5 Things To Know Before Buying A Headboard
1. How do I fit the headboard ? 2. How can I know the quality will be right ? 3. There are dozens of fabrics and leathers - how to decide which is right for me ? 4. Could I choose a style and provide my own fabric ? 5. What can I do if I discover a fault with the headboard I have bought ?
1. How do I fit the headboard ?
The headboard is supplied with two headboard legs, which attach to the headboard and to the divan base.
The four screws for attaching the legs to the headboard are supplied with the headboard; the two screws which attach the headboard legs to the divan base are supplied with the divan. It may be a good idea to check that the headboard will fit to the bed without any problem; you can do this by measuring the distance between the captive nuts in the base, centre to centre, as shown in the diagram, and checking that the distance is as shown in the right hand column of the table below..
Nominal Size of Bed Imperial width Metric width The distance between the captive nuts in the bed
Small single 2 feet 6 inches 75 cms 1 foot 6 inches = 457 mm
Standard Single 3 feet 90 cms 2 feet = 610 mm
Small Double (3/4) 4 feet 120 cms 3 feet = 915 mm
Standard Double 4 feet 6 inches 135 cms 3 feet 6 inches = 1067 mm
King (Queen) Size 5 feet 150 cms 4 feet = 1219 mm
Super King Size 6 feet 180 cms 5 feet = 1524 mm
Example:- In a standard double bed, 4ft 6inches or 135 cms wide, the distance between the captive nuts in the base should be 3 feet 6 inches (1067 mm), as shown in red above.
The next thing to check is that you still have the screws that were supplied with the bed for attaching the headboard legs. They may be in a polythene bag attached to the underside of the divan, or in the case of a drawer divan they may be in a bag attached to the inside of a drawer; they could also be in place in the captive nuts in the divan base. If tyou still have the bolts, that's fine; if you do not have them, there could be a problem, as there are two types of bolts for this purpose in current use - and they are incompatible. If you do not have the bolts then tell your headboard supplier - he may be able to help.
You may be considering mounting the headboard to the wall, in which case you need not consider the issue of the screws; but you will have to consider the best type of fittings to attach the headboard to the wall; it may be wiser to enlist the help of a skilled tradesman for this, as the type of structure of the wall would have to be taken into account.
Finally, make sure that the width of the headboard will be accommodated between any existing wall lights, electric sockets, or other fixtures, and that the height will not be compromised by a low ceiling, for example, or a sloping Welsh ceiling.
2. How do I know that the quality will be right ?
This is an obvious concern when buying without first seeing the product. I have listed below some of the ways in which you can find reassurance when buying on the internet.
(a) You can request samples of the various fabrics/leathers to check for the feel, the colour, and the texture.
(b) Comments from other purchasers are an obvious guide to the product quality and quality of service. These comments may be shown on the website as testimonials; also, if the website outlet also sells on Ebay, the feedback given on Ebay is an invaluable indicator of the worth of the trader (DreamCity sells on Ebay as DreamCity2009 and has 100% positive feedback and Ebay top-rated seller status).
(c) Does the supplier operate a Quality Assurance program ? (Not to be confused with the ISO International Quality Standard, which deals with compliance with procedures, and has nothing to do with the quality of any product). DreamCity operates such a program, whereby each headboard is independently inspected for specific areas where faults could occur, such as ...the product was made to the correct size, with the correct fabric/leather, it was inspected for bumps and valleys, pleats and wrinkles, "ears" on corners, incorrect fabric tension, tears or cuts, stretch marks, untidy finishing of the rearside, correct hole spacing, and other criteria, and a report is raised for each product.
3. There are dozens of fabrics and leathers - how do I know which is right for me ?
Points to consider are :-
(a) Colour. Unless you are a professional decorator, or have instinctive impeccable taste, it is better to choose what the majority of British purchasers plump for, and that is..
beiges, creams, the palest shades of other colours, unless a Black or Mocca (dark brown) is going to blend or tastefully contrast with the existing colour scheme.
(b) Texture. For practical purposes (guest houses for example), a wipe-down leather or faux leather is desirable. For decorative purposes, the choice is between a flat weave, including damasks, or woven fabrics with a "pile", including velvets, dralons, faux suedes and chenilles. "Pile" fabrics are perceived to be warmer, but may be more difficult to keep clean. You could also choose a headboard with removable washable panels.
(c) Cost. Generally, there is little cost difference amongst the fabrics and faux leathers, but of course, real leather headboards are much more expensive.
4. Could I choose a style and provide my own fabric ?
Yes, but there are some considerations. The regulations regarding the fire retardancy of fabrics used in headboards state that only certain non-certificated fabrics may be used, and that a barrier fabric, also known as an interliner, must be fitted below the outer fabric. If you want to use a fabric that you are not sure of, it would be better to contact DreamCity first for more detailed advice.
5. What can I do if I discover a fault with the headboard I have bought ?
Faults can be divided into two streams - manufacturing faults and damage-in-transit faults. If either of these occur, and they occasionally do, it is the legal duty of your supplier to set matters aright. This could be a full refund - including the cost of carriage - or sending out a replacement. The customer's rights are inviolate on this issue; no extra expenses should be, or can be charged in respect of carriage or insurance-processing or any other made-up pretext.
DreamCity operates a policy whereby immediate remedial action is to be taken, whether by full refund or speedy replacement, where any fault is alleged.
