When selecting decor for your first dorm room, an item you might often overlook is your headboard. A headboard typically comes attached to your bed frame. However, in college, your twin xl mattress will come on a bed frame made of two wooden sections at both ends and a metal attachment in the middle to fit the mattress. 

So, when you move into your dorm room, unless you buy a headboard, there won’t be one waiting for your arrival. The good news is headboards are easy to purchase and don’t require you to buy a bed frame with it. 

They can be customized to your liking as well. You can buy a headboard that resembles one you might find at home or one that is a large pillow style headboard. The choice is completely up to you. 

A headboard has many practical uses as well as personal ones. It will protect your wall from wear and tear -- which is especially important in college, because universities typically bill students if they damage their dorm room in any way. A headboard will protect your wall and keep this from happening! 

A headboard will also keep your pillow in place and prevent it from falling off the bed during the night. It will make sitting up in bed more comfortable for you since you will have a comfortable back rest as opposed to drywall. 

Your personality will shine through your headboard. This is because you are able to customize it to your liking, whether you want a wooden headboard or a plush pillow one. They will also add color where you might find it lacking -- and so much more. 

Keep reading and we will dive further in depth with reasons why a headboard is an essential dorm room accessory you should have this semester. 

• Lock in Warmth 
• Elevate the Space 
• Add an Extra Pop of Color 
• Showcase Your Personality 
• Make the Space Comfy and Cozy
• Tie the Entire Room Together 

1. Lock in Warmth 

If there’s one consistent aspect of first year residence halls -- it’s the lack of air conditioning in the summer and adequate heating during the winter months. Freshman residence halls are traditionally older and as a result might not have the best insulation. 

During the summer months, this will help you stay cool -- however, in the winter you might become too cold, especially if you sleep up against a wall. A poorly insulated wall will become very cold, so a headboard will keep the heat in and ensure you stay warm. 

No one wants to wake up shivering and this way you won’t have to! 

2. Elevate the Space 

If there’s one way to quickly and effortlessly take your dorm room space to the next level -- it’s through a headboard! It can elevate the space by adding a sense of sophistication, elegance, and modern appeal. 

A headboard can match the other colors in your room by forming a bridge between your bedding and other decor. So, it can help form a sense of cohesion and unity throughout the entire room. It can serve as your middle ground.

Not everyone will have a headboard in their room, so it will take your room to the next level if you want to set yourself apart from others. 

This White Faux Leather Headboard adds a polished and stylish accent to your room. It is made for twin xl size mattresses, so it will look appropriate and add the perfect touch to the space. The upholstered headboard adds comfort, but is also sturdy -- being made of plywood, high-density foam, and various fabrics. You can be sure that you are getting the best of both worlds in terms of functionality and aesthetic appeal. 

3. Add a Pop of Color 

Headboards are extremely versatile and can be customized to how you want them to interact with the rest of your space. You can use them to continue the color scheme you’ve built with your bedding and other decor, or introduce a new color completely. 

If you want to continue the color scheme you’ve already created -- consider matching the headboard to your comforter, sheets, or throw blanket. It’s important that every color isn’t the exact same. You can pick different shades of one color or pair different ones with each other. As long as the headboard matches one of them, it will pair perfectly with the rest of your bedding. 

A headboard can also add a pop of color as well! If you want to introduce a new accent color to your decor, this is the way to do it. The eye will instantly be drawn to your headboard and quite literally make your room pop. 

These accessories come in every color of the rainbow, so you can be sure to find the exact color you’re looking to add! 

4. Showcase Your Personality 

From plush, upholstered headboards, to restored wood, and antique looking Victorian style headboards -- there is a style for everyone. Each person has their own unique taste and no one should have to compromise on what they like. 

If you want your room to be a comfy, cozy paradise or a rustic resemblance of home -- you can achieve this through your choice of headboard. It will make a big difference too, because headboards take up a decent amount of space -- your personality will be put on display through your choice of headboard. 

A unique headboard can serve as a conversation starter -- which can be a big deal during your first few weeks at college! Especially if your floor has an open door policy, someone will come in and immediately notice your headboard and an easy conversation can come from it. 

Determining a specific aesthetic can be difficult, especially when you want someone to enter your room and immediately be able to tell what look you’re aiming to achieve. A headboard is a straightforward way to tell everyone what you’re about. 

Your room should be decorated to your liking so you feel comfortable in your space. Don’t hold back and ensure your personality comes through. You will be using much of the same decor for the next four years, so it’s important to make sure you get it right the first time. So, be picky when selecting decor, especially since this is a headboard that will be one of the biggest statement pieces in your room!

5. Make the Space Comfy and Cozy 

When it comes to living in a college dorm, achieving comfort and coziness is the ultimate goal. You need to feel at home and safe in your room in order to fully integrate and adjust to college life. The best way to make your room feel like home is to decorate to the highest degree and let your personality shine through. 

A headboard is a great way to upgrade the cozy aspect of your room. Think about it -- fuzzy throw blanket, overstuffed comforter, and cotton sheets paired with a plush upholstered headboard. When we think of ultimate comfort, this is what comes to mind. 

A headboard not only brings in an added comforting appeal, but will also make you more comfortable when doing work in bed. It serves as a support for your back so you won’t have to lean directly against the wall. This will do wonders for your body in the long run. It will improve your posture and keep you from hunching over and straining your back muscles. 

6. Tie the Entire Room Together 

There’s always that one piece of decor that serves as the finishing touch -- it completes the room and ties all of your decor together. We think that a headboard is this finishing touch. It creates a sense of unity between your bedding and other decor items. 

In a way, a headboard is both bedding and decor. It acts as a middle ground -- whether you want it to be a bold statement headboard or a plush headboard pillow, it can help complete the dorm room aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. 

Since you’re in college now, beginning a life of independence and working towards adulthood -- a headboard is a great way to build an adult room. They are elegant, sophisticated, and put together, so they will make you feel professional and like the adult you are! 

A headboard has many practical and decorative uses. In terms of functionality -- a headboard will keep your pillow in place and prevent it from falling, keep you warm at night, and provide your back with added support while studying in bed. At the same time a headboard can be used to elevate the space, show off your unique personality, add a level of coziness, and complete your dorm room by tying it all together! So, if you’re looking for a piece that will emphasize your dorm room aesthetic -- consider completing your room with a headboard.