Headboard Styles and Heights: A Guide for Irish Bedrooms
A headboard is the one piece of bedroom furniture you see from the door, and its height, width and style do more for the room than the bed frame under it. This guide explains the headboard styles sold in Ireland, how tall a headboard should be for your ceiling and bed size, and how to choose between a headboard on its own and a bedstead with the headboard built in. Sizes quoted for our own beds are the product measurements.
Headboard styles, in plain terms
- Plain upholstered panel. A padded rectangle in fabric. The quietest option and the easiest to match with any bedside locker.
- Ribbed or fluted. Vertical padded channels, as on the Senato bedstead. Adds texture without pattern and hides wear well.
- Winged. The headboard wraps round the sides of the mattress. Feels enclosed and suits large rooms; it adds 10 to 20cm to the bed’s width.
- Tall statement. 150cm or higher, often with metal or wood accents, as on the Galante, Casto and Ecrue bedsteads. Needs a ceiling of 2.4m or more to look right.
- Ottoman bed headboard. A fixed, lower headboard on a storage bed. Practical for small rooms where the mattress lifts for storage.
How tall should a headboard be?
Measure from the floor. A standard headboard finishes 110 to 130cm from the floor, which is 50 to 65cm above a typical mattress top and enough to lean against when reading. Tall headboards run 150 to 165cm and are a design choice rather than a comfort one. Two checks before you go tall: the ceiling height (leave at least 60cm between headboard and ceiling) and any window behind the bed, which a tall headboard will partly cover.
| Bedstead with headboard | Overall size (L x W x headboard height) | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senato Bedstead, ribbed headboard | 215 x 165cm | Ribbed, dark brown frame | €4,250 |
| Galante Beige & Brown Bedstead | 365 x 220 x 150cm | Tall statement, metal accent | €4,840 |
| Ecrue Bedstead, fabric headboard | 362.6 x 220.6 x 155.8cm | Tall upholstered | €4,840 |
| Casto Bedstead, fabric headboard | 361 x 218.1 x 161.5cm | Tall upholstered | €4,840 |
The Galante, Ecrue and Casto sizes include the full bedstead with its integrated bedside units, which is why the width reads at 360cm. Check the room is wide enough for the whole piece, not just the mattress.
Match the headboard to the bed size
A headboard should be at least as wide as the mattress: 135cm for a double, 150cm for a king, 180cm for a super king. Winged and statement headboards go wider. If you are unsure which size bed you have, our Irish bed sizes guide lists every standard measurement.
Headboard on its own or a bedstead?
- Standalone headboard when you are keeping a divan or an existing frame. Check the fixing: strut-mounted headboards bolt to the divan base; wall-mounted ones fix to the wall and suit floating beds.
- Bedstead with built-in headboard when you are replacing the bed. The proportions are designed together, the headboard cannot wobble, and the bedside lockers in the same range are sized to its height.
- Ottoman bed when storage matters more than height. Our storage beds start at €520 and include a fixed upholstered headboard.
Fabric and made to order
Our upholstered bedsteads are made to order in your choice of fabric and colour, with a lead time of about 12 to 16 weeks; in-stock beds are delivered in 7 to 14 working days. Fabric swatches are in the Portlaoise showroom, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Every bed carries a two-year warranty.
Headboard questions
Does a tall headboard make a small room feel smaller?
Usually the opposite, if the ceiling is 2.4m or more: it draws the eye up. In a room under 2.3m, stay at 110 to 130cm.
Can a headboard be wider than the bed?
Yes, and it is a common way to make a double bed look more generous. Keep it within about 20cm each side so bedside lockers still sit against the wall.
Which fabric lasts on a headboard?
Headboards take head oils and hair products rather than wear, so a tight weave that can be spot cleaned matters more than abrasion rating. Ask us for a fabric that suits.
Browse the full headboard and bedstead range or the wider bed collection.
