Fabric & Upholstered Beds

Fabric Upholstered Beds: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Fabric upholstered beds combine a softer, more luxurious appearance with a huge choice of colours, textures and designs. From understated linen-look frames to plush velvet statement beds with tall winged headboards, upholstery can completely change the character of a bedroom.

But choosing an upholstered bed isn't only about colour. The type of fabric, headboard design, mattress support, storage, external dimensions and even access to your bedroom can all make a difference. Understanding how upholstered beds are constructed can help you find a style that looks great while remaining practical for your space.

1. Why Choose a Fabric Upholstered Bed?

• Softer appearance: Upholstery gives a bed a warmer, softer look than many wooden or metal frames.
• Huge choice of styles: Choose from simple contemporary designs through to deep-buttoned, fluted, winged and statement headboards.
• More colour choice: Upholstered beds are available in everything from neutral greys, creams and natural shades to greens, blues and richer statement colours.
• Added comfort: A padded upholstered headboard provides a comfortable surface to lean against when sitting up in bed.
• Storage options: Many fabric beds incorporate drawers or lift-up ottoman storage without making the bed look primarily like a storage solution.

2. Understanding Upholstery Fabrics

The upholstery has a significant influence on both the appearance and feel of a fabric bed. Different materials reflect light differently, have different textures and can create a completely different look even when used on the same bed design.

Velvet

Velvet has a soft pile and can create a rich, luxurious appearance. Because the fibres have a direction, the shade can appear lighter or darker depending on how the fabric is brushed and how light falls across it.

This natural variation is part of velvet's character rather than necessarily being a difference in colour.

Linen-Look and Woven Fabrics

Woven and linen-look upholstery generally has a more textured, understated finish. These fabrics work particularly well with contemporary and Scandinavian-inspired bedrooms and can provide a softer alternative to smooth upholstery.

Chenille and Textured Fabrics

Chenille and other textured upholstery can add depth to a bed without relying on elaborate headboard detailing. The visible weave and tactile finish can make neutral colours particularly interesting.

Fabric names and compositions vary between manufacturers, so check the individual product information where the exact upholstery material is important.

3. Choosing the Right Colour

An upholstered bed is often one of the largest blocks of colour in a bedroom, so its shade can have a significant impact on the overall appearance of the room.

Neutral colours such as grey, cream, beige and natural tones are easy to coordinate with changing bedding and décor. Darker shades can create a stronger focal point, while greens, blues and other colours can introduce more personality.

Remember that colours can appear different depending on lighting, screen settings and the texture of the fabric. Velvet in particular can change appearance as the direction of the pile and light changes.

4. Headboard Styles Explained

The headboard is often the defining feature of an upholstered bed, and there are several different styles to choose from.

Buttoned Headboards

Traditional button detailing creates depth across the upholstery and can range from simple shallow buttons to deep-buttoned designs with a more luxurious appearance.

Panelled and Fluted Headboards

Vertical or horizontal upholstered panels create a cleaner, more contemporary appearance. Fluted designs can also give the impression of additional height.

Winged Headboards

A winged headboard extends forward at either side, framing the mattress and creating a substantial statement-bed appearance.

The wings usually make the headboard wider and deeper than a conventional design, so both bedroom dimensions and delivery access should be considered carefully.

Floor-Standing Headboards

Floor-standing headboards extend from the floor to the full height of the headboard and are commonly used with upholstered divan beds. They create a substantial appearance and can provide greater stability than a traditional strutted design.

Strutted Headboards

A strutted headboard attaches to a divan base using wooden struts. It is generally lighter and easier to manoeuvre than a large floor-standing headboard and can usually be adjusted in height.

5. Upholstered Bed Frames vs Divan Beds

Not every fabric bed is constructed in the same way. Two of the main options are an upholstered bedstead and an upholstered divan.

Upholstered Bedsteads

A fabric bedstead has an upholstered headboard with side rails and usually a foot end surrounding the mattress. This gives the complete bed a coordinated, framed appearance.

Bedsteads are generally supplied in separate components for assembly and can use either solid or sprung slats depending on the design.

Upholstered Divan Beds

A divan bed uses a fabric-covered base that generally follows the footprint of the mattress closely. A matching upholstered headboard can then be added to create the finished bed.

Divans can be particularly useful where space is important because they don't usually have substantial side rails or a foot end extending beyond the mattress. They also provide plenty of options for incorporating storage into the base.

6. Fabric Ottoman Beds

An upholstered bed can combine its decorative appearance with a large amount of hidden storage. Ottoman beds use a gas-assisted lifting mechanism to raise the mattress platform and provide access to the area underneath.

Because the storage is hidden when the bed is closed, you can have a statement upholstered bed without visible drawers or storage compartments interrupting the design.

Ottomans are available in both bedstead and divan styles, with side lift and end lift configurations depending on the individual model.

7. Fabric Beds with Storage Drawers

Storage drawers provide another way to combine an upholstered bed with useful under-bed storage. They're particularly convenient for items you want to access regularly because the mattress doesn't need to be lifted.

Remember that drawers require sufficient clearance alongside the bed to open. Consider the position of bedside furniture, wardrobes and walls before choosing the drawer configuration.

8. Platform Tops, Solid Slats and Sprung Slats

The upholstery determines how the bed looks, but the structure underneath the mattress contributes to how the complete bed feels.

Platform Top

Commonly found on divan bases, a platform top provides a firm, stable surface beneath the mattress.

Solid Slats

Solid wooden slats provide a relatively firm support system while allowing ventilation beneath the mattress.

Sprung Slats

Curved sprung slats have a degree of flexibility and can add some additional cushioning beneath the mattress.

The same mattress can feel slightly different depending on the base underneath it, so always check that your chosen mattress is suitable for the support system used by the bed.

9. Fabric Bed Sizes

Fabric upholstered beds are available across the main standard UK bed sizes, depending on the individual design:

• 3ft Single: approximately 3ft x 6ft3 (92cm x 190cm)
• 4ft Small Double: approximately 4ft x 6ft3 (122cm x 190cm)
• 4ft6 Double: approximately 4ft6 x 6ft3 (137cm x 190cm)
• 5ft King Size: approximately 5ft x 6ft6 (153cm x 200cm)
• 6ft Super King: approximately 6ft x 6ft6 (183cm x 200cm)

These measurements refer to the approximate mattress size, not necessarily the external dimensions of the complete bed.

10. Pay Attention to External Dimensions

This is particularly important when buying an upholstered bed. Thick side rails, padded foot ends, wings and statement headboards can make the complete frame considerably larger than the mattress it accommodates.

For example, a bed described as a 5ft king size is designed around a mattress approximately 5ft wide, but its headboard may be considerably wider.

Always measure your room using the full external dimensions shown for the individual bed, rather than relying on the mattress size.

11. Caring for an Upholstered Bed

Regular light maintenance can help keep fabric upholstery looking its best. A soft brush or suitable vacuum attachment can be used to remove surface dust, paying particular attention to seams, buttons and folds where dust can collect.

Spills should be dealt with according to the manufacturer's care instructions. Avoid assuming that a household upholstery cleaner is suitable for every fabric, as cleaning requirements vary according to the material.

Velvet and other pile fabrics are often easier to clean than tight weaves..

12. Pets and Fabric Beds

If pets regularly use the bedroom, fabric choice can become more important. Hair can be more visible on some colours and textures, while claws may catch more easily on certain woven fabrics.

A smoother or closely woven upholstery can sometimes be easier to maintain, although suitability varies between fabrics. Regular vacuuming can help prevent pet hair and dust from becoming embedded in the upholstery.

13. Delivery and Bedroom Access

One of the most important things to check before ordering an upholstered bed is whether the largest components can physically reach the bedroom.

Bedstead frames generally arrive in separate sections, making the side rails and other components relatively easy to manoeuvre. However, the headboard is often the critical measurement.

Large floor-standing, winged and statement headboards can be both wide and tall. Tight turns in staircases, low ceilings above stairs and narrow landings can create problems even when the bed itself will comfortably fit in the bedroom.

Check doorways, hallways, staircases, landings and turns before ordering, using the dimensions of the individual components where available.

14. Creating a Statement or Keeping It Simple

One of the biggest advantages of fabric upholstery is the variety it offers. A simple neutral upholstered frame can blend quietly into the bedroom, while a tall fluted, winged or deep-buttoned headboard can make the bed the main focal point of the room.

Consider the bed alongside your flooring, wall colour, curtains and bedding rather than viewing the fabric colour in isolation. Because bedding can easily be changed, choosing an upholstered bed you can coordinate with several different colour schemes can give you more flexibility in the future.