Elevate Your Bed with the Right Headboard

A headboard does far more than simply sit behind your bed. It completes the look of the bed, creates a focal point, and adds depth and character to the bedroom. Whether you prefer subtle elegance or a bold statement piece, a beautifully upholstered headboard can be handcrafted to achieve exactly the look you are trying to create.

At Snug Interiors we offer headboards from leading British bedmakers including Vispring, Hypnos, Enchanted House and Dunlopillo, each with their own distinctive styles and fixing options. This guide explains how to choose the right design and fixing type so you can find the perfect finishing touch for your bed.

Understanding Headboard Style vs Headboard Fixing

When choosing a headboard it helps to understand the difference between style and fixing. While the two work together, they refer to different aspects of the headboard.

Headboard Style

The style refers to the design of the headboard.

Some designs are clean and contemporary, offering simple upholstered panels that create a refined look. Others feature deeper upholstery, buttoning, wings or elegant curves that introduce a more luxurious and traditional feel. The style you choose helps define the character of the bed and the overall atmosphere of the room.

Headboard Fixing

The fixing refers to how the headboard attaches to the bed base.

Different manufacturers often use their own terminology, but most headboards fall into three main fixing types: strutted, floor-standing and shallow. Understanding these will help ensure your headboard works properly with your divan base and suits the scale of your bedroom.

The Three Main Headboard Fixings

Strutted Headboards

A strutted headboard attaches to the back of the divan base using wooden struts. This is the most traditional and widely recognised fixing type.

Strutted headboards usually sit just above the mattress and can often be adjusted slightly in height. They are practical in many bedrooms and particularly helpful where access is tighter, as they can be easier to manoeuvre during delivery.

Shallow Headboards

A shallow headboard is designed to work specifically with shallower divan bases on legs.

Instead of extending all the way to the floor, the upholstery finishes neatly in line with the base of the bed. This helps maintain balanced proportions when paired with modern shallow divans and creates a clean, contemporary appearance.

Floor-Standing Headboards

A floor-standing headboard runs from the floor to the top of the headboard and is secured to the back of the divan base.

Because the headboard is supported by the floor, it creates a very stable structure and allows for larger or taller designs. Floor-standing headboards often give the bed a more substantial presence and can help create a luxurious, hotel-style look within the room.

Headboard Fixing By Brand

Although these three fixing types are widely recognised, each manufacturer uses slightly different terminology. Understanding how each brand refers to these options can make selecting the right headboard much easier.

Vispring Headboards

Vispring offers a wide variation of headboard designs, from simple upholstered panels to more detailed statement styles. Their headboards include a flat upholstered panel that sits neatly behind the mattress and are built specifically to the height of the divan base, with set design heights above the mattress depending on the style chosen.

Vispring uses the following terms for their headboard fixings:

UK Fixing - Vispring’s term for strutted
Euro-Style - Vispring’s term for shallow
Bolt-Through - Vispring’s term for floor-standing

Shop Vispring Headboards

Hypnos Headboards

Hypnos headboards are available in a wide range of designs, from classic buttoned styles to more contemporary panels. Each design is produced to a consistent height depending on the fixing selected, helping maintain balanced proportions with the divan base.

Hypnos uses the following terminology:

Strutted - standard strutted fixing
Shallow - designed for shallow divan bases
Euro Slim - Hypnos’ term for floor-standing

Shop Hypnos Headboard

Enchanted House Headboards

Enchanted House headboards are handcrafted in Devon using timber frames with natural wool and cotton upholstery padding, reflecting the brand’s focus on natural materials and traditional craftsmanship.

Their headboards are floor-standing as standard, creating a strong, stable structure and allowing for taller statement designs. A strutted option can be offered on request where access may be more restricted.

Shop Enchanted House Headboards

Dunlopillo Headboards

Dunlopillo headboards are designed to complement the brand’s modern latex beds, with clean contemporary designs and generous upholstery.

They offer two fixing options:

Strutted - traditional strutted fixing
Floor Standing - Dunlopillo’s floor-standing headboard

Shop Dunlopillo Headboards

Choosing the Right Headboard

When selecting a headboard, consider both the look you want to achieve and the practical aspects of your bedroom.

The size of the room, ceiling height and the style of your divan base can all influence which design will work best. Taller floor-standing headboards can create real impact in larger rooms, while simpler strutted designs may be more suitable in smaller spaces or where access is more limited.

It’s also worth noting that the type of divan base you have can influence which headboard fixing and style will work best. Certain bases are designed specifically for particular fixing types:

Deep divan bases - suitable for floor-standing or strutted headboards
Shallow divan bases - designed for shallow headboards

If you are unsure which combination is most suitable, our team will be happy to guide you.

Need help choosing?

With so many styles and fixing options available, choosing the right headboard can sometimes feel overwhelming. Our team is always happy to help.

Whether you're selecting a headboard to complement a new bed or updating your bedroom with a fresh design, we can guide you through the options and help you find the perfect match.

Speak to our expert team or visit our Hampshire showroom for personised advice.

A Guide to Choosing the Right Headboard

Understanding Headboard Style vs Headboard Fixing

The Three Main Headboard Fixings

Headboard Fixing By Brand

Choosing the Right Headboard