Bridge For Design Summer 2014 Bridge For Design Summer 2014 Issue | Page 56

DESIGN TRENDS | view point

THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Supersized headboards are big on style and big on comfort says Brent Cooper

W

e’re living in an age of supersize,
where everything in our homes,
from our sofas to our cookers to our
showers, is growing. This enlarging of
everyday objects helps to create wow
factor and gives a little bit of drama to
our daily rituals. The trend extends all
the way to the bedroom, where, thanks

have grown to extraordinary proportions, both horizontally and vertically.
It’s no surprise to learn that Kingsize beds now outsell
standard doubles and that people are going even larger still,
stretching out comfortably into Superking and Emperor size
versions. Yes, big beds are now the norm, but if you really
want to make a statement in the bedroom, it’s all about the
headboard, and, you guessed it, the bigger the better!
Supersized headboards are the latest bedroom trend. If the
room can support it, they should be at least the size of the
bed. In some cases they have grown to run the length of the
wall, creating a soft, pillowy backdrop against which you can
rest your weary head.
They look equally fabulous taken upwards but, again, it’s
about playing with scale. The vertical height of the board
bed reaching for the stars.
With such large proportions at play, choosing the right
design is vital. Think of the supersized headboard as a piece
of art that will dictate the style of a room. It needs to make
just the right amount of impact and it has to have longevity.
To recreate the warmth and softness of a luxury boudoir,
the fashion is for upholstered boards, and you can have a lot
of fun with these. Statement fabrics have taken over from the
statement wallpaper trend we saw ten years ago, so rich, bold

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colours, stripes and geometric patterns are popular themes.
This type of board is not for the faint-hearted - it makes a big
impact, but done well, looks fabulous.
There is also a move towards neutral colours where the
emphasis is more on texture. Leather, suede, linen and velvet
are popular choices, adding a touchy-feely element to the
board - the adult version of a cuddly soft toy. These boards
have less drama than a highly patterned or coloured version,
but they do create a soft, cosy focal point nonetheless.
It’s the little design details on a board that really help
the perimeter give it a cool, urban vibe, while deep, plush
buttoning suggests the formal elegance of a country retreat.
Pleating, piping and beading all add character while the
room.
Bespoke options are available which means headboards can
there is a low ceiling or a beam to take into consideration.
They can even come with cut-out allowances for skirting
boards.
As bedrooms evolve into master suites and start to double
up as spaces for watching TV, reading or working on the
computer, an upholstered headboard makes a lot of sense.
They are big on comfort and big on style and give a room an
instant visual talking point.
Dream big and then dream even bigger and you’ll start to
get a feel for the proportions you should be aiming for! B

Bridge for Design Summer 2014

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