7 Hardworking Headboards That Offer Storage & Style
Besides being a backrest, a headboard can act as a bookcase, desktop, nightstand and more
Amanda Pollard
12 August 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Headboards – they provide extra comfort for your nighttime reading or morning coffee sipping, but they can do more as well. If you look for an ingenious design and expert cabinetry work, you can have a beautiful headboard that provides useful storage.
1. Bookcase partition
This narrow room could have been very short on shelf space without the clever headboard with storage behind the bed.
The designers created a bookcase and a bedside table with plenty of room for reading material and accessories. The storage headboard also acts as a handy divider, zoning off the space behind it, which the owners can use as a dressing area.
If you’re wondering how to build a headboard with shelves in your own home, be aware of the space around the unit. These designers left a gap above the bookcase to maintain the feeling of flow in the compact room.
This narrow room could have been very short on shelf space without the clever headboard with storage behind the bed.
The designers created a bookcase and a bedside table with plenty of room for reading material and accessories. The storage headboard also acts as a handy divider, zoning off the space behind it, which the owners can use as a dressing area.
If you’re wondering how to build a headboard with shelves in your own home, be aware of the space around the unit. These designers left a gap above the bookcase to maintain the feeling of flow in the compact room.
2. Rounded backrest and nightstands
This curved headboard with storage seems to be part of the bed, which adds to its ergonomic feel. It’s packed with useful shelving, with two-tier bedside tables that wrap around the sides of the bed and a couple of handy compartments at the back. The curved top is also home to a pair of practical reading lamps.
The beauty of a headboard like this is that it allows you to move the bed away from the wall. This works well when a room has little available wall space or when you want to wake up closer to a beautiful view like this one.
Take a look at these head-turning headboards
This curved headboard with storage seems to be part of the bed, which adds to its ergonomic feel. It’s packed with useful shelving, with two-tier bedside tables that wrap around the sides of the bed and a couple of handy compartments at the back. The curved top is also home to a pair of practical reading lamps.
The beauty of a headboard like this is that it allows you to move the bed away from the wall. This works well when a room has little available wall space or when you want to wake up closer to a beautiful view like this one.
Take a look at these head-turning headboards
3. Drop-down desk
The smart bed in this room doubles as a bureau. The deep recess contains shelves for books and stationery, and a hatch folds down to form a mini desk.
The owner can prop up the surface on some pillows and work from the comfortable mattress in front of it. This may not suit someone who often works from home, but it’s perfect for a teenager who needs an extra spot to do homework.
Browse through images of headboards with storage
The smart bed in this room doubles as a bureau. The deep recess contains shelves for books and stationery, and a hatch folds down to form a mini desk.
The owner can prop up the surface on some pillows and work from the comfortable mattress in front of it. This may not suit someone who often works from home, but it’s perfect for a teenager who needs an extra spot to do homework.
Browse through images of headboards with storage
4. Straight-lined and soft
When including storage, don’t forget comfort. This wide headboard not only features shelves, bedside tables and light fixtures, but it also has a padded surface covered in soft fabric.
Think about how you like to sit in your bed too. This headboard has an upright design, perfect for those who like to sit up straight while reading. If you prefer to lie back slightly, go for a slope.
When including storage, don’t forget comfort. This wide headboard not only features shelves, bedside tables and light fixtures, but it also has a padded surface covered in soft fabric.
Think about how you like to sit in your bed too. This headboard has an upright design, perfect for those who like to sit up straight while reading. If you prefer to lie back slightly, go for a slope.
5. Side shelves
The beauty of a custom-made storage headboard is its versatility: You can design it to fit your needs and bedroom layout perfectly.
This headboard again creates a useful division between the closets and the bed. Its placement also allows easy access to back and sides, which the designers took advantage of with inset shelves.
Here’s how headboards can completely transform your bedroom
The beauty of a custom-made storage headboard is its versatility: You can design it to fit your needs and bedroom layout perfectly.
This headboard again creates a useful division between the closets and the bed. Its placement also allows easy access to back and sides, which the designers took advantage of with inset shelves.
Here’s how headboards can completely transform your bedroom
6. Lidded storage
In an attic bedroom, the space beneath the sloped ceiling can be an awkward area to navigate around, so it makes sense to use it for storage.
These designers built a false wall to be used as a headboard. The depth of the structure allows enough room for a large internal cavity, which can be accessed via the lids on top.
In an attic bedroom, the space beneath the sloped ceiling can be an awkward area to navigate around, so it makes sense to use it for storage.
These designers built a false wall to be used as a headboard. The depth of the structure allows enough room for a large internal cavity, which can be accessed via the lids on top.
7. Integrated in a cabinet wall
How’s this for a handy design? The bed sits in front of a wall of cabinets, which have plenty of space for bed linen, clothes and more.
Smaller cabinets on both sides of the bed are perfect for odds and ends. And a simple yet effective shelf attached to the cabinet doors provides a handy spot for a bedtime book.
Read more:
Bedroom Bliss: 60 Gorgeous Headboards From Around the World
Tell us:
Do you have a storage headboard? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
How’s this for a handy design? The bed sits in front of a wall of cabinets, which have plenty of space for bed linen, clothes and more.
Smaller cabinets on both sides of the bed are perfect for odds and ends. And a simple yet effective shelf attached to the cabinet doors provides a handy spot for a bedtime book.
Read more:
Bedroom Bliss: 60 Gorgeous Headboards From Around the World
Tell us:
Do you have a storage headboard? Share your experiences and photos in the Comments below.
Related Stories
Most Popular
7 Secret Tips to Designing a Bedroom
Here is how to look at light, layout & circulation while thinking about your bedroom design
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
Urban Indian Decor: 12 Irresistible Bedrooms
Take a tour of these head-turning bedrooms that are an inviting escape into serious style and comfort
Full Story
Decorating Guides
A Smart Guide to Bedroom Ergonomics
Find out how to design an ergonomic bedroom that is well-planned, comfortable and ensures a good night's sleep
Full Story
Decorating Guides
7 Essential Vastu Tips for Your Bedroom
By Amit Lamba
Here are key tips according to Vastu Shastra that will help make your bedroom into a more positive and a restful space
Full Story
Photo Books
20 Indoor-Outdoor Bedroom Retreats You'll Never Want To Leave
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Decorating Guides
14 Foolproof Steps to Designing the Perfect Bedroom
Go from procrastination to gorgeous presentation with our bedroom decorating guide that covers all the details
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
15 Happy, Shiny Bedrooms That Induce a Good Mood
These airy and sun-kissed bedrooms are just what the doctor ordered to start one's day
Full Story
Bedroom Guides
Mattress Matters: Foam vs Spring
Understand the differences between a foam or spring mattress and find out which one can help you drift off to dreamland
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
25 Practical, Stylish Built-In Storage Ideas for the Bedroom
These bedrooms offer stylish built-in storage solutions to bring in maximum functionality within a limited space
Full Story
Decorating Guides
Easy Tricks: How to Style Your Bedroom
How you can style your bedroom to perfection with next to no fuss at all
Full Story
slrslr - I bought two narrow three drawer chests instead of bedside cabinets when I bought my bedroom furniture. They are higher than bedside cabinets, give easier access for high beds and have plenty of storage. Works so well for me!
Have to admit that I prefer my bed right up against a wall... It feels better that way than stuck in the middle of a room!
The curved headboard looks such a perfect design and at first I thought it took space from the bed, but it doesn't - it adds space, hidden space at the back and sides. I also like the idea of sleeping in the middle of a room with the wardrobe behind me. It's far easier to clean around a bed like this especially if you hate dust in a bedroom. They have all made wonderful use of an extended headboard. We are so used to flat, uninviting, hard to clean or wooden dust traps that we haven't yet extended our thinking to useful storage in a headboard. I have flaps on hinges that give extra support whilst reading. 1960's headboards with drawers attached are useful, except I once slept in one of those and somebody hadn't tightened up the relevant screws, so apart from wobbling and squeaking all night, it was also sort of floating apart from the bed, which comes down to simple maintenance.