Do You Need A Headboard? (Pros & Cons)
When furnishing a bedroom, an often overlooked piece of furniture is a headboard. At first glance, it appears like a superficial accessory that serves little purpose but in reality, it has many functions worth addressing. So, do you need a headboard? Yes, you do and here’s why.
From my experience, I find it to be a necessity to have a headboard. It provides additional back and head support, it can be aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, it protects the walls from damage and it can be used as a storage space for displaying decorative items, mobile devices, and lighting.
We spend up to 8 hours in bed every single night. That’s a quarter of our life. Shouldn’t we invest time and money into optimizing our bedroom and bed for the best possible experience?
I’d like to make a stronger argument that you need a headboard. So, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of a headboard and why it’s worth the investment.
Table of Contents
Why Is A Headboard Necessary?
1. It protects the wall from damage
The way a headboard sits acts like a protective layer between the wall and the bed.
A lot of the time, the base of a bed tends to sit against the walls when you don’t have a headboard in place.
Over time, you run the risk of damaging the paintwork of the wall, especially if you move the bed during cleaning days.
When the base of the bed slides within a headboard, a slight separation is created between the wall and the base.
This space protects the base and the wall from any damage.
2. It prevents the cold from walls seeping into your body
After a long day at work, all I want to do is sink into my bed and read a good book while sipping on some green tea.
Before installing a headboard with cushioning, I used to rest my head and back onto the wall behind me.
After 15 minutes, I would always feel the sting of the cold wall on my body.
I’d tense up and feel uncomfortable which would ruin my plans to relax. Good back support is essential when sitting and laying down.
It may seem counterintuitive but sitting in bed is common.
After installing my headboard, I could sit for an hour straight without feeling any discomfort at all.
3. It adds more details to your room decor
When the wall space behind a bed is bare bones, it feels wasted to me.
Some people opt to install floating shelves to display photographs, books, and other accessories.
But, more often than not, what would complete the bedroom is a headboard that matched the theme of your room.
For example, if the rest of your furniture is white and the wall color is grey, installing a white headboard would look stunning.
In some cases, metal or copper headboard frames can be used for a more extravagant appearance.
4. Keeps pillows in place
One of the common complaints people have is that their pillow keeps falling in the space between the bed and the wall.
It gets dislodged or the entire sheet shifts when you sit on the bed.
None of this is a problem with a headboard because it acts as a support to keep pillows and sheets tucked in place.
5. It can be used for additional storage
At its best, furniture provides an aesthetic and practical function.
On average, a lot of headboards are functional in their design. They provide support and structure to your bed while protecting the walls and your body.
But, in some cases, headboards are designed to actually store and display items that serve an aesthetic function.
Not only does this provide you with more storage but it turns the bed area into a feature piece that holds attractive decorative items like photographs, books, devices, lamps, and other things.
6. Protect your head or back from slamming against the wall
When you spend a lot of time in bed, there’s always the risk of slamming the back of your head against the wall.
This is a problem that I’ve dealt with in the past, especially while reading.
I’m in a full time relationship with my books during that last hour of the night before I sleep. Often, I’d cradle my neck back only to slam it against the wall.
For obvious reasons, this was a problem that needed fixing. I’m not such a fan of massive pillows so I had a headboard installed that had cushions embedded into it.
That was the end of my head slamming issue and I was able to comfortably rest against the headboard while reading.
It made the whole experience more enjoyable and relaxing, which is exactly what I needed for better sleep.
Benefits Of Not Having A Headboard
1. Cheaper and more affordable
When you’re on a budget, it may not be affordable to get the kind of headboard that suits your room and needs.
When furnishing a room, you save money by just buying a good bed without much of a frame that has a headboard in it.
What you could do is make a headboard yourself.
It would be cheaper, especially if you opt for a simple design and get the materials sourced cheaply from a factory or local wood shop.
When I was a teen, my father made a headboard for me using chipboard, sponge, and material.
He installed two pieces of wood directly onto the wall.
We cut this thick sponge in the shape of the headboard, leaving just 10cm between the top and the very bottom of the board.
Thereafter, we wrapped the material around the headboard and stapled it around the back of the board.
Thereafter, he drilled the headboard directly onto these support pillars and that was my DIY headboard for a few years.
It was super cheap to make and was not too shabby, if I say so myself.
2. Save floor space
Depending on the side of the headboard and if it comes attached to a bed frame, it may eat up floor space.
In a small room, large bed frames and headboards can cramp the space and create a cluttered effect.
This isn’t a problem when you just have a bed without a headboard.
If you’re a fan of the minimalistic aesthetic, then this would be right up your alley.
3. The bed can be moved more freely
Like me, if you have a headboard that was installed onto the wall, it’s difficult to remove it.
If I wanted to paint my walls, I had to spend a significant amount of time disassembling the headboard.
Sometimes,I just painted around the headboard because I just didn’t have the time or energy to remove it.
This is a similar issue with bed frames and headboards.
It requires a lot more work and time to move them around for cleaning, painting, or floor maintenance.
Keep that in mind before installing a headboard.
Are Headboards Outdated?
No, headboards are not outdated because they continue to be useful and stylish. As time has gone on, interior designers and manufacturers have invested time into designing headboards that are modern, stylish, useful, and attractive.
From the use of different forms of metals to cutting headboards in all sorts of shapes and angles, there are barely any limitations to the design of headboards.
With the right budget and eye for detail, you can complete a room decor with a stylish headboard that serves as a feature piece for the bedroom.
In fact, using bold colors, fancy materials, and different types of wood, headboards have become a popular statement piece for most bedroom decor enthusiasts.
Final Thoughts
If you have any doubts about needing a headboard, I hope that this article put that to rest (pun intended).
In my opinion, a headboard is a crucial and necessary addition to your bedroom. It is well worth the investment for the additional support, headrest, and aesthetic appeal.
If you’re on a tight budget, you could definitely make a stylish headboard at home. A bit of creativity and the appropriate color wood is all you really need.
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this article on do you need a headboard. If you would like to read more articles like this, check out the list below:
1. What can I use instead of a headboard?
