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beds

How to Attach a Headboard

Entity: attach headboard to bed

Tall fabric headboard on a made bed
Fit strutted or floor-standing headboards after the base is joined and level.

In short

Strutted headboards bolt into sockets on a divan or frame. Floor-standing headboards sit on their own legs or depth against the wall. Match width to the bed size. Use the right bolts and spacer blocks so the board clears a thick mattress. Wall-mounted boards need solid wall fixings, not only plasterboard plugs for heavy upholstered panels.

How it works

Educational diagram comparing strutted headboard bolts into a divan versus a floor-standing headboard against the wall
Strutted boards move with the bed. Floor-standing boards lean on the wall and the mattress stack.

Pick the fixing type

Type How it joins Best when
Strutted Bolts into base sockets You move the bed as one unit
Floor-standing Legs / freestanding depth Ottoman lids move, or you want a tall board
Wall-mounted Fixed to the wall Base changes or articulating beds

See also headboard types.

Strutted fit (typical divan)

  1. Offer the board at the head end.
  2. Align strut holes with sockets.
  3. Fit bolts and washers from the maker’s kit.
  4. Raise or lower to the marked slots if height is adjustable.
  5. Tighten snug — stop if fabric starts to crush.

Floor-standing fit

  1. Place the board against the wall.
  2. Push the bed base toward it so the mattress edge holds the board.
  3. Add spacer blocks if the sheet lists them for deep mattresses.
  4. Check the board cannot tip when you sit up.

Safety notes

  • Heavy upholstered boards need suitable wall anchors if wall-mounted.
  • Do not drill into unknown walls without checking pipes and cables.
  • On ottomans, confirm the board does not block the lid.

Frequently asked questions

How do I fit a strutted headboard to a divan?
Slide or bolt the vertical struts into the head-end sockets on the divan. Set the height so pillows sit comfortably. Tighten bolts evenly. Do not leave struts loose — the board can rock and mark the wall.
What are headboard spacer blocks for?
Spacer blocks push the headboard slightly away from the mattress edge so a deep mattress or pillow-top does not rub the board. They are common with floor-standing upgrades on ottomans and deep divans.