a large ornate mirror reflecting vibrant maximalist decor and lighting.

Color-Block Upholstery

A neatly made bed with a colorful, geometric headboard, white bedding, and pink bed skirt, accompanied by bedside tables with books and decorative items.

Ready to make a bold statement? A color-blocked headboard combines two or more fabrics for maximum impact. The key is choosing colors that tie into your existing decor, such as pulling shades from your artwork or accent pillows.

🙌 My favorite trick: Order fabric samples and pin them to your existing headboard or tape them to the wall. Live with the colors for a few days before making your final decision.

If you like bold colors in your bedroom, check out my post with maximalist bedroom ideas.

A modern bedroom with a bold color-block headboard in navy and mustard yellow, paired with sleek decor.

Almelo-Style Headboards

A neatly arranged bedroom with a large, curved, padded headboard in beige, white bedding, a gray throw blanket, and a modern nightstand with a lamp and decorative items.

Sometimes the simplest designs make the biggest impact. Almelo headboards prove this with their clean lines and minimal detailing. The streamlined silhouette works beautifully in both modern and more classic spaces.

A modern bedroom with a unique rounded headboard, a bed with white sheets and yellow bedding, a wooden nightstand, and a woven basket.

Fabric-Tacked Details

A modern bedroom with a unique asymmetrical, curved wooden headboard, white and light gray bedding, a light blue upholstered chair, a small side table, a potted plant, and a patterned rug.

Decorative tacks turn a simple upholstered headboard into something special. The metallic details catch the light and add definition to the edges.

Silver tacks feel modern and fresh, while brass ones add a traditional touch.

A chic bedroom with a fabric-tacked headboard in gray and silver detailing, complemented by minimalist decor.

Statement and Design Headboards

Geometric Pattern Headboards

A striking modern bedroom with a black-and-white chevron-patterned geometric headboard and minimal furnishings.
A modern bedroom with a clean aesthetic, featuring white bedding, a geometric-patterned headboard, and a wooden chair on the left.
A minimalist bedroom corner featuring a beige padded headboard, a white duvet, and a wooden chair with a light and airy feel.

The right angles and clean lines of a geometric headboard create an instant focal point. These modern designs range from simple diagonal patterns to complex tessellated shapes.

The key is to keep your bedding simple to let the geometric design shine.

A modern bedroom with a geometric wooden headboard featuring triangular patterns, styled with pastel accents.

Mirrored Headboards

A modern bedroom with a frameless mirrored headboard and bold dark tones in the bedding and lighting.

Want to make your bedroom feel larger and brighter? A mirrored headboard reflects light beautifully while adding a touch of glamour. These work particularly well in smaller rooms or spaces with limited natural light.

A stylish bedroom features a white bed with a beige throw, a mirror headboard, a wooden nightstand with a sculpture, books, and a lamp with a beige shade.
A luxurious bedroom with a reflective mirrored headboard and soft, elegant decor.

Painted and Artistic Headboards

A cozy bedroom with a nature-themed mural on the wall behind a neatly made bed, featuring multiple pillows and a bedside table with a lamp.

Looking for something completely unique? A painted headboard that extends onto your wall creates an artistic focal point that’s truly one-of-a-kind. From whimsical florals to serene landscapes, these designs blur the line between headboard and wall art.

I love how the mountain mural (pictured above) creates a calming backdrop while still making a statement. For a more dramatic look, try vibrant colors and patterns like the artistic panel with its mix of botanical and geometric elements (pictured below).

A vibrant bedroom with a colorful mural of a large plant and abstract patterns, set against blue walls, and a white bedspread with a decorative feather pillow.

🙌 My favorite trick: Before committing to a painted design, tape kraft paper to your wall in the size of your planned headboard and sketch out your idea. Live with it for a few days to make sure you love the scale and placement.

Industrial-Style Options

A sleek industrial bedroom with a black steel headboard and minimal gray-toned decor.

Metal headboards create a bold statement in any bedroom. I’m particularly drawn to blackened steel for its timeless quality, while copper adds warmth to the industrial aesthetic.

These materials look especially good when paired with soft bedding textures.

A bedroom with an industrial and rustic design, featuring a metal bed frame with leather panels and an exposed brick wall.
A sleek industrial bedroom featuring a perforated black metal headboard, concrete walls, and dark bedding.

Functional and Storage Headboards

Headboards with Built-in Shelves

A functional bedroom with a built-in shelf headboard styled with books and plants, offering a sleek and practical look.

A shelf headboard combines storage and style in one piece. I added one to our guest room, and it’s such a practical spot for books and small decor.

The key is to keep the styling simple and uncluttered.

A neatly arranged shelf with various pieces of artwork and decorative items, including paintings, photographs, vases, and sculptures, with a bed below it.
A minimalist bedroom with a white headboard incorporating shelves for subtle decor and functionality.

Headboards with Integrated Lighting

A modern, stylish bedroom with a white bed against a wooden headboard featuring geometric LED lighting, a nightstand with books and a plant, a cream-colored armchair, and a floor lamp, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Built-in lighting changes the whole feel of a bedroom. These headboards put the light exactly where you need it for reading, and they keep your nightstand free for other essentials.

The clean look of hidden wiring makes such a difference in the overall design.

Custom and DIY Headboards

Pallet Wood Projects

A cozy bedroom featuring a warm-toned pallet wood headboard with plaid bedding and a soft glow.

Pallet wood headboards bring a rustic charm to a bedroom. The natural wood tones add warmth to a space, and the boards work in various patterns, from straight horizontal lines to herringbone designs.

A coat of wood sealant in a matte finish helps protect the surface while maintaining that organic look.

A cozy bedroom features a bed made from wooden pallets, adorned with white bedding and a black-and-white zigzag pillow, with a potted plant and a softly lit headboard adding to the minimalist decor.
A cozy, minimalist bedroom corner with a light-colored bed, wooden headboard, nightstand, reading light, and a tall potted plant, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Vintage Headboards

A bedroom with a large wooden headboard featuring a grid pattern, white bedding, and natural light streaming through a large window with black grid frames.

Vintage headboards add so much character to a bedroom! And they can work really well in medieval-inspired bedrooms, too.

The architectural details you can find on vintage headboards is striking.

Woven Textile Designs

A Scandinavian-style bedroom with a simple woven felt headboard in soft gray tones and minimalist decor.

One option to add texture to a room is to turn to woven headboards.

You can create one using a simple frame and interesting materials like thick yarn, jute rope, or even leather strips. The natural variations in the weaving pattern make each piece unique.

🙌 My favorite trick: I like to lay out my weaving pattern on the floor first. It helps me visualize the final design and makes sure I have enough material before I start.

A calming bedroom with a woven linen headboard in neutral tones, styled with soft beige decor and natural lighting.

Final Thoughts

After trying numerous headboards in my own home, I’ve learned that choosing the right one comes down to three main factors: size, style, and function. Your headboard should extend slightly beyond your mattress width – about 3-4 inches on each side looks best. Height depends on your ceiling height and personal preference, but the key is balance: not so short that your bed feels dwarfed, and not so tall that it overwhelms the room.

I hope these ideas have inspired you to find a headboard style that works perfectly in your space!

And here are even more bedroom design ideas:

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A collage of images showcasing various creative headboard ideas for a unique bedroom, including upholstered headboards, wooden headboards, and headboards made from artwork, with the text "40+ Creative Headboard Ideas for a Unique Bedroom" and the Room of Inspo logo.
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Lauren Summers is the creator behind 'Room of Inspo', where she shares decorating ideas, home styling tips, and interior design inspiration. Born and raised in NYC, she has lived in multiple homes across different states, refining her eye for design along the way. Lauren believes that every space should feel stylish, personal, and inviting – and she loves inspiring others to create a home they truly love.

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