Styles9 min read
What is a wingback bed? Styles, space and how to choose one
Wings turn a headboard into something closer to an armchair: a padded frame that wraps round your pillows. They change the look of the room and the space the bed needs, so it pays to know the styles before you choose.
In this guide
- What is a wingback bed?
- What are the advantages of a winged headboard?
- What styles of winged bed are there?
- Are wingback beds in style?
- How much space does a winged bed need?
- Can you put a winged bed in a small room?
- How tall should a winged headboard be?
- Which fabric suits a wingback bed?
- Can you get a winged bed with storage?
- Questions
Key takeaways
- A wingback (or winged) bed has upholstered side panels that come forward from each side of the headboard, like the wings of a wingback armchair.
- The wings frame the bed, cut draughts around your head and give you something soft to lean against when you sit up.
- The main styles are straight, curved, floor-standing, fluted, piped and Chesterfield-buttoned wings.
- Wings add width at the head end, so measure any alcove and allow for the frame as well as the mattress.
- At Bedline the headboard is 54 inches as standard and can go up to 79 inches, and almost every winged frame can take a £219 gas-lift ottoman base.
What is a wingback bed?
A wingback bed, also called a winged bed, has a headboard with upholstered side panels that fold forward on either side of the pillows. The name comes from the wingback armchair, whose high sides kept draughts off the sitter and held in the warmth of the fire. On a bed, the wings do a similar job and give the headboard a sculpted, sheltering shape.
You will also see the phrase winged headboard. That is the headboard panel and its wings on their own. On a winged bed frame, the headboard sits on an upholstered base with siderails and a foot end in the same fabric, so the whole bed reads as one piece.
Wings can be straight or curved, plain or buttoned, and can stop beside the mattress or run to the floor. Those choices set the character of the bed, so settle them before you think about colour.
What are the advantages of a winged headboard?
Wings earn their place in four ways:
- They frame the bed. Wings give the headboard depth and shadow, so the bed holds the eye even in a quiet, pale colour.
- They cut draughts. If the bed sits against a cold outside wall or near a window, the wings help keep moving air off your head and shoulders.
- They give you something soft to lean on. Sit up to read and the wings support your shoulders. Turn sideways and you meet padding instead of a cold wall.
- They make the bed feel sheltered. A headboard that wraps round you feels closer to a high-backed armchair than to a panel fixed on a wall.
The trade-off is space: wings add width at the head end, and a tall winged headboard is a large piece to carry upstairs.
What styles of winged bed are there?
Our winged beds fall into six broad styles, and a few designs sit in two at once. Each one changes the mood of the bed, from crisp and tailored to soft and traditional.
| Style | What it looks like | Examples | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight wings | Upright wings set square to the headboard | Vivian (tall), Monarch (cube panels) | Modern rooms and clean lines |
| Curved wings | Wings that sweep forward in a soft arc round the pillows | Baconton, Montauk | Softening a room full of straight edges |
| Floor-standing wings | Wings that run down to the floor, so the headboard stands like a screen | Miriam | Larger rooms where the bed is the focal point |
| Fluted | Padded channels across the headboard between the wings | Ornette, Martinez | Contemporary rooms, bouclé and linen-look |
| Chesterfield winged | Deep diamond buttoning framed by wings | Suhavi, Ethan, Montauk | Period homes and velvet |
| Piped and curved | An arched headboard with piping traced along the wings | Tomey | A classic outline that still feels light |
Straight and cube-panelled wings look the most tailored; curves and buttoning look softer and more classic. Fluting sits between the two, with the rhythm of a panelled wall. If you like softer shapes, our curved beds collection gathers the curved designs in one place.
Are wingback beds in style?
Yes. The wingback shape comes from furniture that has been around for centuries, so it does not belong to one decade. Fabric and finish set the tone. In bouclé or linen-look with straight or fluted wings, a winged bed looks modern and calm. In velvet with deep buttoning, it looks classic and grand.
If you worry about a bed dating, choose the shape you love and keep the colour quiet. A mid-tone winged bed will outlast several changes of wallpaper and bedding.
How much space does a winged bed need?
A bed frame is bigger than its mattress. Siderails, padding and wings add roughly 5 to 25 cm on each side, and winged frames sit towards the top of that range. The headboard adds depth at the top too.
For a king size winged bed, start from the 150 cm mattress width and add the wings on both sides. For a super king winged bed, start from 180 cm. As a room guide, about 3.0 × 3.0 m suits a king comfortably and about 3.4 × 3.2 m suits a super king.
Measure the alcove at two heights
Alcoves beside a chimney breast are rarely the same width top and bottom. Measure at skirting level and again at about 1.4 m, the height of a standard 54 inch headboard, and work from the smaller figure.
Add the frame to the mattress
Allow up to 25 cm each side of the mattress for a winged frame. Wing depth varies by design, so treat this as a starting point and check the exact frame with us.
Leave room to get in and out
Keep about 70 cm of clear floor on any side you walk down, and 90 cm where a wardrobe door or drawer opens into the walkway.
Send us the width
If the numbers are close, send us the alcove width on WhatsApp with the frame you like, and we will check it fits before you order.
Can you put a winged bed in a small room?
Often, yes. In a small room, one strong piece can look calmer than several small ones. Keep the headboard at the standard 54 inches unless the ceiling is high, and choose a pale or mid-tone fabric so the shape does not feel heavy. Wing depth varies from frame to frame, so send us the room size and we will point you to the slimmest designs.
If the room is tight, a plain or panelled headboard without wings gives you back those centimetres, and that is the better choice. Our guide to the best beds for small bedrooms covers the options.
Winged or plain headboard?
Choose wings if
- You want the bed to be the focal point of the room
- You sit up in bed to read or watch TV
- The bed sits against a cold outside wall
- There is clear floor either side of the head end
Choose a plain headboard if
- The bed goes into a tight alcove
- You need every centimetre for bedside tables
- A window or radiator sits close to the side of the bed
- You prefer a low, minimal look
How tall should a winged headboard be?
Our standard headboard is 54 inches (about 137 cm) from the floor, and the wings rise with it. That is tall enough to sit up against with pillows behind you. On the bed page you can choose 60 inches for £119 more, 72 inches for £189 or 73 to 79 inches for £279.
Taller wings suit high ceilings and larger rooms. Vivian is our tall winged design, and Miriam’s wings run to the floor, which anchors a tall board; see more in our tall headboard beds. The headboard is the largest single piece of the bed, so measure your stairs first. A split headboard (+£119), made in two halves, helps on a tight staircase.
Which fabric suits a wingback bed?
Wings catch light from the side, so the fabric shows more on a winged bed than on a flat headboard. All six of our fabrics work, with different results.
- French Velvet (plush, 16 colours) has a short, dense pile with a soft sheen. It suits buttoned and curved wings.
- Delta Velvet (crushed, 9 colours) shimmers unevenly and hides marks, so it suits a bed you lean on every night.
- Soft Marble (washed velvet with a subtle marbled pattern, 9 colours) gives a plain winged shape some movement.
- Mayfair Linen (linen-look, 16 colours) and Austin (smooth matt plush, 11 colours) keep straight and fluted wings crisp.
- Teddy (deep curly bouclé, 11 colours) softens a strong outline, so a tall winged headboard looks relaxed.
Think about wear, too. Plush velvet shows pressure marks where shoulders rest on the wings; they are not damage and brush out by hand. Crushed and marble velvet hide them, and pale bouclé or linen-look shows dirt sooner than a mid tone. Our fabric guide compares all six.
Can you get a winged bed with storage?
Yes. Almost every winged frame can be made with a slatted gas-lift ottoman base for £219, the same price from Single to Super King, or a metal gas-lift ottoman for £279. The ottoman is not available in Small Single.
If you prefer drawers, choose an end drawer, two drawers or four (from £119), or an end- or side-opening divan base (£299 to £369). Allow about 90 cm of clear floor wherever a drawer opens.
Three winged beds, three different looks
Tall and buttoned, softly curved, and fluted. Prices shown are for the king size frame.
WingedChoose fabric and size
WingedChoose fabric and size
WingedChoose fabric and sizeThe verdict
A wingback bed is a headboard with padded side wings, and the simplest way to make a bed the focal point of a room. Choose straight or fluted wings for a modern look, curved or Chesterfield wings for a classic one, and keep the standard 54 inch headboard unless the ceiling is high. If every centimetre at the head end counts, a plain headboard is the better buy.
Questions people ask
What is a wingback bed?
A wingback (or winged) bed has upholstered side panels that come forward from each side of the headboard, like the wings of a wingback armchair. They frame the bed and give you something soft to lean against.
Are wingback beds in style?
Yes. The shape comes from the classic wingback chair, so it suits period and modern rooms alike. Straight or fluted wings in bouclé or linen-look look modern; buttoned wings in velvet look traditional.
Do winged beds take up more room?
A little. The wings add width at the head end, so measure any alcove and allow for the frame as well as the mattress.
Can a winged bed go in a small room?
Often, yes. Keep the standard 54 inch headboard and a pale or mid-tone fabric, and check you still have about 70 cm to walk down the side of the bed.
Can I get a king size winged bed with storage?
Yes. Almost every winged frame can be made with a gas-lift ottoman base, which costs £219 in king, the same as every other size from Single to Super King.
About Bedline
Bedline makes upholstered beds, ottoman beds and TV beds to order in Britain, in six UK sizes and 72 colours, and delivers them free to the UK mainland. Our guides are written by the team who help customers choose their beds every day on WhatsApp, so they answer the questions we are actually asked.
