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Short answer
Hotel headboards need fabric that looks good in hundreds of identical rooms for years. Specify the fire standard the project requires, a fabric that can be spot-cleaned of hair and skin products, a mid-tone or pattern that hides marks at head height, and enough fabric from one dye batch for every room plus spares. Use removable panels where possible, keep velvet pile and patterns consistent, and approve a mock-up room before production.
What a hotel headboard faces
| Challenge | Why | Specify |
|---|---|---|
| Fire safety | Public building | The standard required by the project and local fire authority, with test reports |
| Marks at head height | Hair oils, skincare, make-up | Mid-tones, patterns or textures; spot-cleanable fabric |
| Consistency | Hundreds of matching rooms | One dye batch, or confirmed batch coverage |
| Long life | Years between refurbishments | Hard-wearing fabric; spares for replacements |
| Housekeeping | Fast daily cleaning | Vacuumable, spot-cleanable; removable panels |
See Hotel and Office Curtain Fabric for fire standards and the wider guest-room specification.
Choosing the fabric
A headboard is rubbed far less than a seat, but in a hotel it is leaned on every night. A hard-wearing upholstery fabric gives the best life and copes with guests sitting up against it.
| Collection | Type | Rubs |
|---|---|---|
| YarnGuard PURIFY, REPEL | Performance velvet, about 450 gsm | 40,000 |
| BLAKE, MARC, VELA | Textured weaves | 40,000 |
| VELVET, CINEMA | Polyester velvet, about 280 gsm | 20,000 |
| MONTI, MERCATO | Damask and herringbone jacquards | 20,000 |
Watch out
Check the fire standard each fabric has been tested to before specifying it. Do not assume a fabric meets a project's fire requirement because it is polyester or contract-grade.
Panels, pile and pattern
- Removable panels let housekeeping or maintenance replace a stained panel without stripping the room.
- Velvet pile must run the same way on every panel in every room.
- Patterns must be centred and matched identically room to room; allow for the repeat in the quantity.
- Wide headboards may need railroaded fabric to avoid seams; check the pattern and pile direction first. See Railroaded Fabric Explained.
See Upholstered Wall Panels for full-wall bedheads.
Ordering for a hotel project
- Quantity: calculate per room, multiply by room count, add the repeat allowance and spares.
- One batch: order everything at once, or confirm with the supplier how many rooms one batch covers.
- Spares: keep spare fabric or spare panels for replacements over the hotel's life.
- Mock-up room: build and approve one room with the actual fabric before production.
- Lead time: confirm availability against the project programme.
See How to Read a Fabric Sample Book for dye batches and approvals.
Coordinating the room
Headboard, bed runner, cushions and curtains are usually specified together. A calm headboard with a richer runner and cushions, and blackout curtains on ceiling tracks, is the classic hotel combination. See Bed Runners and Bedroom Fabrics.
YarnGuard performance velvets
The JOTEX performance upholstery range, rated at 40,000 Martindale rubs. See the YarnGuard range.
Browse YarnGuard →
Frequently asked questions
What fabric is best for hotel headboards?
A hard-wearing, spot-cleanable upholstery fabric such as a performance velvet or tight textured weave, tested to the fire standard the project requires.
Do hotel headboards need fire-retardant fabric?
Usually, yes. The project specification and local fire authority set the standard; ask for the fabric's test report.
How do hotels keep headboards clean?
Regular vacuuming, prompt spot-cleaning, and colours or patterns that hide marks at head height. Removable panels make replacement easy.
How much fabric does a hotel need for headboards?
Calculate per room, multiply by the number of rooms, add the pattern repeat allowance and spares, and order from one dye batch.
Why approve a mock-up room?
It shows the real fabric, colour, pile and making under the room's lighting before hundreds of headboards are produced.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.