an ironing board has an electrically heated working surface with an electrical heater element disposed therein and an electrical connector for connection of an electrically heated iron . a power management system within the ironing board has a sensor that detects whether the iron is connected to the ironing board . the ironing board and iron can be selectively set to one of a plurality of heat ranges . the power management system detects thermostatically regulated demands for electrical current by each of the ironing board and iron and a controller selectively provides electrical current to at most one of the ironing board heater element and iron so as to not exceed a predetermined maximum electrical current . control circuitry provides either a fixed or proportional temperature differential between the ironing board and the connected iron . the ironing board can include a height adjuster for selectively adjusting a height of the ironing board .