A bedhead can completely transform a child's bedroom. More than simply finishing the bed, the right bedhead adds softness, comfort and character while creating a considered focal point within the room.
When choosing a kids bedhead, it is worth looking beyond colour alone. Consider the size of the bed, the proportions of the room, the shape of the bedhead, the fabric and how you want the bedroom to evolve as your child grows.
At Lilly & Lolly, our upholstered children's bedheads are handcrafted to order in Australia, with a collection of timeless silhouettes, premium fabrics and custom sizing available. From a simple tailored design to a statement scalloped silhouette, the right bedhead can become a beautiful foundation for the entire bedroom.
Why Choose an Upholstered Bedhead for a Child's Bedroom?
An upholstered bedhead brings an immediate sense of warmth and softness to a bedroom. It can make a simple bed feel more substantial and considered, while also creating a comfortable place to lean against when reading, relaxing or enjoying bedtime stories.
For children's bedrooms, an upholstered bedhead also offers an opportunity to introduce colour, pattern or texture without committing to a complete room makeover. As your child's tastes change, bedding, artwork and accessories can be updated around the bedhead.
A well-chosen design can also transition beautifully from early childhood into the teenage years, making it a more enduring investment than a highly themed piece.
1. Start with the Size of the Bed
The first decision is choosing the correct bedhead size.
Consider the existing mattress and bed base, rather than choosing a bedhead based solely on the age of your child. A bedhead should be proportionate to the bed and the room, creating a balanced overall look.
Lilly & Lolly bedheads are available in:
- Single
- King Single
- Double
- Queen
Choosing a larger size can also be worthwhile if you are designing a bedroom intended to grow with your child. A King Single, Double or Queen, for example, can provide greater longevity as children move from younger years into adolescence.
If your bedroom has an unusual layout, architectural features or specific design requirements, consider a custom-sized bedhead. Because our bedheads are made to order, selected designs can be customised to suit your space.
2. Consider the Proportions of Your Bedroom
Before choosing a design, look carefully at the wall behind the bed.
A generously proportioned bedhead can create a beautiful focal point in a larger bedroom, while a more streamlined silhouette may be better suited to a smaller room.
Think about:
- The width of the wall
- Ceiling height
- Windows and doors
- Bedside tables
- Wall lights or pendants
- Artwork
- Power points and switches
- The amount of space around the bed
It can be helpful to measure the available wall space before selecting your design. If you are considering a custom bedhead, these measurements become particularly important.
3. Choose a Shape That Complements Your Style
The shape of a bedhead has a significant impact on the overall feel of a bedroom.
For a timeless and understated look, choose a simple silhouette with clean lines and restrained detailing. For something more expressive, curved, scalloped or sculptural shapes can become a feature in their own right.
Archer Bedhead
The Archer has generous proportions, gentle curves and considered piping details. Its refined silhouette works beautifully across a range of interiors and is designed to transition effortlessly from childhood into the teenage years.
Noa Bedhead
The Noa offers a more streamlined aesthetic with a slim profile and tailored flanged edge. It is an elegant choice when you want softness and comfort without an overly decorative silhouette.
Bronte Bedhead
For a more distinctive statement, the Bronte features a scalloped, shell-inspired shape with bold curves and continuous piping. It brings a playful architectural quality to the bedroom while remaining sophisticated enough to grow with your child.
Scoop Bedhead
The Scoop offers a softer, contemporary silhouette that works particularly well in relaxed, modern children's bedrooms.
Paddles Felt Bedhead
For something different, the Paddles introduces a felt finish and a more playful design language.
The key is to choose a shape that reflects the overall architecture and style of the room rather than selecting something that feels overly tied to a particular age or theme.
4. Choose a Fabric That Will Grow with Your Child
Fabric is one of the most important decisions when choosing an upholstered kids bedhead.
Rather than selecting a colour purely because it suits your child's room today, consider how the fabric will work as the bedroom evolves.
Soft neutrals, warm natural tones and textured fabrics can create a timeless foundation, while a patterned or colourful fabric can become the defining feature of the room.
Think about whether you want the bedhead to:
Blend in
Choose a neutral fabric that complements your walls, flooring and existing furniture.
Make a statement
Select a distinctive colour, pattern or texture and allow the bedhead to become the focal point.
Add warmth
Natural-looking linens and textured fabrics can soften a contemporary room and create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Create contrast
A deeper or more distinctive fabric can provide contrast against pale walls and bedding.
At Lilly & Lolly, our bedheads are made to order in an extensive selection of fabrics, from soft linens and textured fabrics to velvets and patterns. Fabric swatches are available to help you make the right choice for your space. Browse our Fabric Library >
5. Think About How the Bedroom Will Evolve
Children's bedrooms rarely stay the same for long.
The room that begins with picture books, toys and soft furnishings will eventually become a space for schoolwork, hobbies, collections and teenage retreats. Choosing furniture with longevity in mind means you do not need to redesign the entire room every few years.
A timeless upholstered bedhead can provide a constant foundation while smaller elements change around it.
Keep the more permanent pieces considered and versatile, then use bedding, cushions, artwork, rugs and accessories to introduce your child's changing personality.
This is particularly important when choosing a statement bedhead. A beautiful scalloped or curved design can still feel appropriate for an older child when paired with more sophisticated bedding and accessories.
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6. Consider the Bed Base and Mattress
A bedhead needs to work with the rest of the bed, so consider the bed base and mattress before ordering.
Some of our floor-standing upholstered bedheads are designed to be supported by an ensemble mattress and base rather than attached directly to the wall. This makes choosing the right mattress and ensemble an important part of creating the finished bed.
For a complete sleeping solution, pair your bedhead with an appropriate Australian-made bed or explore our Sealy mattress collection.
The result is a more considered approach to the entire bed, rather than treating the bedhead as an isolated piece.
7. Layer the Bedhead with the Rest of the Room
Once you have selected your bedhead, use it as the starting point for the rest of the bedroom.
Consider pairing it with:
- An Australian-made bedside table
- Coordinating chest of drawers
- Soft bedding and cushions
- A wool or textured rug
- Artwork or a felt pinboard
- Pendant or wall lighting
- Decorative hooks and accessories
The goal is not necessarily to match every element. Instead, repeat complementary colours, materials and textures throughout the room to create a cohesive interior.
For example, a textured neutral bedhead can be layered with patterned bedding and a colourful rug, while a statement patterned bedhead may work best with quieter surrounding pieces.
8. Choose Quality and Craftsmanship
A children's bedroom is a hardworking space. Beds are climbed onto, leaned against, played on and used every day, so craftsmanship matters.
Look for a bedhead made with quality materials, a strong internal frame and careful upholstery. Consider how the piece has been constructed and whether it is designed to last beyond the early years.
At Lilly & Lolly, our upholstered bedheads are handcrafted to order in Australia using quality materials and premium upholstery. Our timber frames are sustainably sourced and made in Australia, with each piece produced to order rather than mass manufactured.
9. Don't Be Afraid to Customise
One of the advantages of choosing a made-to-order bedhead is the ability to create something that works specifically for your room.
Customisation may be particularly useful when:
- You have an unusually wide or narrow wall
- You are working around windows or architectural features
- You want a larger-than-standard bedhead
- You are designing a shared children's bedroom
- You are working on a project for an interior designer
- You want a particular fabric or finish
At Lilly & Lolly, selected bedhead designs can be custom made to size, giving you greater flexibility when designing a truly considered bedroom. Their custom bedheads are available to curate by booking a complimenary Design Consultation.
The Best Kids Bedhead Is One That Grows with Them
Choosing a kids bedhead is ultimately about finding the right balance between style, comfort, proportion and longevity.
Look for a silhouette that complements your home, a fabric that you will continue to love and a size that works with both the bed and the room. Most importantly, choose a design that does not feel limited to one particular stage of childhood.
A beautifully made upholstered bedhead can become much more than a finishing touch. It can provide a sense of warmth and permanence within the room, creating a backdrop for bedtime stories, reading, sleepovers and all the everyday moments that make a child's bedroom their own.
Discover Our Children's Bedhead Collection
Explore Lilly & Lolly's collection of Australian-made upholstered children's bedheads, available in Single, King Single, Double and Queen sizes, with an extensive range of fabrics and custom sizing available.
