When designing a bedroom, the bedhead can be one of the most important pieces in the room. It sets the visual direction, introduces texture and colour, and can make a bedroom feel considered and complete.
For interior designers, specifying a custom bedhead offers even more flexibility. Rather than working around a fixed size, shape or fabric, you can create a piece that responds directly to the proportions, palette and practical requirements of the project.
If you’re considering custom bedheads for interior projects, here are the key things to think about when specifying a piece for your next project.
- Start With the Design Brief
Before choosing a shape or fabric, establish what the bedhead needs to achieve within the room.
Consider:
- What is the overall design style of the project?
- Should the bedhead be a statement feature or a more understated backdrop?
- What are the key colours and materials already being used?
- Is the room intended to feel relaxed, luxurious, contemporary or traditional?
- Are there practical requirements around height, width or access?
- Will the bedhead need to coordinate with other upholstered pieces?
A clear brief makes the specification process much easier. It also gives your upholsterer a better understanding of the design intent, rather than simply receiving a set of measurements and a fabric choice.
For larger projects, it can also be helpful to establish whether multiple rooms require the same design, a variation of the same design, or completely different specifications.
- Get Your Measurements Right
One of the biggest advantages of specifying a custom bedhead is being able to tailor the dimensions to the room.
A bedhead doesn’t necessarily need to be exactly the same width as the mattress. In fact, BEDSaHEAD’s standard bedhead widths are slightly wider than the mattress size to accommodate bedding and bedspreads. Standard widths range from approximately 1000mm for a single through to 2100mm for a super king, but custom dimensions can be discussed to suit the project.
When measuring, consider more than just mattress size. Look at:
- Overall wall width
- Ceiling height
- Bed and mattress height
- Bedside table dimensions
- Power points and electrical outlets
- Wall lights or pendants
- Window and door locations
- Skirting boards
- Access to the room
- Existing joinery or architectural features
Depth is another consideration. Standard bedheads are generally around 70–120mm deep, depending on the design, but custom depth can be accommodated when required.
This is particularly useful for apartments, tight bedrooms or projects where every millimetre matters.
- Choose a Fabric That Works for the Project
Fabric can completely change the character of a bedhead.
For a soft, layered bedroom, you might choose a tactile linen-look upholstery. For a more luxurious scheme, a rich textured fabric can create depth and visual interest. In a family or high-use environment, durability and ease of care may be higher priorities.
When specifying fabric, consider both aesthetics and performance.
Think about:
- Colour and undertone
- Texture
- Durability
- Cleaning requirements
- Natural versus synthetic fibres
- Pattern scale
- Fabric width
- Pattern or nap direction
- How the fabric will work with other materials in the room
It is always worth requesting physical fabric samples before finalising the specification. Colours and textures can look very different on screen, particularly when viewed alongside flooring, paint, curtains and joinery.
BEDSaHEAD has an extensive fabric library available for design professionals, and its showroom provides an opportunity to view materials and discuss upholstery options in person.
- Think About the Finish as Part of the Design
The silhouette of a bedhead is only one part of the specification. Details such as piping, buttoning, stitching, upholstery style and decorative finishes can influence the overall look.
A simple, clean-lined bedhead can complement a minimalist scheme, while curved profiles, deep upholstery or decorative detailing can create a more traditional or luxurious feel.
When preparing your specification, make the desired finish as clear as possible. If you have a reference image, elevation, sketch or mood board, share it with your upholstery partner.
The more information provided at the beginning, the easier it is to translate the design concept into a finished piece.
- Allow for Lead Times Early
Custom furniture needs to be considered within the wider project programme.
At BEDSaHEAD, made-to-order pieces typically have a lead time of approximately 4-6 weeks. Because every piece is manufactured to order in the Sydney workshop, designers can work with the team to develop pieces according to their project’s requirements.
For a smooth project workflow, allow time for:
- Initial design and brief
- Measurements and technical requirements
- Fabric selection
- Quotation
- Client approval
- Order confirmation
- Manufacturing
- Delivery and installation
If the bedhead is required for photography, a client handover or a fixed installation date, build some contingency into the program wherever possible.
For larger developments or multiple-room projects, discuss quantities and ordering schedules early so your supplier can understand the broader scope.
6. Prepare a Clear Specification
A good specification should make it easy for everyone involved to understand exactly what is being ordered.
Depending on the project, your specification might include:
Bedhead design: Model, profile or custom shape
Width: Overall finished width
Height: Overall finished height
Depth: Overall finished depth
Fabric: Supplier, fabric name and colour
Finish: Piping, buttoning, stitching or other detailing
Quantity: Number of pieces required
Bed size: Single, king single, double, queen, king or super king
Installation: Delivery and installation requirements
Project timing: Required delivery or installation date
For custom pieces, it is also worth confirming any unusual requirements before the order is placed. This might include wall-mounted versus floor-standing requirements, access restrictions or coordination with lighting and electrical work.
7. Build the Supplier Into Your Workflow
The best custom furniture projects tend to be collaborative.
Rather than treating the manufacturer as the final step after the design is complete, involve your supplier early when you have a particularly specific or unusual requirement.
At BEDSaHEAD, the trade process starts with an approved trade application, followed by a discussion around the project’s requirements. Quotes are tailored according to specifications, quantities and ordering frequency, with flexible pricing available for trade and larger orders.
This approach can be especially valuable when you are working across multiple projects or specifying several pieces of upholstered furniture.
8. Consider the Bedhead as Part of the Whole Room
A custom bedhead should feel connected to the rest of the design.
Rather than choosing it in isolation, consider how it relates to:
- Bed bases and bed frames
- Bedside tables
- Lighting
- Curtains and window treatments
- Rugs
- Ottomans and benches
- Cushions and soft furnishings
- Wall colour and joinery
- Timber, stone and metal finishes
For example, a curved bedhead can echo architectural curves elsewhere in the room, while a fabric can be selected to pick up a subtle tone from the rug or curtains.
BEDSaHEAD also works across a broader range of upholstered furniture, including bed bases, ottomans, blanket boxes, valances, scatter cushions and other custom upholstery, making it possible to coordinate multiple elements within a project.
9. Custom Doesn’t Have to Mean Complicated
One of the biggest misconceptions about custom furniture is that it has to involve an elaborate bespoke design.
Sometimes, customisation simply means getting the details right.
It might be a standard bedhead profile in a particular fabric. It could be adjusting the width to suit an unusually wide wall, reducing the depth to work around bedside joinery, or increasing the height to create more impact.
The benefit is that the finished piece is designed around the room rather than the room being forced to accommodate an off-the-shelf product.
A Smoother Way to Specify Custom Bedheads
For interior designers, the key to a successful custom bedhead project is combining a strong design brief with accurate measurements, considered material selection and realistic project scheduling.
By involving your upholstery supplier early and providing a clear specification, you can minimise surprises and create a finished piece that feels intentional from every angle.
At BEDSaHEAD, every piece is made to order in the Sydney workshop, with custom sizing, a wide selection of upholstery fabrics and support for trade professionals across Australia. The team works with designers, architects and stylists on projects ranging from individual bedrooms to larger developments.