How to Choose a Hotel or Contract Headboard

A good hotel headboard comes down to three choices: the width, the way it fits and the finish. Get those three right and the headboard will sit neatly on the bed and suit the room it is in.

How do you choose a hotel or contract headboard?

The bed settles the first choice for you, because the headboard takes its width. That leaves the fitting and the finish, and both depend on the room. Our contract headboards range has all three covered, from standard sizes in a range fabric to boards made to your measure.

Match the headboard to the bed size

What size headboard do I need?

Go for the same width as the bed, so the board lines up neatly with the mattress and base. Our standard sizes run from small single to super king:

• Small single: 2ft 6
• Continental single: 2ft 9
• Single: 3ft (90 x 190cm)
• Small double: 4ft (120 x 190cm)
• Double: 4ft 6 (135cm)
• King: 5ft (150 x 200cm)
• Continental king: 5ft 6
• Super king: 6ft (180 x 200cm)

So a 4ft 6 double takes a 4ft 6 headboard, and a 6ft super king takes a 6ft board.

Bespoke sizes

Not every room has a standard UK bed. If yours doesn't, or you need a board made to a set width, we can make it bespoke. Just give us the finished width when you order.

Wall-mounted, floor-standing or fixed to the bed

There are three ways to fit a headboard, and the right one depends on how the bed sits in the room.

Every headboard comes with two wooden struts that attach it to the divan base, so the board and bed stay together. If you would rather fix it to the wall, wall-mounted fixings are available separately. And if you want a board that reaches all the way down, choose one of our floor-standing models.

What is a floor-standing headboard?

A floor-standing headboard runs right down to the floor, instead of sitting above the base on struts. Our Linear floor-standing headboard fits onto the divan base and measures 54 inches (135cm) from the floor to the top as standard. Need it taller or lower? We can make it to any height you like.

Should a headboard be wall-mounted or floor-standing?

Stick with the struts for the simplest option: they come as standard, so there is nothing extra to buy. Go for wall fixings when you want the board to stay put on the wall, even when the bed is pulled out for cleaning. Choose floor-standing when you want the headboard to reach the floor, with the Linear made to whatever height suits the room. If the wall won't take fixings, the struts or a floor-standing board will still do the job.

Fabric, vinyl and other finishes

Guest rooms see a lot of use, so pick a finish your housekeeping team can keep looking fresh. Choose from our range fabrics, send us your own to match an existing scheme, or go for a contract vinyl if you want a surface you can wipe clean.

Whichever you choose, every board is deeply padded. You can read more about materials, styles and attachment in our Knowledge Centre.

What to specify before you order

Before you order, note down four things for each room:

• Size: one of our standard widths, or a bespoke width if the bed is not standard
• Fitting: wooden struts to a divan base, wall-mounted fixings, or a floor-standing model
• Height, if you are ordering the Linear floor-standing headboard and you need a height other than the 54 inch (135cm) standard
• Finish: a range fabric, your own fabric, or the wipe-clean contract vinyl option

With those noted, you are ready to order. Browse our hotel contract headboards and we will make each board to the size, fitting and finish your rooms need.

Specifying zip and link beds as well? Our guide to zip and link beds answers whether they come with headboards.