Usually, when the bed is placed in front of the window, that’s because it was the only logical option. It also can cause headboard restrictions, window treatments, and so on, so it’s not usually the most ideal arrangement, but that doesn’t mean it’s not surprising. In fact, I am currently helping two dear friends put together a new room and putting a bed in front of the window was our only option. This means I was thinking a ton of thought about this whole “bed in front of the window” topic, and I thought I could write using the entire post about things to think about and general rules of thumb.
We’ve broken it down into standard windows, floor-to-ceiling windows, center windows, adjacent windows too close, and finally different types of windows above high windows. Let’s get into that…
“Standard” height window
“Standard” is a subjective term for an old house that is all different from the new build code, but it’s a window with a decent amount of walls (but the headboard is too low to sit underneath it).
What Emily did in her old LA main bedroom was pretty perfect. She opted for a low spindle bed. But if you want a upholstered bed frame, that’s fine too! However, our rules of thumb for this situation are:
- Over the bottom third of the window is even better if you only block the bottom quarter.
- The standard height of the low headboard is 14-24 inches and is measured from the top of the mattress.
Of course, all windows are different, so the ideal measurements may vary from one to another. Another thing to consider is whether your windows don’t actually bring a ton of light, like in my friend’s place. It’s a little taller as there’s not much light coming in (covers about a third of the window). It’s your home, so design it to work for the way you really want to live!
I wanted to add this example because it was a really fun and creative way to frame a window without blocking. All you need is a custom bed. Easy refreshing 🙂
Floor-to-ceiling windows
The tall ceiling with tall windows clearly gives the headboard height flexibility. But with such large windows, they are of course the centre of attention! So, you probably don’t want to block it a lot with a very high headboard. Consider keeping the headboard height at one-third lower. That will make your room taller too!
Hot Tip: If you like the look of the drapes behind the bed, make sure it’s enough to pull the bed out of the wall and give those curtains room to easily open and close. You will both be happy.
Out-center window
Ah, yes. A terrifying center window. Why not try making your design a little more challenging? I was able to actually design the bedroom above for other friends and neighbors, and the central window was difficult to deal with. Looking at it, the windows were quite low to the ground, so it was inevitable that they would cover at least a portion of the window. But what worked with this setup was that the headboard only blocked a third of the bottom, and there was a double window situation, which gave the second window more light. If there was a single window behind the bed, I would have chosen a lower headboard because they loved all the natural light.
If you want more ideas to handle windows without centers, Arlyn has written this fantastic post!
But here there is a small window, but from another center, a tall headboard. But here the shape of the headboard really works. The sides above the window are tilted, which means fewer window blocks. It looks very intentional and whimsical, but of course it’s incredibly special, as this is a Pierce & Ward design 🙂 But fortunately, more and more unique headboards like this are coming to the market. Have you seen it? This one Still by Jeremiah Brent??
Duplicate Framing windows
The more windows, the better, right? Well, there’s more to consider in the headboard department if you need to put your bed between two slightly oversized ones in your bedroom. First, it depends on how many overlapping headboards are. Maybe that’s not a big deal, and the drape will cover just as much as the headboard is in the width aspect. In that case, the height doesn’t matter! However, if the headboard is wide, there are a few options.
- Choose a low headboard…it’s easy.
- Select the headboard with the shape next to it (i.e., arches, pyramids, etc.)
This is a small example of choosing a non-rectangular shape. Even those small curved cutouts give the fantasy of a much bulky headboard and infuse a little more light. Hey, all little is important. It’s all in detail.
Or do you remember the custom EM bed she designed for her farm room? She deliberately chose the arch to get the height she wanted, but didn’t block the windows on either side much.
But maybe you just want to go to the spindle. The way the lace designs are played on the bed frame scale is really fun and the headboards can be as high as they would have liked as they pass through those metal poles.
Another option is to completely ignore the space between the windows if there is ample space and move more “dramatically” with a long, lower headboard that spans both windows. Always make sure you don’t block most of the windows. There is a bed of stunning statements. But again, pull the bed well away from the window wall to give the window treatment room.
A slightly elevated window
Finally, there is the “Ground Off” window. This could be the best of all situations as you may not need to block the windows at all. Above, Brady is an incredible headboard that allows you to sit perfectly under the window, spanning the width of the wall. It’s very good.
But what to consider is the treatment of your window with this kind of appearance. The Roman shade is probably movement. Given where his bathroom door is, he would not have been able to advance his bed sufficiently due to the drape. It’s perfect as is, but when the bed is in front of the window it reminds me that the rather Roman hues are a great option. I think that’s what my friends are trying to do… because I said so 🙂
My last example was really amazing recently Published at Domino. I love this bedroom and how they make drape walls and make it more habit (this house is for rental). I also love the very low headboard, which rarely comes over the window frames in the room. It gives the greatest light and will definitely make the room taller. Plus, honestly, when summer comes, I’m sure there’s an AC unit in one of those windows, so this low headboard is perfect for having space for that. There’s nothing like that sweet NYC central air life 🙂
This is where I leave you. I hope this helped. This will make you excited to even put your bed in front of the window. If you have any questions please comment below.
Love you and it means it.
Opening Image Credits: Photo Veronica Crawford | From: Updated our bedroom (I also feel about having a TV in my bedroom)
Source: Emily Henderson – stylebyemilyhenderson.com
