Headboards: 36 Fresh Ideas

Send your bedroom to the head of the class with a design that's sure to make the grade.

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November 25, 2014

By: Kelley Rebori

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Over the Top

Make a bold design statement by choosing a floor-to-ceiling-length tufted headboard and surrounding it with glass and glitter. Design by sfa design

Head of the Class

We love this custom tufted headboard by designer Jamie Herzlinger. See what happened when HGTV editors learned to tuft and then check out our interview with Jamie.

Layers of Color

Powerhouse designer Barry Dixon combines a luxurious headboard with wall curtains and a bed crown. This complex blend of shapes and fabrics can be difficult to achieve, though Dixon makes it look effortless.

King-Sized Wingback

Wingback headboards add visual punch and a comfortable place to lean back.

From: Richard Gacek

Color Scheme Inspiration

Instead of a headboard, hang a piece of art — then use it as the springboard for your color scheme. Design by Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

Simple Yet Sophisticated

A creamy bed anchors this serene, green space. Find out why green is a great color for bedrooms. Design by Coddington Design

Tuft Love

Designer Casey Noble mixes soft and edgy in her contemporary retreat. Trip: Use a large headboard to ground the decor in a small bedroom.

Traditional? Yes. Stuffy? No.

A super-traditional headboard gets contemporary polish with tone-on-tone graphic fabric. And check out how the polished horn lamps give the muted, feminine room color and balance. Tip: Read up on reading lamps Design by Coddington Design

Vintage Eclectic

This simple, rounded bedstead creates a simple backdrop for a mix of modern linens. Design by Darlene Molnar

Contemporary Luxury

Creamy layers of color and texture, from the leather bed to the cashmere throw, give a glamorous glow to this bedroom. Design by Jamie Herzlinger

Cozy Sleeping Nook

Tucking a bed into its own alcove provides a visual surprise as well as a sense of privacy. Design by Design Development

Hip to Be ... Well, Rectangular

This upholstered headboard provides balance, in both texture and color, for the room where the view is the focal point. Design: Gacek Design Group

From: Richard Gacek

Let Art be Your Focus

There's a white bed behind the sumptuous stack of pillows, but the painting on the wall behind it is what catches the eye. Art is a good substitute for a headboard in rooms (or budgets) where one won't fit. Design by Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

Italian Romance

This beautiful rococo piece, paired with tapestries and small console tables, offers a modern take on European 18th-century designs.

Downtown Style

This mirrored canopy has a built-in headboard, adding warmth and comfort to the sleek, reflective space. Design by S&K Interiors

Chandelier + Gallery Wall

Sometimes the best headboard is none at all. In a small bedroom, you can get the feel of a headboard with paint, a statement light and a gallery wall. Design by Emily Henderson

From: Emily Henderson

Upcycled Elegance

Consider using an antique textile as upholstery, like this 19th-century, embroidered silk Tunisian wedding garment. Design by Barry Dixon Interiors

Play With Tones

Designer Ammie Kim draws this airy room's color scheme together with wood tones. Design by Ammie Kim

Trefoil Shape

This bedroom is the ultimate in English Country. The yellow trefoil-shaped headboard, graceful furniture and wainscoted walls are grounded by the richly hued Oriental rug. Design by Brian Coleman

Rustic Elegance

If you love the rustic look, consider a custom wooden bedstead. You don't have to live in a cabin to pull off this look — it will work in rooms from traditional to modern, simply by changing out the bedding and accessories.

French-Inspired Makeover

Designer Valerie Ruddy looked to France for her inspiration for this bedroom makeover. A rug inspired the soft blue, gold and cream color scheme. Design by Decorating Den Interiors

Platform Bed: Keep it Neutral

When shopping for large pieces of furniture, look for neutral upholstery that will be a base for several color schemes. Then rotate bedding seasonally so you don't get bored with your look. Design by Ammie Kim

From: Ammie Kim

Weekend Getaway

Designer Benjamin Cruz embraced the modern style of this Fort Lauderdale, Fla., high-rise, and gave the homeowner a comfortable weekend getaway. Get the full story behind this contemporary master bedroom Design by Benjamin Cruz

From: Benjamin Cruz

A Little Extra Padding

Okay, so the idea of padded walls? Not usually comforting. But in this case, they're not only comforting, they're stylish. Design by Charles Pavarini III Design Assoicates, Inc.

Au Naturel

Drew and Jonathan Scott gave a homeowners' existing wooden bed an update with plump pillows and lush bedding. Design by Property Brothers

Lavender Backlighting

This velvet and damask headboard takes on a subtle texture against a wall covered in the same fabric. The lavender backlighting echoes the color of the quilt. Design by Charles Pavarini III Design Assoicates, Inc.

Sleek and Cozy

Clean-lined furniture and colorful bedding make this a perfect spot for napping. Design by Last Detail Interior Design

Calming Sea of Blue

Blue is the dominant hue in this relaxing room. The gray platform bed is softened by the tufting detail on the headboard. Design by A.S.D. Interiors

Cottage Chic

This upholstered bed gets its good looks from its unusual shape and tidy, nailhead trim. Bonus: Learn how to upholster a no-sew headboard

Suburban Beauty

Designer Sarah Richardson turned a contractor's basic room into this splendid space. The color inspiration? The views of the forest and river outside the house. Check out the full makeover at Sarah's House

Screen It In

In this room from Secrets From a Stylist, designer Emily Henderson uses the screen to add beauty and visually anchor the space.

From: Emily Henderson

Graphic Wallpaper

An old-fashioned iron bedstead gets a boost from a bold, modern wallpaper. Design by Home by Novogratz

Less-Is-More Aesthetic

Designer Tara Benet uses low-profile furniture, a minimalist color palette and sleek accessories to create this calming New York City bedroom. Design by Tara Benet Design

Art Deco and Loving It

In the Atlanta Decorators Show House, designer Jillian Prichard Cooke turned a bedroom into an Art Deco haven. The oversized headboard stands out against the navy walls, while the white finishes and the large mirror keep the room from being too dark. Design by Design Synergy

Repurposed Paneling

Looking for an inexpensive design solution? Upcycle old paneling or barnwood and hang it on the wall. You can paint it or make an oil-rubbed finish to bring out the wood's glow. Design by James Farmer Designs

A True Urban Oasis

Upholstered extensions on either side of the headboard make a queen bed appear larger in this modern-design. "It looks like you've got this big bed going wall to wall," says Lindsay Pumpa, designer of HGTV Urban Oasis 2013. Design by Lindsay Pumpa