Beautiful headboard walls: 12 ideas you can do with paint and wall finishes
The headboard wall is the one you see every night before you sleep, and the first wall your eye lands on when you open the bedroom door. Get that one wall right, and the whole bedroom looks more considered.
You can create a beautiful headboard wall in many ways without knocking anything down: paint a colour block behind the bed, paint an arch, paint half the wall, create a limewash-style textured wall, or fit timber slats. The key is to size it about 20–30 cm wider than the bed on each side, or wide enough to take in the bedside tables, and centre it exactly on the bed.
A beautiful headboard wall starts with sizing it to the bed
When a headboard wall has a lovely colour but still looks odd, it's usually the size that's wrong. A colour block narrower than the bed looks like a shirt one size too small, and a block that's too wide is no different from painting the whole wall. Before you choose the colour, choose the size.
The simple rule is to make it about 20–30 cm wider than the bed on each side, or wide enough to take in the bedside tables on both sides. For height, the colour block should rise well above the actual headboard, usually to around half to two-thirds of the wall height, or you can paint it right up to the ceiling if you want the room to look taller.
Mark out the frame on the wall with masking tape before you paint, then step back to the bedroom door and look at it for a day or two. A roll of tape is always cheaper than repainting.
- 3.5 ft bed (about 1.05 m): a block about 1.5–1.7 m wide
- 5 ft bed (about 1.5 m): a block about 1.9–2.1 m wide
- 6 ft bed (about 1.8 m): a block about 2.2–2.4 m wide
- With bedside tables: widen the block to take in the tables on both sides
- Always centre it on the bed, not on the wall
Ideas 1–4: paint alone can make a headboard
Paint is the cheapest, quickest way to create a headboard wall. No drilling, no demolition, done in a single day off, and if you get bored you can paint over it. It suits condos and rentals that allow painting.
Colour blocks and arches love deep, warm colours like dusty pink, deep green or caramel brown. Half-painted walls suit pairs of colours from the same family, dark below and light above; the room will be calmer than with strongly contrasting pairs.
- 1. A rectangular colour block behind the bed: one or two steps darker than the wall, like an upholstered headboard on the wall
- 2. A colour block that continues onto the ceiling: a band of colour running up from behind the bed and across the ceiling, as if the bed had its own canopy
- 3. A painted arch: draw the curve at the top using a pencil tied to a string as a compass. It brings softness to a room full of straight lines
- 4. A half-painted wall: the darker colour below, up to about the top of the headboard, with the line running around the room, so the headboard looks like part of the wall
Ideas 5–7: textured headboard walls
If you want the headboard wall to stand out through texture rather than colour, a limewash-style textured wall is the softest answer. It can even be the same colour as the other walls; light from a bedside lamp falling across it at an angle makes the surface look as soft as felt. If you want a wall like this, Voqe Mineral Finish is a limewash-style mineral paint that is just right for a headboard wall.
The other two routes are timber. Wall mouldings or wood panelling painted the same colour as the wall give a quiet European look. Vertical timber slats make a room look taller and warmer straight away, but in a humid home like ours, choose materials that stand up to moisture, and don't fix them to a wall with seepage problems.
- 5. A limewash-style textured wall: soft, with depth, no contrasting colour needed
- 6. Painted wall mouldings or panelling: classic, suits European or English-style rooms
- 7. Vertical timber slats: warm, makes the ceiling look higher, needs moisture-resistant materials
Ideas 8–9: wallpaper or paint for a headboard wall
A beautiful wallpaper on just the headboard wall looks like a boutique hotel room, but in our homes there are conditions you need to know about. On walls against the outside or walls that have been damp, wallpaper may lift or grow mould behind it where you can't see. If you use it, choose an interior wall that is completely dry.
Paint is more flexible: if it gets marked you touch up one spot, and if you get bored you paint over it. If you want a wallpaper-style pattern using paint, try two-tone vertical stripes, or a simple geometric pattern made with masking tape.
- 8. Wallpaper on one wall: a bold pattern, suits a dry interior wall
- 9. Patterns in paint: two-tone stripes, or a geometric pattern made with masking tape, easier to repair
- Walls that have been damp or face the outside: paint is a better choice than wallpaper
Ideas 10–12: lighting, shelves and a whole corner in one tone
A good headboard wall has to look beautiful both by day and with the reading lights on. Wall lights on either side of the bed balance the wall and keep the bedside tables clear. Lighting hidden behind a headboard panel gives a soft glow, but the bulbs must be completely hidden, or the light will shine in your eyes when you lie down.
A narrow shelf above the headboard can hold pictures or favourite books. And if you love things to blend, try keeping the wall, headboard and bedding in the same colour family. The room will look as though it's wrapped in one big blanket.
- 10. Wall lights either side of the bed: balanced, with clear bedside tables
- 11. A narrow shelf above the headboard: fix it firmly, keep to light objects, nothing heavy above your head
- 12. A whole corner in one tone: wall, headboard and bedding in the same colour family
- Use warm bulbs, and hide the light source so it doesn't shine in your eyes
A checklist before you make a headboard wall
Before you start, take a little more time to check the things you can't see. Headboard walls often have sockets and switches, and sometimes air-conditioner pipes or cables running inside them. Drilling to fix slats or a shelf without knowing could turn into a repair many times more expensive than the headboard.
The other thing is the finish. The headboard wall is lit up close by a lamp every night, so a matt or low-sheen finish looks softer and won't reflect light into your eyes when you read in bed.
- Check the routes of cables and pipes in the wall before drilling
- In a condo: check the building management's rules on drilling and painting
- Lightweight or plasterboard walls: use wall plugs made for that type of wall
- Mark out the frame with masking tape and try a sample colour before painting for real
- Position the bedside sockets to line up with the lamps
“A good headboard doesn't have to be bought. You can paint one, as long as you measure well before you dip the brush.”
Frequently asked questions
What colour should I paint a headboard wall?
People usually choose a colour one or two steps darker or warmer than the other walls, such as dusty pink, grey-green, caramel brown or navy. Or use the same colour as the walls but with a textured finish for depth.
How wide should a colour block behind the bed be?
About the width of the bed plus 20–30 cm on each side, or wide enough to take in the bedside tables on both sides. For example, a 5 ft bed takes a block about 1.9–2.1 m wide.
Is wallpaper a good idea for a headboard wall?
It works on an interior wall that is completely dry. On walls facing the outside or walls that have been damp, wallpaper risks lifting or growing mould. In that case paint or a textured finish is easier to look after.
How can I get a beautiful headboard wall without buying a headboard?
Paint a colour block, an arch or a half-painted wall behind the bed. It does the job of a headboard with no drilling, costs little, and can be painted over when you get bored.
What can I do with a headboard wall in a condo?
Painting is mostly allowed, but check the building management's rules first. Fixing slats or shelves means checking the wall type and the cable routes. If you'd rather not drill, a colour block or painted arch is the best option.
Colour on a screen never matches colour on a wall
Order a sample to paint at home, or come and see the full shade library at Voqe Studio, Bang Phli.
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