Revive Your Bedroom With a Traditional Headboard
Give your home a piece of the past with these time-served headboard designs
Havelis (traditional Indian mansions) are emblazoned in India’s history as seedbeds of change, having been influenced by a range of epochs and dynasties. They witnessed many incarnations over the ages, from traditional courtyard structures showing Rajput, Indo-Saracenic, Maratha or Jain influences, to early-20th-century stone mansions characterised by Baroque, Gothic, British Colonial or Art Deco elements. With the rise of urbanisation, most havelis now stand as heritage buildings, either still occupied by descendents of their original creators, or restored and used as luxury hotels or lodges.
Today, it doesn’t take an heir or heiress to lay claim to India’s original private residences. Live your version of royalty by taking your bedroom back a few centuries with these haveli-inspired headboards.
Today, it doesn’t take an heir or heiress to lay claim to India’s original private residences. Live your version of royalty by taking your bedroom back a few centuries with these haveli-inspired headboards.
White on white is a promise of chic minimalism, as demonstrated by this room. Unlike the colour-blocking headboard in the previous room, this one is just a shade warmer than the crisp white walls.
2. Four-poster paradise
The Raj Company offers a keyhole view to India’s colonial past with this Anglo-Indian four-poster rosewood bed that would have been a staple in British-occupied havelis. Featuring an ornate, foliated headboard, the bed is a sterling statement piece. See how a sheath of cloth, casually tied as a symbolic canopy, offers lightness to the heavy-duty headboard and wooden box frame.
The Raj Company offers a keyhole view to India’s colonial past with this Anglo-Indian four-poster rosewood bed that would have been a staple in British-occupied havelis. Featuring an ornate, foliated headboard, the bed is a sterling statement piece. See how a sheath of cloth, casually tied as a symbolic canopy, offers lightness to the heavy-duty headboard and wooden box frame.
Who needs a headboard when you have a pillar bed that looks like it belonged in a kingly Rajasthani mansion? See how well the carved pillars make up for the headboard’s lack of height (it is just tall enough to support the pillows and cushions) and still manage to infuse plenty of charm in this room by Tara Design.
3. Indian palanquin
Palkis or palanquins (box-like structures with handles, carried by men) have been used as a means of transportation in India since ancient times to bear noblemen, ladies of high rank and brides. The British in India used palanquins up to the mid 19th century; upper-class Indians continued using palkis till the end of that century. With colonial influences, the palki underwent a metamorphosis, taking on a more au courant look in shape and size but as decorative as ever, like the one pictured here.
This floating trunk bed is a reimagination of the palkis used by the Raj-era upper crust. The headboard and footboard mirror each other with a simple, recurrent motif, while an intricate crown border winds all the way round the upper bed frame. The space has been designed by Tara Design.
Palkis or palanquins (box-like structures with handles, carried by men) have been used as a means of transportation in India since ancient times to bear noblemen, ladies of high rank and brides. The British in India used palanquins up to the mid 19th century; upper-class Indians continued using palkis till the end of that century. With colonial influences, the palki underwent a metamorphosis, taking on a more au courant look in shape and size but as decorative as ever, like the one pictured here.
This floating trunk bed is a reimagination of the palkis used by the Raj-era upper crust. The headboard and footboard mirror each other with a simple, recurrent motif, while an intricate crown border winds all the way round the upper bed frame. The space has been designed by Tara Design.
4. Quilted panel
Elaborately carved panels have long orbited a constellation of architectural styles: Mughal, Rajput, Indo-Gothic and Maratha.
In this home, the homeowners’ vision was influenced by their need for something drastically different. See how this quaint Rajasthani panel, possibly salvaged from a centuries-old haveli, is embellished with three quilted arches of fuchsia, marrying old-world aesthetic with new-world vibrancy.
Elaborately carved panels have long orbited a constellation of architectural styles: Mughal, Rajput, Indo-Gothic and Maratha.
In this home, the homeowners’ vision was influenced by their need for something drastically different. See how this quaint Rajasthani panel, possibly salvaged from a centuries-old haveli, is embellished with three quilted arches of fuchsia, marrying old-world aesthetic with new-world vibrancy.
5. Vintage doorframe
A fantasia of vintage and contemporary elements, this Delhi residence by Group DCA is a welcome breath of fresh air.
This bedroom holds an exquisite Rajasthani headboard drawn from an antique doorway of a heritage haveli. The doorway is flanked by pilasters with heavily embellished capitals, while the rounded arch and doors adorn a basic, beaded design.
Open the doors to this spectacular home
A fantasia of vintage and contemporary elements, this Delhi residence by Group DCA is a welcome breath of fresh air.
This bedroom holds an exquisite Rajasthani headboard drawn from an antique doorway of a heritage haveli. The doorway is flanked by pilasters with heavily embellished capitals, while the rounded arch and doors adorn a basic, beaded design.
Open the doors to this spectacular home
6. Carved screen
The headboardcriss-cross lattice pattern on the bottom half of this screen is a telltale sign that the haveli-inspired headboard is a present-day take on colonial-era lattice screens. The top half features an understated, hand-carved bass-relief floral motif more in keeping with the style associated with the British colonial style of decoration, and the bottom is like the fine fretwork of traditional Indian craftsmanship seen in jalis and frames, making the design a compelling medley of styles.
The headboardcriss-cross lattice pattern on the bottom half of this screen is a telltale sign that the haveli-inspired headboard is a present-day take on colonial-era lattice screens. The top half features an understated, hand-carved bass-relief floral motif more in keeping with the style associated with the British colonial style of decoration, and the bottom is like the fine fretwork of traditional Indian craftsmanship seen in jalis and frames, making the design a compelling medley of styles.
7. Mirrored doorway
Gallop back in time to the dusty deserts of Rajasthan, where the Suthar and Jangid communities, among others, would handcraft wooden masterpieces. Their storied legacy still stands tall today, in rooms like this one.
Notice how, in this space, a pair of scalloped arches flank a rounded central arch, forming a mammoth headboard wall. Each archway is installed with a mirror, lending to the illusion of a sprawling room.
Gallop back in time to the dusty deserts of Rajasthan, where the Suthar and Jangid communities, among others, would handcraft wooden masterpieces. Their storied legacy still stands tall today, in rooms like this one.
Notice how, in this space, a pair of scalloped arches flank a rounded central arch, forming a mammoth headboard wall. Each archway is installed with a mirror, lending to the illusion of a sprawling room.
8. Colonial canopy
This bedroom looks resplendent with its silken canopy and palomino bed covers. The black lacquer headboard is embossed in gold, and is a modern interpretation of the carved headboards of colonial India.
This bedroom looks resplendent with its silken canopy and palomino bed covers. The black lacquer headboard is embossed in gold, and is a modern interpretation of the carved headboards of colonial India.
9. Carved mandala panel
The mandala was employed in haveli temple doors, benches and archways as a symbol of divinity.
A picture of peace and calm, a carved mandala panel serves as a custom headboard in this white oasis. The designer has used the mandala for its spiritual symbolism and kept the palette constant to channel positive energy.
The mandala was employed in haveli temple doors, benches and archways as a symbol of divinity.
A picture of peace and calm, a carved mandala panel serves as a custom headboard in this white oasis. The designer has used the mandala for its spiritual symbolism and kept the palette constant to channel positive energy.
10. Gold and pistachio swirls
The gilded ornamental headboard pictured here contains subtle pistachio inlays and is bounded by long-stemmed torch-style lamps on both sides. This space is a look back at luxurious headboards in havelis occupied by the British Raj.
Read more:
10 Ideas for Head-Turning Headboards
How Headboards Can Completely Transform Your Bedroom
Tell us:
Which headboard would look best in your bedroom? Tell us in Comments below.
The gilded ornamental headboard pictured here contains subtle pistachio inlays and is bounded by long-stemmed torch-style lamps on both sides. This space is a look back at luxurious headboards in havelis occupied by the British Raj.
Read more:
10 Ideas for Head-Turning Headboards
How Headboards Can Completely Transform Your Bedroom
Tell us:
Which headboard would look best in your bedroom? Tell us in Comments below.
Latticed screens were used extensively in medieval Indian architecture as window frames, purdahs (room partitions) and banisters around platforms, verandahs and terraces. They separated and continue to separate spaces while still supplying light and ventilation.
This eclectic bedroom by Seldin Design Studios features the traditional purdah in a modern avatar. A coat of teal paint gives the screen a contemporary facelift, making it pop as a headboard against the burnt-orange wall.