While many beds today come with a headboard, there is no absolute requirement that your bed should always have one.
For many, it’s an added touch for design and functionality, or it’s merely something that came along with their bed of choice.
However, truth be told, your bed may function just as well as it should—as a bed, even without the headboard.
But why is it that headboards are still quite popular today? In fact, many interior designers who opt for headboards are also choosing to have custom-made ones.
Then, there’s also the question of does it really comes with disadvantages?
After all, there are designs that are just as beautiful and cozy, highlighted by the fact that the bed is on its own, without a headboard.
This discussion below seeks to help you have answers to your questions.
Here’s a thorough run-down of some of the pros bed headboards can bring and their underlying cons.
The Pros of Using a Headboard
1. It Serves As A Wall Protection
In the olden days, before modern headboard designs even came into being, headboards were first used for wall protection.
It’s that layer of protection between the head and the wall so the head doesn’t accidentally hit and bump into a cement wall.
Moreover, this protection also has to do with the heat or the cold. With the barrier provided by the headboard, there’s better heating and insulation when you sleep.
This would keep a person’s head from getting too hot or cold at night.
2. It Provides Added Back and Neck Support
Ideally, the bedroom is supposed to be a place to sleep and rest. Nowadays, however, the bedroom has become a multi-purpose space.
Many homeowners stay in their bedroom to work, read a book, or simply just pass through the lazy days.
With that, having a headboard comes in handy. You have something to prop your pillows against for more comfort.
This is a tad bit more comfortable than directly leaning on a cold, hard, and cemented wall.
3. It Can Help Prevent Wall Damage
Having a headboard is an added layer of protection not just for the people sleeping in the bed but even for the wall itself.
You can prevent chips in the paint, dents in the wall, or even smudges, from all the dirt you can pass on to the wall.
This can happen through oil and sweat buildup, which may affect and stain your wall’s finish.
Likewise, your bed’s edges and corners may rub against the walls, particularly as you twist and turn in your sleep.
When it comes time to move your bed, or even move out, as is the case when you’re renting, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise with your wall’s condition.
This would’ve been avoided with having a headboard in place.
Similarly, if the wall area where you plan to put your bed is also dirty, you can hide any smudges and paint imperfections through a headboard.
4. It Elevates Your Bedroom Style
Apart from the functional purpose it serves, headboards nowadays are also meant to be a design and style element.
A blank and dry-looking wall can instantly look more stylish when you have a lovely headboard to match the design scheme you’re after.
Just imagine that cozy, put-together interior you feel when you walk into a hotel room.
You can have that, too, with a simple addition as having the right headboard.
To ensure the whole design is well-coordinated, choose a headboard that matches your bedroom’s theme and style.
The Cons of Using a Headboard
1. It May Require Added Maintenance and Cleaning
This first disadvantage isn’t an absolute negative thing that applies to all types of headboards.
Ultimately, it’ll also depend on the style of headboard you have.
Some headboards are easy to clean, while others may also require added cleaning and maintenance.
For example, upholstered headboards unnecessarily collect added dust. It’s an added chore to have to vacuum it frequently.
If it gets stained, you’d be upset at how messy your room also looks.
To avoid feeling the bummer of this first disadvantage, opt for more minimalistic headboards and those made of materials that are easy to clean. Wood, for instance, is a no-fail.
2. It’s an Added Expense
There are relatively cheap headboards, while other headboards can also be expensive.
The price varies based on factors like the bed size, style, and even the material the headboard is made out of.
It’s still an added expense even if you’re opting for a cheaper headboard.
The amount you’ve spent on the headboard could’ve been allocated for other expenses when you think about how it’s possible to do without having one.
The computation of this cost as an added expense highly applies particularly to homeowners on a budget.
If you can actually save money on a headboard by not having one, there’d be no reason to consider purchasing a headboard.
You can still make your bedroom look stylish without one.
3. It May Require a Bigger Room Space
Headboards eat up space, both vertically and horizontally.
So, if you’re short on space when your bedroom is small, you may find the headboard an unnecessary addition that only occupies space.
Rather than have a headboard, you can opt for other interior design ideas to spruce up that blank wall where the headboard should be—one that doesn’t take up space.
Final Thoughts
Given how common bed headboards are, they’re also considered quite an underrated factor.
Not many may give it some attention until the absence of one is noticed.
Headboard or no headboard, ultimately, the choice is up to the interior designer and the homeowner.
Hence, it’s for you to weigh the various pros and cons, not independently, but in application to your own situation at home.
If you find the extra expense of a headboard worth it, go for it. If you don’t, then it’s on you to forego it as well.
Should you change your mind later on, a new, custom headboard can always be added by an expert builder.
