Headboards That Attach to Standard Metal Frames

Construction

• A headboard that attaches to a standard metal frame has elongated slots or a series of holes near the floor at each end of the headboard. On some headboards, the slots or holes are drilled through the headboard’s legs. On others, the openings pierce metal or wood plates attached to the insides of the legs. By including slots or multiple holes, manufacturers ensure that their headboards will attach to metal bed frames of varying heights.

How to Attach

• To attach a headboard to metal bed frame, you’ll need carriage bolts, wing nuts and washers. The needed length and size varies according to the headboard depth and the size of the slots or holes.

  With the headboard standing upright, center the bed frame in front of it. The slots on the bed frame should align with the corresponding slots or holes on the headboard. Insert carriage bolts into the slots on the bed frame and push them through the openings on the headboard. Slip washers over the protruding ends of the bolts at the back of the headboard and then screw a wing nut onto each one.

Advantages

• Attaching a headboard to your bed frame helps keep both in place. With headboards that hang on the wall or merely stand behind the mattress, the frame inches away from the headboard as you toss and turn in the bed. You may wake to find your pillows in the floor between them. The problem is worse when you have hard floors instead of carpet, even if you lock the bed frame’s casters or replace them with glides.

  An attached headboard also gives you more options as you arrange your furniture. You can float the bed in the room or angle it in a corner. You can’t do either with a freestanding or wall-mounted headboard.

Styles

• Headboards that attach to metal bed frames come in wood, metal and upholstered fabric or leather. Many manufacturers offer headboard-only versions of their complete beds. Others make headboards of all styles -- from antique-inspired to sleek and contemporary -- as stand-alone pieces.

  Most bed styles that typically include a footboard and side rails also look good as just a headboard. Sleigh beds and wrap-around bed styles are the exceptions.