Wingback Beds: A Complete Guide to Choosing a Wingback Ottoman Bed

Published 20 October 2026 by Hush My Bed, Birmingham

A wingback bed is one of the easiest ways to make a bedroom feel like a boutique hotel. The tall headboard and gently curved side wings frame the bed, soften the room and give you something comfortable to lean against when you read or watch TV. Pair that with a lift-up ottoman base and you get a statement bed that also solves your storage problems.

In this guide we explain what a wingback bed is, how much space the wings need, which headboard height suits your room and how to pick between our handmade wingback ottoman beds. Every bed we mention is made to order in our Birmingham workshop.

What is a wingback bed?

A wingback bed takes its name from the classic wingback armchair. The headboard has upholstered side panels, or wings, that step or curve forward around the pillows. The wings do three useful things:

• They frame the bed, so the headboard becomes the focal point of the room.
• They feel cosy, giving a sheltered, cocooned feeling when you sit up in bed.
• They protect the wall from pillows, lamps and bedside clutter.

Wings can be straight and smooth, gently curved, or deeply cocooning, and they can be plain or carry on the pattern of the headboard. That is why two wingback beds can look completely different.

How much space does a wingback bed need?

Because the wings sit outside the mattress, a wingback bed is wider than a standard frame. On most of our designs the wings add 10cm in total. Use this table when you measure your room and plan your bedside tables:

Some designs differ: the Oksana’s wings add 16cm. The exact width is always shown on each product page.

Tip: leave at least 50cm between the wings and the wall on each side if you want bedside tables, and around 60cm at the foot end so the ottoman lid can lift and you can reach inside.

Which headboard height should you choose?

Most of our wingback beds come with a choice of headboard heights, measured from the floor. As a rough guide:

• 112cm: neat and low, ideal under a window or in a smaller room or loft.
• 130cm: the most popular choice; comfortable to lean against and suits most UK bedrooms.
• 150cm to 164cm: the classic hotel look, with plenty of presence.
• 182cm to 210cm: a dramatic statement for rooms with higher ceilings.

If you are unsure, stick a strip of masking tape on the wall at the height you are considering and live with it for a day. It is the quickest way to see what feels right.

Wingback styles to choose from

All of these beds are gas-lift ottomans, triple-reinforced with heavy-duty steel bars and built with no legs and a solid storage base. The main differences are the headboard pattern, the wings and the footboard.

Wide padded channels: the Adele

The Adele Wingback Ottoman Storage Bed has a tall headboard of wide, evenly spaced padded channels and smooth wings that flare gently outwards. A plain, low footboard keeps the look calm and clean.

Deep vertical fluting: the Carla, Chantal and Luisina

If you love fluting, the Carla pairs deep, narrow vertical flutes with a matching high fluted footboard. The Chantal has deep fluting with smooth wings, and the Luisina sets a fluted centre panel between straight, smooth wings, with headboards up to 210cm.

Soft curves: the Melina and Amaya

For a softer, plainer look, the Melina has a smooth, curved wingback profile with no channels. The Amaya goes further, with thickly padded, extra-deep cocooning wings.

Horizontal channels: the Emmeline and Desiree

Horizontal lines make a room feel wider. The Emmeline has horizontal channel tufting and upholstered side rails, and the Desiree has square shoulders with deep horizontal channels.

Statement designs: the Oksana, Pepita, Svea and Chelo

The Oksana adds slim gold or chrome accent strips to deep fluting. The Pepita frames a smooth centre panel with vertical fluting, the Svea has an Art Deco horizontal panel design, and the Chelo has fan-shaped angled fluting with fluted side rails.

See the full range in our wingback ottoman beds collection.

Choosing a fabric for a wingback bed

The wings show off fabric more than any other part of the bed, so it is worth choosing carefully:

• Smooth velvet: catches the light on channels and fluting and looks rich in deeper shades.
• Atlanta Soft Teddy: warm, tactile and cosy, perfect for curved and cocooning wings.
• Linen-textured and chenille: relaxed and natural, and practical for everyday family life.
• Wool-textured tweed: a classic, tailored finish for plainer designs.

Colours look different under your own lighting, so we always recommend ordering free fabric samples first. Read more in our guide to our fabric collections.

Why choose a wingback ottoman bed?

A wingback headboard gives you the look; the ottoman base gives you the space. Lift the mattress platform on its gas struts and the whole area under the bed opens up for spare duvets, towels, suitcases and out-of-season clothes. Because our ottoman beds sit directly on the floor, there is no dusty gap underneath and no screw-in legs to wobble or snap.

Need even more room? Our deep storage ottoman beds have taller side rails for extra capacity. Find out more in our ultimate guide to ottoman beds and why a reinforced frame matters.

Finish the look

A wingback bed deserves a mattress to match. See our mattresses, including the Allure Memory Foam 1000 Pocket Sprung and the pillow-top Mirielle Memory Foam 3000 Pocket. For a matching blanket box at the foot of the bed, browse our bedroom furniture.

Frequently asked questions

What is a wingback bed?

A wingback bed has a headboard with upholstered side panels, or wings, that curve or step forward around the pillows. The wings frame the bed, make it feel cosier and turn the headboard into the focal point of the room.

How much wider is a wingback bed?

Most of our wingback beds are 10cm wider than a standard frame of the same size. For example, a 5ft King Size wingback bed is 171cm wide including the wings, compared with 161cm for a frame without wings.

What headboard height should I choose for a wingback bed?

112cm or 130cm suits most rooms and sits comfortably under a window. 150cm to 164cm gives a classic hotel look, and 182cm or more makes a bold statement in rooms with higher ceilings.

Are wingback ottoman beds strong?

Yes. Our wingback ottoman beds are triple-reinforced with heavy-duty steel bars, sit directly on the floor with no legs and have a solid storage base, so they stay solid and quiet.

Can I see the fabrics before I order?

Yes. You can order free fabric samples online, or visit our showroom at 24 Athole Street, Highgate, Birmingham, B12 0DA to see and feel every fabric.