Upholstered and Velvet Beds: How to Choose the Fabric, Headboard and Frame

An upholstered bed changes the feel of a bedroom more than almost any other piece of furniture. A padded headboard is softer to lean against than wood or metal, the fabric absorbs a little of the echo in the room, and the colour and texture set the tone for everything around it. Velvet, bouclé, chenille and linen-effect fabrics each bring something different, and the headboard shape, the base and the legs matter just as much. This guide walks through the choices, so you can pick an upholstered or velvet bed that suits your room and the way you use it.

Why choose an upholstered bed?

The first reason is comfort. If you read, work or drink your morning coffee in bed, a padded headboard gives you something soft to lean against. Taller headboards, such as the winged design on the Katie Grey Velvet King Bed, are made with exactly that in mind.

The second is the look. Fabric softens a room in a way that hard materials do not. A bed covered in velvet or bouclé reads as calm and finished, almost like a hotel room, and it can carry colour into a bedroom without needing a bold wall or rug.

The third is variety. Because the shape comes from padding and fabric rather than carved timber, upholstered beds come in a wide range of silhouettes: curved, scalloped, buttoned, panelled and winged. That makes it easier to find one that suits a particular style, from a soft contemporary room to something more glamorous.

Choosing the fabric

The fabric is the decision that shapes the whole bed. Each of the common choices looks and behaves a little differently.

Velvet

Velvet is the most luxurious-looking of the four. Its pile catches the light, so the colour looks deeper in some places and paler in others, which gives even a plain headboard a sense of depth. It suits rich colours particularly well. The Deco King Bed is upholstered in truffle velvet, and the Frida Curved Velvet King Bed comes in grey or teal velvet. For a lighter room, the Gatsby Cream Velvet King Ottoman Storage Bed shows how velvet works in a pale shade.

The thing to know about velvet is that the pile moves. Where it is pressed, for example where you lean against the headboard, it can flatten and look lighter or darker. This is a feature of the fabric rather than a fault, and a soft brush in the direction of the pile usually brings it back.

Bouclé

Bouclé is woven from looped yarn, which gives it a textured, slightly nubbly surface. It has no sheen, so it looks soft and matt, and it tends to suit curved, sculptural shapes. The Eden King Bed in ivory bouclé has a softly curved headboard on black legs, while the Oberon Cream Bouclé King Bed carries cream bouclé across the curved headboard and the side rails, on natural solid wood legs.

Because the yarn is looped, bouclé can snag on anything sharp. Take care with watch straps, zips and pets' claws.

Chenille

Chenille has a soft, slightly fuzzy pile with much less sheen than velvet. It looks tailored rather than glamorous. The Whitmore Grey Chenille King Bed pairs a tall headboard with vertical stitched panels with a walnut-effect wooden surround and solid wood feet, and the Walden King Bed sets a grey chenille upholstered headboard into a walnut-effect frame. Combining fabric and wood like this suits rooms that already have wooden furniture.

Linen-effect

Linen-effect fabrics have a flat, woven look that feels relaxed and natural. The Wilton King Storage Bed is covered in an oatmeal beige linen-effect fabric, a warm neutral that works with modern and traditional rooms, and is also available in dark grey linen.

Choosing the headboard

After the fabric, the headboard does the most to set the style of an upholstered bed.

• Curved headboards, like the Frida, Eden and Oberon, have a soft, rounded outline that suits modern and minimalist rooms.
• Scalloped headboards, such as the Deco and the Langham, have a series of rounded panels across the top, a nod to Art Deco design.
• Buttoned headboards, like the deep-buttoned Wilton, feel more classic and tailored.
• Panelled and stitched headboards, such as the Whitmore and the Katie, use vertical lines to add height and a hotel-style finish.
• Winged headboards curve forward at the sides, giving a more enclosed, comfortable place to sit up in bed.

Think about height as well as shape. A tall headboard makes a strong focal point and is more comfortable to lean against, but in a room with a sloping ceiling or a low window behind the bed, a lower design may fit better. The product pages list each bed's overall height; the Katie, for example, stands 131cm tall, while the Oberon is 96cm.

Legs, frames and bases

The feet and frame affect both the look and the practical side of the bed.

Legs and feet. Contrasting legs give an upholstered bed definition. Black legs, as on the Frida and Eden, add a crisp modern edge; brushed gold metal feet, as on the Deco, add a touch of glamour; natural or walnut-toned wooden feet, as on the Oberon and Whitmore, feel warmer. Low feet give a sleek, grounded look, while taller legs leave space beneath the bed and make the frame look lighter.

Frame and construction. Upholstered beds are built around a frame that is padded with foam and covered in fabric. The materials vary from bed to bed; the Frida, for example, is built on a hardwood frame, and the Whitmore on a frame of LVL, rubberwood, particleboard and steel. Each product page lists the construction, so you can compare like for like.

Storage. If space is tight, an upholstered bed with storage saves adding another piece of furniture. Ottoman beds have a base that lifts, usually on gas struts, to reveal storage underneath, and the Katie, Gatsby, Frida and Langham ranges all include ottoman versions. Drawer beds, like the Wilton with its four wheeled drawers, are handy when you want to reach things without lifting the mattress. Our guide to choosing an ottoman bed covers the options in more detail.

Getting the size right

An upholstered frame is always larger than the mattress it holds, because of the padding, the side rails and the headboard. Check both the mattress size and the overall dimensions on the product page before you order. In the UK, a double takes a 135cm wide mattress, a king a 150cm one and a super king a 180cm one.

As an example, the Katie king takes a 150 x 200cm mattress, but the bed itself is 168cm wide and 215cm long. The Oberon king is 168cm wide and 222cm long, and the Eden king is 176cm wide and 218.5cm long. Those extra centimetres matter in a smaller room, so allow space to walk round the bed and open wardrobe doors and drawers.

• Measure the room and mark the bed's full footprint on the floor with masking tape.
• Check the headboard height against windows, sloping ceilings and wall lights.
• Leave room to walk round the bed and to open ottoman lids or drawers.
• Measure doorways, hallways and stair turns on the delivery route.

Choosing a colour

Neutral fabrics, such as cream, ivory, oatmeal and grey, are the easiest to live with. They work with almost any bedding and let you change the mood of the room with throws and cushions. A grey velvet bed with white bedding looks fresh and calm, while cream bouclé with oatmeal bedding and a chunky knit throw creates a soft, layered look.

Deeper colours make the bed the centrepiece. Teal velvet, such as on the Frida, or a warm truffle like the Deco brings richness and works well against pale walls. If you love colour but are wary of committing to it, a deep shade on the bed with neutral walls and bedding is a good balance.

Think about light too. Velvet changes colour with the light more than flat fabrics, so a swatch or product photo seen in daylight can look different in the evening under lamps.

Looking after an upholstered bed

Upholstered beds need a little care to keep them looking their best, and most of it is simple.

• Vacuum regularly with a soft brush attachment to lift dust from the headboard and frame.
• Blot spills straight away with a clean, dry cloth. Do not rub, which can spread the mark and damage the pile.
• Brush velvet gently in the direction of the pile to lift pressure marks.
• Keep it out of strong sunlight where you can, as fabrics can fade over time.
• Follow the care instructions supplied with your bed before using any cleaning product.

A headboard takes the most contact, so it is worth putting a cushion or two against it if you often sit up in bed. That keeps the fabric cleaner and gives you extra support.

Bringing it all together

The right upholstered bed comes down to a few choices: the fabric that suits your room and how you live, a headboard shape that matches your style, legs and a frame that suit the look, and storage if you need it. Velvet brings depth and glamour, bouclé softness and texture, chenille a tailored finish and linen-effect a relaxed one.

For more on bed frames in general, including materials and construction, read our guide to investing in designer bed frames. Delivery is free to UK mainland addresses, and the service level for each bed is shown on its product page; see our delivery information for details.

When you are ready to choose, browse our full range of upholstered and velvet beds, from curved bouclé designs to scalloped velvet frames and upholstered storage beds.

Frequently asked questions

Is velvet a practical fabric for a bed?

Yes, for most bedrooms. A bed is not used the way a sofa is, so the fabric takes far less wear. Velvet does mark and crush where it is pressed, and the marks usually lift with a soft brush in the direction of the pile. If you have pets that sleep on the bed, a flatter weave such as linen-effect fabric or chenille may be easier to live with.

What is the difference between velvet, bouclé and chenille?

Velvet has a short, dense pile with a soft sheen that changes with the light. Bouclé is woven from looped yarn, giving a nubbly, matt texture. Chenille has a soft, slightly fuzzy pile that sits between the two, with less sheen than velvet. Linen-effect fabrics have a flat, woven look and feel the most casual of the four.

How do I clean an upholstered bed?

Vacuum the headboard and frame regularly with a soft brush attachment to lift dust. Blot spills straight away with a clean, dry cloth rather than rubbing, and always follow the care instructions supplied with your bed before using any cleaning product.

Can I get an upholstered bed with storage?

Yes. Many upholstered beds come with an ottoman base that lifts to reveal storage underneath, or with drawers in the base. The Wilton, for example, has four wheeled drawers, and the Katie, Gatsby, Frida and Langham ranges include ottoman storage versions. Read our guide to ottoman beds for more on the different lift mechanisms.

What size mattress does an upholstered bed take?

Upholstered beds are sized like any other bed frame, so a double takes a 135cm wide mattress, a king a 150cm one and a super king a 180cm one. Check the mattress size on the product page, because the frame itself is wider and longer than the mattress.