Attaching a headboard to a bed frame or divan base takes less than 10 minutes. Locate the securing points at the head end of your divan, pierce the fabric with a screwdriver, push the headboard bolts through, and screw clockwise until secure. For strutted headboards, leave a slight gap before lowering the headboard over the bolts and adjusting the height. For padded or full-height headboards, bolt directly to the head end panel and tighten fully. No drill needed. No experience required.
What Tools and Parts Do You Need to Attach a Headboard to a Bed Frame?
Before you start, you only need three things:
- A screwdriver (flat-head or cross-head, depending on your bolts)
- Headboard bolts, usually M6 size, typically included with your headboard or divan base
- Spacer blocks, sometimes supplied, used to fill any gap between the headboard and the base
That is it. You do not need a drill, a hammer, or any specialist equipment. Most UK divan beds are designed so that fitting a headboard is a simple DIY task that anyone can do at home.
What Is the Difference Between a Strutted Headboard and a Padded Headboard?
Knowing which type of headboard you have is the first step, because the fitting method is slightly different for each.
- A strutted headboard has two long wooden legs, called struts, at the back. These struts hang over bolts that are screwed into the sides of the divan base. Strutted headboards also let you adjust the height after fitting.
- A padded headboard (also called a full-height headboard) has no struts. Instead, it bolts directly onto the front of the head end panel of the divan base and sits flush against it.
Both types are very common in UK bedrooms and both are straightforward to fit. Follow the correct section below for your headboard type.
How to Attach a Strutted Headboard to a Divan Bed Frame?
Step 1: Locate the headboard securing points at the head end of your bed
Go to the head end of your divan base. Look carefully at the fabric on both sides, the left side and the right side. You will see two small plastic tags sitting just beneath the surface of the fabric. One is on each side. These plastic tags mark exactly where the headboard bolts need to go.
Step 2: Pierce the fabric carefully and remove the plastic tags
Take your screwdriver and push the tip gently through the fabric at each tagged spot. You will feel a slight resistance as you press through, that is the bolt fitting underneath. Once you have made the hole, remove the plastic tags from both sides.
Step 3: Push the headboard bolts through the fabric
Take your headboard bolts and press each one firmly through the holes you just made. Push until you feel the bolt press up against the metal bolt fitting that sits inside the divan base. Make sure both bolts are seated properly before moving to the next step.
Step 4: Screw the bolts clockwise, but leave a small gap
Using your screwdriver, twist each bolt clockwise. Keep turning until the bolt feels secure. For strutted headboards, you must not tighten the bolts all the way down. Leave a slight gap between the head of the bolt and the fabric of the divan. This gap is essential, it gives the headboard struts room to slide over the bolts in the next step.
Step 5: Lower the headboard over the bolts
With help from another person if possible, hold the headboard upright directly behind the head end of the bed.
Carefully lower it so the long vertical slots in each wooden strut slide down over the bolts on each side. The headboard should hang securely on both bolts once lowered into position.
Step 6: Adjust to your preferred height
Each strut has multiple slots along its length. This means you can raise or lower the headboard to whichever height you prefer. Slide the struts up or down until you are happy with how the headboard looks and feels from the front.
Step 7: Tighten the bolts fully and check it is level
Once the headboard is sitting at the right height and looks level, tighten both bolts fully using your screwdriver. Then give the headboard a gentle push to check it does not move or wobble. If it shifts, tighten the bolts a little more.
Step 8: Fit the spacer blocks if needed
If there is a visible gap between the bottom edge of the headboard and the top of the divan base, use the spacer blocks that came with your bed. These clip onto the struts and close the gap neatly, stopping the headboard from rattling against the base.
How Do You Attach a Padded or Full-Height Headboard to a Divan Base?
Step 1: Locate the securing points at the head end panel
Go to the front face of the head end of your divan base. Look for the small plastic tags in the fabric, this time they will be on the face of the panel rather than on the sides. These mark the bolt positions just as they do for strutted headboards.
Step 2: Pierce the fabric and remove the plastic tags
Carefully push your screwdriver through the fabric at each tag to make the holes. Feel for the bolt fitting underneath before pushing through fully. Remove the plastic tags once the holes are made.
Step 3: Position the headboard flush against the head end
Stand the headboard upright and place it against the head end of the divan base. The bottom of the headboard should sit flat on the floor. Line up the bolt holes in the headboard with the holes you have just made in the divan panel.
Step 4: Insert the headboard bolts and screw clockwise until fully tight
Push the headboard bolts through the holes in the headboard and into the fittings in the divan base. Make sure they are going in straight. Then screw each bolt clockwise until it is completely tight and secure. Unlike strutted headboards, padded headboards need the bolts tightened all the way, there is no gap needed. Once both bolts are tight, push the headboard gently to confirm it does not wobble.
How Do You Stop a Headboard From Wobbling or Moving?
A headboard that wobbles after fitting usually comes down to one of three causes:
The bolts are not tight enough. Go back and tighten them a little more using your screwdriver. Firm and secure is the goal, but do not overtighten, as this can damage the fabric on the divan base.
There is a gap between the headboard and the divan base. This is where spacer blocks come in. If your bed came with them, clip them onto the struts to fill the space and stop any movement or rattling.
The struts are not seated properly on the bolts. Lift the headboard slightly and lower it again, making sure both struts are sitting evenly on the bolts before you tighten.
Tips to Get the Best Result When Fitting a Headboard to a Bed Frame
- Get a second pair of hands for larger headboards: King size and super king size headboards can be heavy and difficult to hold steady on your own. Having someone hold the headboard while you screw in the bolts makes the job much quicker and prevents any accidental damage.
- Check the headboard is level before fully tightening: Step back and look at the headboard from the front before you lock the bolts down. Correcting the level at this stage takes seconds. Correcting it after full tightening takes much longer.
- Use the correct bolt size: Divan beds typically use M6 headboard bolts, usually around 60–80mm in length. Always use the bolts supplied with your bed or headboard. The wrong size can strip the fitting inside the divan base and make the headboard unsafe.
- Do not skip the spacer blocks if they were included: They are there for a reason. A headboard that rattles or knocks against the base during the night is surprisingly disruptive to sleep, and spacer blocks solve this in under a minute.
- Check compatibility before buying a new headboard: Not all headboards fit all beds. Before purchasing, confirm that the headboard matches your bed size, single, double, king size, or super king size.
Knowing how to attach a headboard to a Bed Frame is one of those skills that looks complicated until you do it once. Locate the securing points, make the holes, push the bolts through, and screw them in. That is genuinely all there is to it.
Whether you have a strutted headboard that hangs on bolts at the sides, or a padded headboard that bolts straight to the head end panel, the whole job takes less than ten minutes and needs nothing more than a screwdriver.
A properly fitted headboard changes how a bedroom feels. It adds comfort when sitting up in bed, insulation against a cold wall, and a finished look that makes the whole room feel more put together. Take your time with the steps, check everything is level before tightening, and enjoy the result.
FAQs
1. How do you attach a headboard to a bed frame without holes?
If your divan base does not appear to have bolt holes, look for the small plastic tags in the fabric at the head end. These cover the pre-fitted bolt fittings. Pierce the fabric at each tag with a screwdriver to reveal the fitting underneath. All standard UK divan bases have these securing points, they are just hidden beneath the fabric.
2. Why is my headboard not sitting flush against the wall?
Strutted headboards are designed to sit slightly away from the wall, this is normal. The struts at the back create a small gap between the headboard and the wall. If you want your headboard to sit flush against the wall, a padded or wall-mounted headboard is the better option.
3. Can you attach a headboard to a divan bed after assembly?
Yes. A headboard can be fitted to a divan bed at any time, even if the bed has already been fully assembled and in use for years. The headboard fixing points are built into the divan base, making installation quick and straightforward without dismantling the bed.