Wingback headboards… they’re all the rage right now. And why not? They’re cozy, comfortable, inviting, and oh yeah… gorgeous. But we should probably also mention the price, because they can be WICKED expensive.
Let’s take, for example, one of my all-time favorite pieces of furniture on the planet, the Hickory White Continental Classics bed.
Hickory White: Continental Classics
Oh dear lord. That is a thing of beauty. That is an artistic masterpiece in furniture form. That is the bed my dreams are made of. THAT has a retail price tag of $4947 for a king-size, not including the fabric. ($3097 if you purchase from KN Interiors.) YEE-haw! Hickory White (who will be featured in an upcoming Sunday Spotlight) is a manufacturer of very high-end furnishings, and let me just tell you, you get what you pay for and then some. I guarantee that as beautiful as this is in the picture, it will exceed your expectations.
Even so, this price point is clearly not for everyone. So let’s look at an alternative, shall we?
This is the Parisian Loft bed, from Precedent Furniture, who specializes in American-made, contemporary furnishings.
Precedent Furniture: Parisian Loft Bed
Now I don’t think this bed needs to be considered contemporary. As my clients hear me say constantly, context is everything. Plushy tufting; curvy, enveloping wings; nice legs… this bed has all the elements needed for a stunning bedroom centerpiece. It also has a rather more… digestible price of $2235 for a king-size, not including fabric. ($1397 if you purchase from KN Interiors.) Dress it in a fabulous fabric, layer on some beautiful bedding, and you’ve got a showpiece… for less than half the Hickory White.
But what if that’s STILL more than you want to pay, for a piece no one but you and your S.O. is ever going to get to see and appreciate? Don’t worry, something for everyone here!
Let me introduce you to the Skyline Furniture Tufted Wingback.
Skyline Furniture Tufted Wingback Bed
Pretty, right? Right! From an aesthetic standpoint, there is NOTHING wrong with this selection. For many, many, many people (I admit it, myself included), the bedroom is literally the LAST item on the decorating priority list. That’s too bad, considering how much time we spend there, and the fact that it really ought to be a haven, a place of daily relaxation / rejuvenation, and (hopefully) a place that inspires a bit of romance!
Even with that in mind, if you still can’t bring yourself to invest in the space, you can at least make it look great. This bed can definitely accomplish that, and at a price of $758, including fabric and shipping. (Available at bedroomfurniture.com.)
Here are the tradeoffs you should be aware of: 1) It only comes in about 3 different colors of velvet: buckwheat (shown), white, and black, as far as I can tell. 2) It ships UPS. You’ll be assembling it yourself. 3) Little to no detail. No cute legs, and you shouldn’t be expecting fine craftsmanship. 4) What warranty?
In essence, what you’ll be getting is the look you want (just don’t look TOO closely), at a price you’re willing to pay. This is excellent, as long as you know what you’re purchasing!
As always, my rules for thrifty design are these:
1. Always buy the best you can afford.
2. It’s not about the size of your budget, it’s what you do with what you’ve got.
What do you think? Do bedrooms deserve the same level of investment you put in the rest of your home? Leave a comment and tell us why!
