The Headboard Lesson We Can All Learn From Hotel Design

A basic hotel room meets a traveler's needs. Well-designed rooms have a bed, a closet, someplace to sit, and a stand of some sort, be it a dresser or a plain console table, for a television. The guest's first impression is guided by the room's function and cleanliness. After that, a traveler probably takes in the quality of the floor covering, how nice the bedding is, and the decor style. What the headboard looks like may be the last thing they notice unless it's in some way striking, but the headboard and the bed anchor the room. They make a design statement, whether the style suggests the simple lines of mid-century modern decor or the cozy look of a padded spot to rest your back on. If the headboard in your bedroom is an afterthought, you might want to take a lesson from clever hotel design.

Hotel guests appreciate natural textures that make the room feel warm and balanced, attractive but functional lighting, furniture that doesn't look like it came from a low-end warehouse, statement wallpapers, and headboards with personality. Hotel designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard noted (per Better Homes and Gardens) that "Guests often ask about our beautiful headboards, which serve as the jewel of the room, noting their leather upholstery and Moorish-inspired detailing." You don't have to use leather upholstery or Moorish-inspired anything if that's not your style, but you should take the "headboard as focal point" advice if you want to bring a little glamour to your bedroom.

Bedrooms don't have to be furnished with matching suites of furniture you find at the department store, unless that's your preference. Since they're isolated from the common areas in your home, you can add personality and playfulness if you choose, elegance if that's your style, be minimalist, or act fancy. A vintage, upholstered headboard with a bold fabric and nailhead trim suggests a classic style. Use a tall headboard in a room with a high ceiling or a half-moon shape to evoke a peaceful night's sleep under the stars.

You may wonder if a headboard is really necessary, but if you live in a studio apartment without a separate bedroom, a statement headboard is a clever way to make the bed a proud part of the furnishings rather than that place over there where you sleep. A one-of-a-kind headboard mounted on the wall with the room's paint or wallpaper showing through the negative spaces brings cohesion. If you have a daybed, use a wedge-shaped, upholstered headboard to make the bed more sofa-like.

We have yet to see if one of 2026's big headboard trends — wall-to-wall headboards that are statement pieces — will show up in hotels, but designers like Marie Flanagan (per Homes and Gardens) believe the design "elevates the bed while keeping the room serene." Another trend, matching the headboard and wallpaper, creates a layered look, while a hand-painted headboard is a way to let your unique personality shine.