Beds with headboards make for elegant looking furniture. Headboards often serve to be the focal point in a room and thus one must select one with great care, keeping in mind whether it compliments the room, furniture and even the bed sheets. Headboards lend an aesthetic charm to the bedroom as well as serve the practical purpose of being a back rest for the sleepers. Surprisingly, headboards initially functioned as a necessity to keep the bed temperature warmer than that of the room. Headboards developed to protect sleepers from the cold weather by blocking him from the wind. Four poster beds were extremely useful for this purpose, wherein the sleeper could draw a thick curtain all around his bed to protect himself and remain warm. While those who could afford headboards commissioned broad wooden ones, those who were not as well off created make-shift headboards with straw or stacked cloth. With time, headboards became increasingly ornate and took on the role of a status symbol. Thus the fancier a headboard was it symbolized the high status of the owner.
While the first beds were originally built by the ancient Egyptians, it is thought that headboards came from ancient Greeks and Romans. The Greeks built a raised board at the head of the bed to allow for sitting up, eating, and resting semi-reclined. In Rome, headboards were seen as a sign of luxury among the wealthy. Later during medieval times, headboards – including upholstered headboards – were made to look even more extravagant for nobility, queens, and royalty to compliment similarly large four-poster beds.
It was during medieval times that people started realizing the dual function of headboards not only as a bed warmer but also as a valuable accessory to enhance the look of the room and prominently display the status and wealth of the owner. Thus wooden headboards with intricate carvings were high in demand for those who could afford them. Upholstered headboards also became stylish during this time for their comfort as well as the intensely luxurious feel they lent to the bedroom. Some wooden headboards form the medieval times were so strong that they can be found in an excellent condition, even today.
Today, the modern consumer can choose from a variety of assorted headboards, from metal, to wood, to the upholstered kind. The type of headboard he chooses should compliment the room. Metal headboards with a basic structure give a modernist, minimal feel while those with intricate carvings lend a decorative air to the room with a touch of modernity. For those who prefer the old fashioned look, wooden headboards are an excellent option. Decorative wooden headboards add an instant touch of royal glamor to the room. Those who prefer comfort over aesthetics can opt for upholstered headboards as they are very comfortable to recline on. One can chose plain or patterned textiles. Leather is a better option as it is easy to clean.
While this may be considered cheating, some people who don’t own a headboard and would rather have something more artistic, less likely to get damaged, and inexpensive in its place opt to purchase headboard wall transfers. A headboard wall transfer is exactly what it sounds like, basically a big sticker designed to look like a headboard that is attached to the wall where your bed headboard would normally be. Many times, these are used in the rooms of children. Designs can range from those looking like traditional headboards to those that are elaborately printed to represent a castle or other fantastical theme.
The array of different types of headboards on the market has grown over time and is likely to continue to grow into the future. Who knows what types of headboards that manufacturers will come up with next. As new technology develops and spreads throughout our homes, one can only image what touches it will add to the bedroom, and what types of headboards they’ll roll out with 100 years from now.
Learn more about Headboards for Beds. Stop by Summer Reed’s site where you can find out all about King Size Headboards and what they can do for you.
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Hey,
Great post, Would love to have a four post bed.
I have a rather nice head board that is leather and slightly padded to really nice to relax up against.