Is an upholstered or wooden headboard better?

It's a tradeoff. Across r/DesignMyRoom and r/BuyItForLife threads, the consensus is that wooden headboards are more durable, easier to clean, and more timeless, while upholstered headboards are softer for sitting up to read and offer more color and texture options. Upholstered fabric, especially light linen or boucle, can stain or attract pet hair over time.