How to Style a Headboard: Bedroom Inspiration from Alma Design
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Start with the Headboard
An upholstered headboard is the anchor of the bedroom — the piece everything else responds to. Whether you've chosen a bold botanical print or a quiet, textured weave, the headboard sets the tone. The good news is that a well-chosen fabric does most of the work for you.
Layer Your Bedding
The most effortlessly styled bedrooms use layers. Start with a fitted sheet, add a flat sheet or duvet, then layer a folded throw or blanket across the foot of the bed. Linen and cotton work beautifully with upholstered headboards — they're relaxed without being casual.
If your headboard is a print, keep your bedding relatively simple — a tonal palette that picks up one of the colours in the fabric. If your headboard is a plain weave or stripe, you have more freedom to introduce pattern in your cushions and throws.
Cushions: Mix with Intention
A well-chosen cushion arrangement completes the look. We'd suggest:
- Two or three sleeping pillows in plain cases
- Two square cushions in a complementary fabric (our GP & J Baker cushions work beautifully alongside our headboards)
- One or two smaller accent cushions in a contrasting texture
Don't overthink it — the key is to keep the tones harmonious rather than perfectly matched.
Lighting
Bedside lighting should sit at roughly the same height as your headboard's midpoint. Wall-mounted reading lights are elegant and practical. Table lamps on bedside tables work equally well — choose a warm bulb (2700K) for a soft, flattering glow.
The Wall Around the Headboard
A wall-mounted headboard looks best against a clean wall. If you want to add interest, consider a subtle wallpaper or paint colour that complements the fabric rather than competing with it. Artwork above the headboard can work, but keep it simple — one considered piece rather than a gallery wall.