Last week, I ordered several fabric samples from Ballard Designs for our bedroom headboard. Since the next bedroom I design will be our final bedroom, I really want it to be nice (obviously), and I want to include my favorite things. One of my favorite things is an upholstered headboard. I’m still not settled on the design. I waffle between a simple curved design with nailhead trim and a diamond-tufted headboard. So I’m still weighing those options as well. But before I can settle on a design, I need to pick a fabric.
Most of the fabrics could be ruled out immediately because they didn’t play nicely with the drapery fabric. There were a couple of fabrics that I think will work nicely for future projects, like draperies in our family room once we get the addition built. So I’m hanging onto them for those future projects, but for the headboard, two of them seemed like good options.
The first option is this Tully Pear fabric. I like the contrast that it gives with the teal grasscloth, and it seems to play very nicely with the drapery fabric. I also like that it’s a thicker upholstery fabric, so I think it’ll hold up very well. I do wish the pattern was bigger, though. From a distance, the pattern seems to get lost.
I love the fact that on the Ballard Design website, you can actually see the fabric on their headboards. Here’s what this Tully Pear fabric looks like on a simple upholstered headboard with nailhead trim. I don’t love how this nailhead trim is right on the edge. I’d make some design changes for mine, but at least we can get an idea of what the fabric would look like.
Here’s a closer view…
Here’s what that same fabric looks like on a tufted headboard. I love this look. If I had to make a decision right this moment, I’d probably choose the diamond tufted headboard.
Here’s what it looks like on a taller headboard with more shape to it, along with two rows of nailhead trim.
And here it is on another interesting shape with both cording and nailhead trim.
Here’s a closeup of that one so you can see both the cording and the nailhead trim.
The second fabric is called Marjorie Pear. I actually like this fabric more than the first one, but I don’t think it plays quite as nicely with the drapery fabric. I can’t decide if I think that’s a big deal or not since they won’t be right up against each other.
But one reason I like it better is because the pattern is bigger and can actually be seen from a distance. Plus…leaves. Y’all know I’m a sucker for flowers, leaves, trees, and birds.
Here’s a closeup of the fabric. I just love the design, but this is more of a drapery fabric. It’s not a thick upholstery fabric. It would still work fine for a headboard, but I probably wouldn’t upholster a chair with it. I will say that the color of this one actually looks nicer with the drapery fabric. The other one is just a touch too much on the lime side, which isn’t a huge deal and wouldn’t keep me from choosing it if it’s the best options and the pattern works better with the drapery fabric.
Here’s what this larger print looks like on a tufted headboard. I love it. I don’t often love patterned fabric on a tufted headboard, but I think this particular pattern works well.
Here’s what it looks like on the taller headboard with the double row of nailheads.
And here’s a look at it on the headboard with the cording and the nailhead trim.
Since I showed a closeup of the first one, here’s a closeup of this one as well.
So let’s look at them side-by-side with the wallpaper and drapery fabric on the left and the headboard on the right. Since I’m really leaning towards the tufted headboard right now, that’s the one we’ll look at.
Here’s the first Tully Pear fabric…
And here’s the second Marjorie Pear fabric.
Ugh! This is hard. I like the second fabric (Marjorie Pear) so much more, and I love how it looks on the headboard. I just don’t think it looks as good with the drapery fabric. I want it to work so badly!!! But I’m really thinking the first fabric (Tully Pear) is the better choice, right?
I don’t know if this makes any difference, but I’ve decided to make two of these bedside tables.
I think I’ll probably go a little darker on the color since they’ll be in front of white wainscoting. But I’m going with this style, and I’m going to make them look as close as possible to this since this was my favorite from the ones I had bookmarked.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
