A headboard is more than just a decorative accent—it also provides support for those sitting up in bed, protects the wall behind it and even makes it easier to prop up pillows. There are a few things to consider when you’re shopping for the best headboards, but, ultimately, that mix of functionality and aesthetic value will serve you well. Our top pick for 2024, the Rove Concepts Berlin Headboard, is notable for its premium materials and luxurious look, and it’s a larger-than-life option that can help to fill up a bigger bedroom.
“Go for what you like, not what is current or trendy,” advises Lisa Lee, the chief creative officer of Rituals. “Your home should reflect what you love. In our opinion, it should be comfortable and your sanctuary.” While there’s no wrong answer when it comes to the best headboards on the market, ahead, we’re sharing what we believe to be the top options available in 2024, each of which stands out for its quality, design and glowing customer feedback.
A Luxuriously Plush Design Made With Premium Materials
Rove Concepts Berlin Headboard
Style: Modern |Dimensions: 101 x 6 x 39.7 inches | Sizes: One size | Mount type: Wall-mounted |Materials: Larch wood and rubberwood | Trial: 30 days
Pros:
White glove delivery option available
Premier wood and upholstery materials
Five earthy cool tones to choose from
Cons:
Limited sizes
Rove Concepts is a high-end luxury furniture brand with unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, which includes the plush-looking Berlin Headboard. With its towering height, smooth channel detailing and lush upholstery, it’s truly a headboard fit for a king and queen. Bear in mind that the website says to expect up to four weeks for delivery on in-stock items. Still, many users praised how quickly their mattress actually arrived, as well as the white glove delivery service and customer service in general. Its large size fits best with queen and king-size beds, and pairs perfectly with the Rove Concepts Berlin bed. You can choose between velvet, felt, vegan suede and bouclé upholstery materials and five different colorways.
Best Wood Headboard
Enjoy A Functional Design And Expert Craftsmanship
Olalla Oak Headboard (Queen)
Style: Modern Bohemian | Dimensions: 48 x 92 x 13.5 inches | Sizes: Queen and king |Mount type: Wall-mounted |Materials: Solid white oak, natural cane rattan |Trial: 30 days
Pros:
Premium design with solid and veneered wood
Built-in shelves
Simple to clean
Upgraded delivery and assembly available
Cons:
Limited sizing
With its oak wood and woven cane rattan design, the Olalla Oak Headboard is perfect for a natural or boho bedroom style. Your specific headboard is technically one-of-one, as the wood and cane materials differ in color and texture. Like a marble stone, no two headboards are the same. The Olalla Oak Headboard also functions as a nightstand and features two shelves, one on each side, to keep your wedding ring, coffee cup, alarm clock, etc.. It’s a heavy piece of furniture and reviews note it’s hard to set up, but Article does offer in-home delivery and setup for additional costs.
What the reviews say: One reviewer says, “Beautiful piece, [it] creates the vibe for the whole room. [I] bought it with the Basi oak bed frame and it looks amazing. I used Article’s delivery service, too, and they were so nice and efficient.”
Best Velvet Headboard
Add A Tasteful Pop Of Color To Your Bedroom
Almelo Headboard (Queen)
Style: Scandinavian | Dimensions: 51.5 x 101 x 14 inches |Sizes: Queen and king | Mount type: Wall-mounted adjustable | Materials: Plywood, foam and polyester |Trial: 30 days
Pros:
Built-in shelves
High-quality velvet and plywood
Easy to put together (but assembly is available at a cost)
Plushly padded
Cons:
Some say it’s difficult to clean
Another editor-approved piece from Article is the Almelo Hale Headboard, which goes in a completely different direction than the Olalla Oak. Foam-filled and upholstered in channeled velvet, the Almelo Hale’s sleek design and built-in shelves give off Palm Springs’ level of style. It comes in two elegant retro colors: serrano green and sumac red, either of which would give your bedroom that extra touch of vibrance and sophistication. Keep in mind that it should be kept out of direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure diminishes the fabric.
What our editors say: Mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon owns the Almelo Hale Headboard and says, “It’s one of my favorite pieces of furniture in my whole home. It makes a statement right when you walk into my primary bedroom, and is a pop of color in a room that’s otherwise decorated with wood and white and gold. I’ve had it for two years now and it still looks as good as it did when I purchased it.”
Best Luxury Headboard
Customizable To Suit Your Preferred Style
Ethan Allen Lianna Headboard (Queen)
Style: Modern |Dimensions: 65 inches wide x 54 inches tall | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king and California king | Mount type: Bed frame-mounted |Materials: Microfiber woven solid | Warranty: Varies
Pros:
Fully customizable with different styling options
Excellent delivery and assembly
Premier materials tailored by hand
Cons:
Not returnable
May take a while to arrive (5-7 weeks)
Nothing quite says luxury like premium, hand-tailored furniture. The Ethan Allen Lianna Headboard is made in North America and can be customized to fit your preferences: it’s available in different fabrics, colors and tufts, and can be used with a metal frame, upholstered rails or storage drawer (each sold separately). The most popular option available online features a Belgrave-style headboard that makes your bedroom look like a five-star hotel suite. And it’s currently on sale, down from $1,885.
What the reviews say: “I love love love Ethan Allen. It’s very expensive and it takes forever to get your furniture (think 3-4 months),” says one customer. “But it’s all made custom for you when you order it…It’s pricey—but worth it.”
Best Affordable Headboard
A Modern Headboard That Fits Most Bedroom Styles
Modway Lily Tufted Headboard (Queen)
Style: Modern | Dimensions: 61.5 inches wide x 3.5 inches deep | Sizes: Twin, full, queen and king |Mount type: Wall-mounted | Materials: Velvet, fiberwood and plywood | Trial: 30 days
Pros:
Comes in a variety of colors and sizes
Stain-resistant and easy-to-clean
Good value for money
Easy to assemble
Cons:
Unreliable delivery
Buttery to the touch, this headboard offers the look of a luxury hotel at a fraction of the price. Supported by dense foam padding, it’s surprisingly sturdy and durable. It also comes in five classic colorways and a variety of sizes, which makes it a great option for a child’s bedroom or college dorm room. However, while it is easy to install, some users complained that it arrived with visible wear and tear and the color was more faded than expected.
What the reviews say: One happy customer says,“I absolutely love this headboard. It elevated my preteen’s room and beyond. It’s super cute and crazy easy to put together.” Another writes, “The pink dorm headboard is absolutely adorable and adds a vibrant pop of color to my room. The shade of pink is exactly as pictured–bright but not overwhelming. It has a modern design that complements various dorm decor styles, making my space feel more personalized and cozy.”
Best Upholstered Headboard
Classic, Modern And Available In A Variety Of Colorways
Abram Upholstered Headboard (Queen)
Style: Panel Dimensions: 62 x 51 inches | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king and California king | Mount type: Bed-frame mounting | Materials: Solid+manufactured wood, linen | Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Range of colors and fabrics to choose from
Free samples available
Free delivery (assembly at an extra cost)
Wallet-friendly price
Cons:
Some claimed their frame didn’t sit flush against the wall
You can’t go wrong with linen, and the Abram Upholstered Headboard features beautifully tufted fabric that’s stylish, silky-soft to the touch and reasonably priced. You have the choice between 24 colors, so you have plenty of options to customize the headboard look to your liking. Plus, it’s CertiPUR-US and FSC-certified, so you know you’re not sleeping on anything made with harmful chemicals and the wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests. It’s easy to assemble, but the brand does offer professional assembly at an extra cost.
What the reviews say: One person says “I love the headboard. It took about 30 minutes to install and that’s because I mounted it to a wooden platform bed and had to drill holes through the legs of the bed. [It was a] very easy and quick installation.[The] product looks to be of high quality and can last forever.” Another buyer says, “This headboard has proven to be a quality product. [It’s] easy to assemble and a subtle, but elegant addition to our primary bedroom.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
When it comes to sleep, our editors and contributors rely on expert advice, deep research and their own personal experience to inform many of our articles. Our library of sleep guides includes the best mattresses, the best twin XL mattress toppers and more.
Author Diana Bruk has over a decade of experience writing about health and wellness for such outlets as Cosmopolitan, The New York Observer, Best Life, Livestrong and more. She covers a wide variety of topics, including fitness, nutrition, mental health, gut health and sleep.
Senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman and mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon, who oversaw this article, both have years of professional mattress and sleep product testing experience and are certified sleep science coaches.
To find out how to choose the best headboard, we consulted with two interior design experts: Lisa Lee, the Chief Creative Officer of Rituals, and Allison Eden, the founder of Allison Eden Studios.
How We Chose The Best Headboards
To find the best headboards, we consulted with experts, did our own research, scoped out the specs and read through hundreds of customer reviews.
We narrowed our focus to top-rated headboard brands and major retailers.
We analyzed dimensions, styles, king mount types and warranties.
We consulted two experts on what to look for when choosing a headboard, which ones are in style and asked for their personal recommendations for the categories.
We only included products that were bestsellers and had reviews of 4.5 or higher.
We made sure to look for headboards that fit a variety of lifestyle needs, from luxury to budget and from a primary bedroom to a child’s room.
What To Consider When Shopping For The Best Headboard
“Headboards are a very important element to a bedroom,” says Allison Eden, the founder of Allison Eden Studios. “Not only is it visually pleasing, it’s functional and completes any bed.” As a result, you should consider these important factors that go into choosing the right headboard.
Materials
Consider whether you’d prefer a wooden, metal, upholstered, wicker or completely custom headboard. Generally speaking, wooden or wicker headboards really shine in country homes, metal is preferable if you want a more industrial or modern look, and upholstered is best if you want to go glam. While it’s less popular, leather is also an option.
Design
There are many styles of headboards, but “comfort is the keyword when deciding the type of headboard to incorporate in a bedroom design,” Lee says, adding that upholstered walls and headboards top their list for a dreamy space. The next best thing would be a headboard made out of natural materials: “Think solid wood or burl wood for a gorgeous texture and pattern.”
Size
Most headboards come in twin, full, queen and king, although some of the more luxury products are only available in larger sizes.
Installation
In most cases, these headboards require self-assembly, unless you’re looking to pay an additional fee for a professional to do it. If you don’t want to splurge on the professional’s help setting up, keep a headboard’s size and weight in mind.
Price
Headboards really range in price. On our list, we highlight headboards that start at a few hundred dollars and go up to a few thousand. Choose the headboard that’s best for your budge
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