fabric upholstered headboard..do they get filthy?

[ggirl]

have seen some nice ones but am picturing greasy head prints??

[holeinmyheart]

I made some ( this is a loose term) to avoid this problem.
I measured the wall, as I was making them for two twin beds in one of the guest bedrooms.
I wanted them to rise up around 120cm high, but at the same width of the bed, behind the two beds. I made a paper template out of newspaper.

My joiner cut it out for me. I then took the hardboard cutouts to a upholstery shop who fixed on the foam. Then I had a seamstress come and makes washable removable covers.
She fitted them around the edges with piping. The covers are removabke and velcroed on at the back. They were then hung securely on the wall with screws. The joiner had put two screw holes in the back.

They cost a fraction of the cost at Laura Ashley etc and look lovely.

[ggirl]

do they get dirty then..do you have to wash them?

[ChinUpChestOut]

I have a padded headboard, and it still looks as good as new. When you sit up in bed, you have your back against the headboard. As your head is on a pillow when you sleep, you don't get grease marks on the headboard, just general dust that requires vacuuming or washing regularly (if removable).

[holeinmyheart]

Mine are washable and over time they would get dirty. I washed the fabric before it was made up.

[CityDweller]

Depends, in my experience, on the fabric. Our first fabric headboard was in a beautiful fabric we got from Heals (think it was a Roma fabric) and within a year it had a yellow spot where DH leant his head reading in bed (nothing on my side note!). Looked into getting it cleaned (p.s. the upholstery specialist cleaner said it's not unusual for this to happen and tends to be men's heads rather than women's that stain - ewww!). Anyway, in the end we got a new bed. Fabric headboard again in a more robust and neutral fabric and no stain so far (but probably also in part because I make DH put a muslin cloth behind his head when he's sitting up in bed!)

[ggirl]

Thanks , think we'll get wooden one ...also need to consider dust mite allergy so best steer clear of fabric