A headboard attaches to a divan bed using two metal struts that bolt to fixing points on the base. You screw the struts to the back of the headboard, slot the bolts through the pre drilled holes in the divan base, tighten them by hand, then adjust the height so the headboard sits just above the mattress. The whole job takes fifteen to twenty minutes and needs nothing more than a spanner or an allen key and a screwdriver.
Almost every UK divan base is made with two threaded fixing points along the head end, usually set around 20cm to 25cm in from each side. Struts and bolts are normally supplied with the headboard rather than the base, so check the box before you start.
Lay everything out first. You should have the headboard, two struts, four to six bolts with washers, and the wood screws for fixing the struts to the headboard itself. Add a screwdriver, a spanner or allen key to match the bolt heads, a tape measure and a soft blanket to rest the headboard on while you work.
Work with the headboard face down on the blanket so the fabric or timber does not scuff. If the headboard is upholstered, feel for the timber batten inside the padding, because that is where the strut screws must bite. Screwing into padding alone will not hold.
First, move the bed away from the wall. You need roughly 60cm behind the base to reach the fixing points comfortably. Pull the mattress forward or take it off entirely, as it will only get in the way.
Second, locate the fixing points on the base. They are small threaded sockets or captive nuts, often hidden under the fabric with a slight dimple marking the position. If they are covered, part the fabric gently with your fingers rather than cutting it.
Third, fix the struts to the headboard. Position each strut so its bolt holes line up with the spacing of the sockets on the base, then screw it firmly into the timber batten. Use the middle set of holes on the strut if there is a choice, which leaves you room to adjust the height in either direction later.
Fourth, offer the headboard up to the base. Slide the bolts through the slots in the struts and into the threaded sockets, then start each bolt by hand to make sure the thread engages cleanly. Cross threading is the most common cause of a wobbly headboard.
Fifth, set the height and tighten. Raise or lower the headboard until the bottom edge sits a couple of centimetres above the mattress top, so pillows do not slip into a gap. Then tighten all bolts fully, working from one side to the other, and push the bed back into place.
Height is the detail people get wrong most often. If the headboard sits too low, the mattress hides part of it and pillows fall behind. If it sits too high, a gap opens at the bottom that swallows pillows and makes the bed look unfinished.
The reference point is the top of the mattress, not the top of the base. Measure from the floor to the mattress surface, then set the headboard so its lower edge finishes around 2cm to 5cm above that line. Remember that a new mattress will settle slightly in the first few weeks, and a topper adds height too, so it is worth rechecking the position after a month.
Take the skirting board into account as well. Some skirting is deep enough to hold the base a few centimetres off the wall, which tilts the headboard and loosens the bolts over time. Where that happens, a slim spacer behind the struts keeps everything vertical. If you are still choosing a frame, our modern beds UK sale range includes both divans with separate headboards and complete frames with the headboard already built in.
Not every combination lines up first time. If the strut holes do not align with the base sockets, check whether the strut can be turned over or reversed, since many are drilled asymmetrically to give two options. Universal struts with multiple slots solve most mismatches and are inexpensive to buy separately.
If the base has no fixing points at all, you have two choices. A floor standing headboard with legs sits behind the bed and is held in place by the base pressing against it, which needs no drilling. Alternatively, a wall mounted headboard fixes directly to the wall above the bed, which suits rooms where the bed moves around or the base is unusually shaped. Both approaches work well with upholstered designs, and you can see the variety of shapes and heights across our modern fabric beds UK collection.
Where bolts spin without gripping, the socket thread may be damaged. A slightly longer bolt with a washer often catches undamaged thread deeper in the socket. If not, a wall mounted or floor standing headboard avoids the base entirely.
Headboards loosen because people lean on them. Check the bolts every few months and nip them up if there is movement. A drop of thread lock on the bolt threads reduces loosening in a bed that gets heavy use.
Felt pads between the strut and the base fabric stop the metal wearing a hole through the covering. If the headboard rattles against the wall, a self adhesive rubber bumper on the back solves the noise. Vacuum behind the headboard occasionally too, since the gap collects dust that is easy to forget about.
If the headboard cover is removable, take it off and follow the care label rather than scrubbing it in place. Upholstered surfaces near a radiator can fade and stiffen, so a slim console or a wall shelf elsewhere in the room is a better place for anything that gives off heat. For the finishing touches around the bed, our modern bedside cabinets UK sale range includes heights that suit both low and tall headboards, and you can see the full bedroom offering at Furniture in Fashion.
Taking a headboard off is the same process in reverse, with one caution: support the weight before the final bolts come out. Upholstered headboards for larger beds are heavier than they look, and letting one drop can tear the fabric or damage the strut plate.
Loosen all the bolts a couple of turns first, then remove them one side at a time while holding the panel. Keep the bolts, washers and struts together in a bag taped to the back of the headboard, because loose fixings are almost impossible to match later. Store the panel upright rather than flat, ideally with a sheet over it to keep dust off the fabric.
Width is the first check. A headboard should match the size name of the divan, so a 135cm base takes a double headboard. Some designs are cut slightly wider than the base to give a fuller look, which is fine provided the struts still line up with the sockets and the extra width does not foul a wardrobe beside the bed.
Height changes the character of the room. A tall padded headboard fills a plain wall and suits a room with a high ceiling, while a low panel keeps the space airy and works better beneath a window. Measure from the floor to the point where the headboard will finish, then check that figure against a window sill, a picture rail or a radiator behind the bed before ordering.
Material affects how it wears. Woven fabric is soft to lean against and takes colour well, velvet adds depth but shows marks from hands, and faux leather wipes clean easily, which is useful in a room where someone reads with a drink to hand. Buttoned and panelled designs hide creasing better than a flat surface, so they tend to look tidier over a long period.
The first is tightening the bolts before setting the height. Once everything is fully tight, adjusting the position means loosening all of it again, so leave the bolts finger tight until you have checked the height against the mattress and the wall.
The second is screwing the struts into padding rather than the timber batten inside the headboard. It will feel firm at first and then work loose within weeks. Press through the fabric to find the solid section before you drive any screws in.
The third is forgetting the mattress. Fitting a headboard with the mattress off the base gives a reading that looks correct and turns out too low once the mattress goes back. Always measure to the mattress surface, and allow a little for a topper if you use one.
Usually the struts and bolts are supplied with the headboard rather than the base. Check the headboard packaging first, and buy universal struts if none are included.
The bottom edge should finish about 2cm to 5cm above the mattress surface so pillows cannot slip behind it. Measure from the mattress top, not the base.
Yes. A floor standing headboard with legs is held in position by the base, and a wall mounted headboard fixes above the bed instead. Neither needs the base fixing points.
Usually because the bolts were not fully tightened, the base sits at an angle against deep skirting, or the strut screws are only gripping padding rather than the timber batten inside the headboard.
Most will, provided the widths match and the strut holes align with the base sockets. Universal struts with multiple slots cover the majority of mismatched combinations.
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