Headboards Explained
What Is a Headboard?
A headboard is an optional panel that sits at the top of your bed, behind your pillows. When you purchase a divan base, a headboard is an optional add-on — chosen separately to suit your style and bedroom. Bed frames, by contrast, come as a complete unit and the headboard (if included) is fixed as part of the design and cannot be swapped out.
For divan bases, headboards come in two main types: strutted and floor standing.
Strutted Headboards
A strutted headboard is the traditional style. It features a headboard panel supported by two wooden struts that extend down behind the bed. To fit a strutted headboard, holes are made in the divan base and the struts are bolted directly into it, holding the headboard firmly in place against the wall.
Floor Standing Headboards
Floor standing headboards are freestanding. Rather than bolting into the base via struts, they use headboard bolts that pass through slots in the base to secure the headboard. Because they rest on the floor, they are self-supporting and do not rely on the divan base for stability.
Strutted vs Floor Standing: Which Should You Choose?
| Strutted Headboard | Floor Standing Headboard | |
|---|---|---|
| How it attaches | Wooden struts bolted into holes in the divan base | Headboard bolts attach to the divan base; headboard rests on the floor |
| Stability | Secure when fitted correctly | More sturdy — floor contact adds extra support |
| Height | Heights vary by product — see individual products for details | |
| Moving the bed | Easier to move — struts lift with the base | More difficult to move — headboard stands independently on the floor |
| Styles & fabrics | Wide range of fabrics and colours | Wide range of fabrics and colours |
| Best for | Rooms where you rearrange furniture regularly | Rooms where the bed position is fixed; those wanting maximum stability |
Fabrics & Colours
Both strutted and floor standing headboards are available across our full fabric and colour palette — from classic linens and soft velvets to durable faux leathers. Visit us in person at our showrooms in King's Lynn or Wisbech to see the full range, or browse online to find the perfect match for your bedroom scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you sell wooden and metal headboards?
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We stock a selection of metal headboards — browse the range online. Unfortunately we no longer sell wooden headboards; these have become increasingly difficult to source.
- Will you fit my headboard when you deliver?
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Yes — our delivery team will fit your headboard to your divan base as part of the delivery service, and will take away all the packaging for you.
- Is a headboard included in the price?
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A headboard is included with our package deals, though only on certain designs — you can upgrade to a different style if you prefer. Bed frames normally include a headboard as part of the design, which cannot be changed. If you purchase a divan bed (mattress and base), a headboard is not included — it is an optional extra, with a choice of style and colour that varies in price.
- Are headboards a standard height?
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No — headboard heights vary by design. As a general guide, strutted headboards tend to be shorter than floor standing headboards. See individual products for specific dimensions.
- Do you include headboard bolts?
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Headboard bolts are not supplied with the headboard itself — they are always included with your divan bed base. Please note that headboard bolts are not universal fittings, so if you lose yours we will do our best to help, but finding a direct replacement may not always be straightforward.
