How to Attach a Headboard

An Easy Guide on How to Attach a Headboard to a Bed Frame

Last Updated on February 24, 2023

When you assemble a bed for the first time, you will probably wonder how to put a headboard on a bed.

Headboards, which are developed to safeguard you from cold conditions, have evolved into aesthetic bedroom furniture due to modern designs. While most headboards can offer you some offer head support and back support, they also can complement your bedroom’s decor.

Attaching a headboard to a bed frame might seem daunting, especially if it doesn’t feature any fastening elements. The good thing is that headboards can easily be fastened to walls and bed frames.

In this guide, we will show you how to attach a headboard to a bed frame, giving you an insight into different installation options.

Different Types of Headboards

Although there are many different styles of headboards, each headboard’s installation technique is unique. Headboards are grouped into different categories based on their materials and design. Going through different headboard designs makes it easier for you to know the kind of headboard that you are working with.

Upholstered

Most upholstered headboards have an attractive design and are manufactured from fine fabrics. Such fabrics also have regular patterns formed by metal buttons fixed on the front face of the board. Various fabrics can be used to make upholstered headboards comfier—leather, linen, and velvet.

Wooden Headboard

Wooden headboards can create a barrier between you and the wall to shield you from cold temperatures. However, thanks to new building techniques that boost temperature conditioning, wooden headboards are mainly used to improve the overall aesthetic appearance of various wooden beds.

Metallic Headboard

Metallic headboards date back to the Victorian period. Depending on their featured colour, they can give your bedroom a rustic, modern, and minimalistic decor.

Bed-Frame Mounted Headboard

As the name states, bed-frame mounted boards have to be mounted on a bed for support. Once it is completely mounted to a bed, the headboard will look like a section of the whole unit. Bed frame-mounted headboards are made from different types of materials.

Wall-Mounted Headboard

A wall-mounted headboard has a special design that makes it simple to attach it on various wall types. Note that it should be mounted on a stable wall.

Free Standing Headboard

As the name hints, a free-standing headboard has various support features for holding the whole unit upright. And due to this, floor-standing headboards can be dragged easily from one point to another. While a floor-standing headboard might feature supports, you can still fasten them to your bed. In short, they are quite flexible if compared to the options above.

Tools Required

Here are some of the tools you will need to attach a headboard to a wall or directly to the bed frame:

  • Wrench
  • Washers
  • Bolts
  • Drywall anchor
  • Nuts

How to Attach a Headboard to a Bed: A Step-By-Step Guide

1. Wall Mounted Headboards

The first method will look at how to fit a headboard directly on a wall.

Step 1: Measure Your Bed’s Height

Before attaching a headboard, measure your bed’s height to get effective results. This makes it easier for you to know if the lower edge will rest on your mattress perfectly once you mount the headboard on your bed. After that, draw a line above the mattress edge to guide you while mounting your headboard.

Place the headboard on the bedroom wall, with the lower edge resting on the line you had drawn earlier, just above your mattress. Use a pencil to make an outline of the top edge of the headboard.

Step 2: Mark Screw Points for Screw Holes

Go through the buyer’s guide to get an insight into the positioning of the mounting elements.

Determine the distance between the upper edge and the hooks on the headboard. Transfer the measured distance to the wall, then mark the points that you are going to drill.

While some headboards might feature wall mounting elements, other headboards might not come with mounting hooks. If that’s the case, you have to use store-bought wall mounting brackets while installing a headboard on your wall.

Mounting brackets can interlock with each other easily to support your headboard. However, you have to fix them along the centreline of your headboard. Once you fix the mounting brackets on your headboard, measure the distance between the headboard brackets and the top edge of the mounting board.

After that, use the same measurements while fixing mounting brackets on your bedroom wall.

Step 3: Drill Installation Holes on Your Wall

Once you finish marking the suitable points, drill the appropriate number of bolt holes in the wall and fix the mounting elements on your wall.

Step 4: Place the Board on Your Wall

Finish up by fixing the headboard on your bedroom wall. If you are using mounting brackets, the brackets on the board should interlock with the brackets on your wall. The good thing about the wall-mounted board is that it can blend perfectly with the bed and mattress to look like one unit.

2. Bed Frame Mounted Headboard

double bed with brown linen

This method will instead look at how to attach a headboard to a wooden bed frame. If you have a metal frame, you can also follow these steps, but make sure you use the right bolts.

Step 1: Prep The Headboard

Start by fetching the tools that you are going to use. Place the headboard flat on the floor with the rear face touching the floor.

Step 2: Fasten the Headboard’s Legs to the Main Unit

Since headboards might come with unassembled parts, you have to attach the legs to the main board before mounting it on your bedroom wall.

Line up the legs to the main board. The fastening holes on the legs should align with the fastening holes on the board. After that, drive the bolts into the legs using a hex key. Ensure that you secure the bolts in the board using some washers to minimise any movements.

Most headboards have multiple holes, making it easier for you to change the height of the legs based on your personal preferences.

Step 3: Pay Attention to the Bolts

Headboards designed to be fixed on various bed bases may offer you different types of bolts for metal and wooden frames. That’s why you should go through the manufacturer’s guide to get an insight into the type of bolts that should be used on your bed.

Bolts have different lengths, making it easier for you to spot the difference. Some bed frames, especially metal frames, might have pre-drilled holes for fastening headboards.

On the contrary, other bed frames might not be fully compatible with headboards. If that’s the case, you should use mounting brackets while fixing a headboard to the frame of your wooden bed. Adapter plates might also be ideal for attaching a headboard to different frames.

You can fix mounting brackets on your bed frame with headboard bolts. Most brackets have connection points, making it possible for you to attach a headboard to your bed frame.

If your bed frame has bolt holes or brackets, line it up with the headboard.

Step 4: Fasten the Headboard to the Bed Frame

Hold the headboard upright, then line it up with your bed frame. After that, drive in headboard bolts/screws into the joint to form a secure connection. Tighten the bolt connection with some washers. Repeat the same procedure on the second joint.

Fixing a Headboard on a Divan Bed

Unlike other beds, divan beds are covered with a fabric that hides the bed frame. Due to this, fixing a headboard on a divan bed frame might seem like a challenging task.

While some divan beds might have pre-drilled holes, such holes are usually concealed with fine fabrics or stickers.

Step 1: Find the Pre-drilled Holes

Check whether your divan bed has some stickers or not. If the bed doesn’t have any stickers, move your fingers along the fabric to analyse the texture difference. This makes it easier for you to locate pre-drilled holes on the bed frame. Sections with pre-drilled headboard holes will feel more hollow as compared to other parts.

Step 2: Make Some Holes on the Fabric

Next, drive something sharp through the fabric to make a hole in the outer section—a screwdriver might be ideal. To get effective results, pierce both ends.

Step 3: Drive Bolts Properly Into the Pre-drilled Holes

Place a bolt on the pre-drilled hole, then drive it into the bed base, leaving about 4.5 cm of the thread hanging on the outer section of the bed base. The extra space streamlines the height adjustment process. Once you finish fixing the bolts on one side of the divan bed, move to the other side, then drive bolts into the bed just as you did earlier.

Step 4: Fix the Headboard on the Bed Base

Most upholstered headboard legs have a long, hollow cut for fastening the whole unit to your bed base (such boards are also known as strutted headboards). To fix a divan headboard to the bed base, glide the struts on the bolts until the headboard rests on top of your mattress.

You can adjust headboard height by gliding your divan headboard up and down—keep the levels even once you attach the headboard until you get the correct height.

Step 5: Secure the Headboard

Secure the upholstered headboard in one position by driving the bolts into the bed base until you get a tight connection.

What Type of Headboard Are You Going to Install?

You should have learned how to attach a headboard to a bed frame by now.

Make sure you opt for an installation style compatible with your headboard or bed frame. If your headboard doesn’t feature mounting elements, purchase extra mounting elements from a store.

Also, make sure that the mounting elements are suitable for the headboard you plan to attach. Once you fasten the headboard to a bed frame, you have to check if the lower edge rests at the right height or not.

What type of headboard are you going to install? Let us know in the comments below!

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