The Burning Bedhead Question: To Blend in or Stand Out?
To make a bedhead work successfully, you must first decide if you want it to be a subtle addition, or the star feature of your bedroom
I believe a bedroom just isn’t complete without a bedhead. An upholstered bedhead in particular will add a sense of softness and comfort to a room. Depending on the style and colour, a bedhead can project over-the-top glamour and opulence or a more understated look. It can be bright, bold or brassy and really stand out or you can go for the more subtle approach and let it blend in or share the focus with other elements in the room.
Either way, a bedhead is worth showing off so give it pride of place and make it work together with paint colour, pattern, fabric, wallpaper, artwork and soft furnishings. To stand out or blend in? Which look do you prefer?
Either way, a bedhead is worth showing off so give it pride of place and make it work together with paint colour, pattern, fabric, wallpaper, artwork and soft furnishings. To stand out or blend in? Which look do you prefer?
BLEND IN: Try muted neutrals
By choosing a darker shade for the bedhead it still blends nicely with the neutral coiour scheme, but also stands out enough to avoid it being too plain. A neutral colour makes it easy to update the look of the room over time, or with the seasons, as you can change the less expensive items in the room, such as bed linen and cushions for a whole new look.
By choosing a darker shade for the bedhead it still blends nicely with the neutral coiour scheme, but also stands out enough to avoid it being too plain. A neutral colour makes it easy to update the look of the room over time, or with the seasons, as you can change the less expensive items in the room, such as bed linen and cushions for a whole new look.
BLEND IN: Pull out the colour in the wallpaper
Create a fabulous backdrop for a bedhead by covering the wall behind it in a patterned wallpaper. Then choose the main colour in the wallpaper for your bedhead fabric.
Create a fabulous backdrop for a bedhead by covering the wall behind it in a patterned wallpaper. Then choose the main colour in the wallpaper for your bedhead fabric.
If the wallpaper pattern is really busy then a plain bedhead design, perhaps with a border or trim, is all you need.
You can blend in with the colour of the wallpaper but still go all out, by making a focus of both the wallpaper and bedhead design. A tall bedhead in a tight diamond button pattern with wingback sides and velvet fabric has ‘opulent’ written all over it. Being tall and grand in style also means large bedside tables will work alongside it.
BLEND IN: Share attention with another feature
A simple bedhead design in a plain colour will create a nice backdrop for other elements, like artwork, so together they will be the focus of a room.
A simple bedhead design in a plain colour will create a nice backdrop for other elements, like artwork, so together they will be the focus of a room.
Keep colours in the scheme consistent so it all works well together.
BLEND IN: Extend across the wall
This is a look favoured by luxury hotels where padded fabric panels take up the whole wall behind the bedhead and side tables. It’s an impressive look even if the colour is subtle and part of a neutral colour scheme.
This is a look favoured by luxury hotels where padded fabric panels take up the whole wall behind the bedhead and side tables. It’s an impressive look even if the colour is subtle and part of a neutral colour scheme.
For a more dramatic version, frame the padded fabric panels with timber. In this case, they have gone one step further by adding a mirrored backdrop to the bedside tables and lamp on both sides. The timber frame ties in nicely with the dark timber furniture.
STAND OUT: Choose an unexpected colour
Make the colour of your bedhead the focus. In this bold black and white scheme, the stark contrast of the black and white is softened by the introduction of another colour. The tall diamond button design with a wingback edge (like on a wingback armchair) adds a formal, classic touch to a modern space.
Make the colour of your bedhead the focus. In this bold black and white scheme, the stark contrast of the black and white is softened by the introduction of another colour. The tall diamond button design with a wingback edge (like on a wingback armchair) adds a formal, classic touch to a modern space.
STAND OUT: Contrast patterns
For a really bold look, contrast the pattern of your bedhead fabric with a different patterned wallpaper. This will work so long as the patterns are very different, in this case a decorative floral against a bold stripe. Two florals or two stripes would compete for attention. The rounded fabric pattern plus the decorative edge of the bedhead also contrasts nicely with the straight lines of the black and white stripes.
For a really bold look, contrast the pattern of your bedhead fabric with a different patterned wallpaper. This will work so long as the patterns are very different, in this case a decorative floral against a bold stripe. Two florals or two stripes would compete for attention. The rounded fabric pattern plus the decorative edge of the bedhead also contrasts nicely with the straight lines of the black and white stripes.
STAND OUT: Surround with darker colour
Create drama in a room by featuring a simple diamond button design in a plain neutral fabric, along with plain bedlinen, against a dark wall colour. You might like to pick up subtle accents of the wall colour, in this case, with a couple of softer blue cushions, the light blue footstool and blue patterned rug underneath it.
Create drama in a room by featuring a simple diamond button design in a plain neutral fabric, along with plain bedlinen, against a dark wall colour. You might like to pick up subtle accents of the wall colour, in this case, with a couple of softer blue cushions, the light blue footstool and blue patterned rug underneath it.
Match curtains to your dark wall colour for even more impact and contrast with the lighter bedhead colour.
STAND OUT: Surround with lighter colour
The reverse also applies when a dark colour is chosen for the bedhead while the walls, window coverings and bed linen are mostly white, off-white or a light colour.
The reverse also applies when a dark colour is chosen for the bedhead while the walls, window coverings and bed linen are mostly white, off-white or a light colour.
A dark timber-framed bedhead will also be the focus against a light backdrop. Tie in the timber frame with other pieces of furniture in the room.
STAND OUT: Let the pattern leap out
If you want your bedhead to be the main standout feature in a room, then cover it in a colourful, patterned fabric. Stick to plain, light colours for walls and white or cream bedlinen. Mix and match cushions in other fabrics in the same colour scheme for interest.
If you want your bedhead to be the main standout feature in a room, then cover it in a colourful, patterned fabric. Stick to plain, light colours for walls and white or cream bedlinen. Mix and match cushions in other fabrics in the same colour scheme for interest.
A rounded bedhead together with a floral fabric will not only stand out but it gives the room a very feminine feel.
A border in a plain colour that matches a colour in the patterned fabric will create a striking outline for the bedhead. Match cushions in the same fabric as the border.
STAND OUT: Contrast materials
Keep the rest of the bedding and valance in the same colour as the bedhead to make the bed the single most important thing in the room. The bedhead will stand out even more against a backdrop in a completely different material such as this soft, luxurious velvet bedhead against the raw and textured surface of the brick wall.
TELL US MORE
So, which do you prefer? The stand-out bedheads or the subtle ones that blend in? Do you have a favourite from the examples above? Tell us in the comments section below.
Keep the rest of the bedding and valance in the same colour as the bedhead to make the bed the single most important thing in the room. The bedhead will stand out even more against a backdrop in a completely different material such as this soft, luxurious velvet bedhead against the raw and textured surface of the brick wall.
TELL US MORE
So, which do you prefer? The stand-out bedheads or the subtle ones that blend in? Do you have a favourite from the examples above? Tell us in the comments section below.
Go bold with a solid colour that ties in with the colour of your patterned soft furnishings, such as curtains and cushions. The white trim helps outline the shape of the bedhead so it doesn’t appear flat, while the orange cushion adds a nice pop of colour into the blue and white scheme.