The Trendiest Upholstery Materials for Headboards This Year

By HomeLane- May 11, 2025

The usefulness of headboards goes beyond their aesthetic appeal. They offer support to the bed, protect the wall from dents and abrasions, and some even offer extra storage space. Most importantly, they act as a buffer between your head or back and the cold, hard wall. As such, a headboard is a luxurious yet valuable accessory for your bed.

Stylish bedroom with velvet upholstery materials in a chevron headboard design — Chevron headboard in plush velvet upholstery adds luxury to your bedroom décor

That being said, choosing the right upholstery material, pattern, or design for headboards may seem like an overwhelming choice. If you are a fan of form and function, the following upholstery materials for the headboard will cater to your tastes.

Best Upholstery Materials for the Headboard

Let’s begin with the best upholstery materials for the headboard:

Linen

Linen is easily the most comfortable and hassle-free upholstery material for your headboard. Its tight weave combines long-term strength and freshness, making it the perfect choice among natural fabrics. One can say it is almost a classic that never goes out of style, use, and fashion! No wonder it was once used as currency in ancient Egypt.

Pros	Cons
Easy to clean and wash	Is prone to staining
Highly durable and sustainable	Can be expensive
Anti-microbial and hypoallergenic	Wears out under direct sunlight
Breathable with comfortable skin-feel	Prone to wrinkling
Moisture-resistant

Assorted linen upholstery materials in soft pink, beige, mustard and blue tones — Linen upholstery materials in soothing tones for a soft and elegant touch

Velvet

Velvet is singularly one of the most popular upholstery materials for the headboard. The fabric, which is a blend of nylon, cotton, and silk lends a royal look and feel to the headboard and makes your bedroom look lavish. And given its vibrance and versatility, incorporating velvet within your decor is effortless.

Pros	Cons
Soft and luxurious texture	Tough to clean and maintain
Excellent aesthetic value	Undergoes rapid wear and tear
Can insulate cold and heat	Attracts allergens like dust, pet hair, etc.
Comes in a variety of colours to match the decor

Rich burgundy velvet upholstery materials for a plush and luxurious home finish — Velvet upholstery materials in bold burgundy for a royal, elegant look

Leatherette

Leatherette, or faux leather, trails velvet closely as one of the most popular upholstery materials for the headboard. It is a lot cheaper than actual leather and animal-friendly as well, so it won’t weigh on your pockets or your conscience. At the same time, you can add a touch of high-end sophistication to your bedroom.

Pros	Cons
Offers a sleek and elegant look	Is not breathable
Is hypoallergenic	Sticks to the skin and is generally uncomfortable
Resistant to stain	Prone to scratches and scuff marks
Cost-effective	May crack or split with time
Does not stink	Available in limited colours

Stylish leatherette upholstery materials in textured and smooth brown finishes — Explore textured leatherette upholstery materials for elegant, modern appeal

Chenille

Chenille is a soft, elegant, and durable synthetic fabric procured by combining cotton, rayon, and polyester fibres. Its characteristic fuzziness adds comfort and texture to your bedroom. And despite its appearance, chenille is extremely durable – so much so that you can think of it as a fitting alternative to velvet!

Pros	Cons
Creatively versatile to meet any kind of decor	Prone to staining
Has a luxuriously soft touch and feel	Can shift with stress
Tough, durable, and long-lasting	Fibres fade and weaken when exposed to sunlight
Can withstand rough-and-tough use	Requires supporting fabric that adds to cost
Easy to clean	Is a magnet for pet hair and catches on their claws

Elegant velvet upholstery materials in rich jewel-toned fabric swatches — Discover velvet upholstery materials for plush, vibrant interiors

Best Upholstery Patterns for Headboards

Next, let’s talk about the best upholstery patterns for headboards. These include:

Printed

Printed headboards offer you the immense creative freedom to express yourself. From animal prints to botanicals to floral to abstract art to funky graphics – your entire headboard is the canvas for your creative outlet. Of course, it is worth mentioning that printed headboards are mostly available in linen and cotton.

Chic upholstery materials used in dotted headboard for a playful bedroom look — Polka-dot headboard with fun upholstery materials for quirky bedrooms

Panelled

Panelled headboards utilize a combination of different upholstery materials or colours to create vertical stripes that grant a panelled effect. For example, you could try the combo of linen and velvet for varied textures. Or you could mix colours like shades of brown to blend with the wooden bed. Some may even create boundaries using layers without switching the colour or material.

Tufted

Tufted headboards stand out with periodic depressions marked with eye-catching accessories like buttons that elevate the style of the headboard. Diamond tufting is fairly common amongst velvet headboards, while you may see nailheads creating the tufts in leather or leatherette headboards. Tufted headboards add to the plushness and cosiness of the bed.

Trimmed

Trimmed headboards have visual detailing, such as buttons, nailheads, and diamonds, lining the outer frame. Sometimes, it is a plain wooden frame. You can even add trimming to any other patterned headboard to make it stand out. These enjoy a finished look and tie up the decorative elements together.

Wooden frame upholstery materials on modern black headboard with floral cushions — Sleek wooden headboard featuring durable black upholstery materials

With this, we come to an end of our guide to upholstery materials and patterns for the headboard. Feel free to make an informed decision about the upholstery material and let your creativity flow when it comes to the pattern.

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