Choosing a bedhead is about more than finding a shape you love. The fabric you choose can completely change the look and feel of your bedroom – but it also needs to suit the way you live.
Do you have children or pets? Do you like to sit up in bed and read? Is your bedroom filled with natural light? Or are you simply looking for a beautiful fabric that complements your interior style?
When it comes to finding the best fabric for a bedhead, there isn’t one answer for every home. Linen, velvet, bouclé, textured weaves and performance upholstery fabrics can all be excellent choices, depending on your lifestyle.
At BEDSaHEAD, we offer hundreds of upholstery fabrics from leading fabric houses including Warwick, Zepel, Mokum and more, so you can create a bedhead that’s as practical as it is beautiful.
What to consider when choosing a bedhead fabric.
Before choosing a colour or texture, think about how your bedhead will be used.
Consider:
- Do you have children or pets?
- Do you regularly sit against the bedhead?
- Is the bedhead exposed to strong sunlight?
- How important is easy cleaning?
- Do you prefer a natural, relaxed look or something more luxurious?
- Will your bedhead be a statement feature or blend into the room?
It’s also important to look beyond the fabric name. Two fabrics described as “linen” can have very different compositions, durability and care requirements.
For upholstery, abrasion ratings such as Martindale can provide a useful indication of how a fabric performs under repeated use, but should always be considered alongside the manufacturer’s care and usage recommendations.
Linen: relaxed and timeless
Linen is a favourite for Australian bedrooms thanks to its natural, relaxed appearance.
Its subtle texture works beautifully with neutral bedding, timber furniture and natural materials, making it particularly suited to coastal, contemporary and minimalist interiors.
Best for: relaxed bedrooms, coastal interiors and natural colour palettes.
Remember that “linen” doesn’t always mean 100% linen. Linen blends and linen-look upholstery fabrics can offer a similar aesthetic with better performance characteristics.
Our tip: If you love the look of linen but need something particularly practical, ask about durable linen-look upholstery fabrics.
Velvet: luxurious and sophisticated
Velvet brings instant warmth and luxury to a bedroom. It can make a bedhead a true statement piece, particularly in rich colours such as navy, forest green, burgundy or chocolate.
It also works beautifully in softer neutral shades for a more contemporary, understated look.
Best for: luxury bedrooms, statement bedheads, classic interiors and boutique-hotel-inspired spaces.
Different velvets have different constructions and care requirements, so it’s worth checking the specifications of the individual fabric.
Our tip: If you have pets that regularly climb onto the bed, talk to us about the particular velvet you’re considering before making your choice.
Bouclé: tactile and contemporary
Bouclé has become increasingly popular for its soft, looped texture and modern aesthetic.
A cream or neutral bouclé bedhead can create a calming, sophisticated bedroom without relying on bold colour or pattern.
Best for: contemporary, minimalist and organic-modern interiors.
Because of its looped construction, however, bouclé may need more consideration in homes with pets or particularly heavy use.
Warwick, Zepel and Mokum: more choice, more flexibility
Warwick, Zepel and Mokum aren’t individual fabric types – they’re fabric houses with extensive collections covering different textures, compositions, colours and performance levels.
This makes them excellent options if you’re looking for a specific aesthetic without compromising on practicality.
Some Warwick, Zepel and Mokum upholstery fabrics are designed for high-use environments, while others are better suited to lower-traffic applications. Their ranges include everything from soft, textured fabrics to highly durable performance options.
Best for: family homes, custom interiors, high-use bedrooms and anyone wanting a wide choice of colours and textures.
The key is to look at the specifications of the individual fabric rather than choosing based on the brand alone.
The best bedhead fabric for homes with kids
In a busy family home, durability and easy maintenance can be just as important as appearance.
Look for fabrics with:
- Good abrasion resistance (Martindale Rub Rate)
- Easy-care or stain-resistant properties where available (Fiberguard or Warguard Treatments)
- Clear cleaning instructions
- A colour and texture suited to everyday use
You don’t necessarily need to avoid beautiful or delicate-looking fabrics. Instead, look for a version with performance characteristics that suit your household.
A durable linen-look upholstery fabric, for example, can provide the relaxed appearance of linen while offering greater practicality.
The best bedhead fabric for homes with pets
Pets can change your fabric requirements, particularly if they regularly sleep on the bed or rub against the bedhead.
Tightly woven, durable upholstery fabrics can be a practical choice for pet-friendly homes. Also consider the use of leather or leatherettes. Highly textured or looped fabrics may require additional consideration if your pet’s claws could catch on the surface.
Again, durability doesn’t mean indestructible, so always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
Don’t forget Australian sunlight
If your bedroom receives strong direct sunlight, consider the fabric’s lightfastness as well as its appearance.
Some fabrics are better suited to rooms with limited direct sunlight, while others have been specifically tested for greater light exposure.
If your bedhead will sit beside a large window, ask us about suitable options before making your final choice. You could even consider using an outdoor fabric with UV protection.
Order a fabric sample
A fabric can look completely different on a screen compared with how it looks and feels in your bedroom.
We recommend ordering samples and viewing them alongside your bedding, flooring, curtains and existing furniture. Look at them in both natural and artificial light before making your final decision.
At BEDSaHEAD, you can fabric samples online or visit our Sydney showroom to explore our extensive upholstery library.
Ultimately, the best fabric for a bedhead is one that balances the look you love with the way you actually live.
Find your perfect bedhead fabric with BEDSaHEAD
At BEDSaHEAD, we believe your bedhead should be made for your bedroom, not the other way around.
With hundreds of fabrics to choose from, custom sizes and an extensive fabric library, we can help you find a combination of colour, texture and performance that’s right for your home.
Explore BEDSaHEAD’s custom bedheads or order fabric samples to start exploring your options.