Why 4 Poster Beds will Never Go Out of Style

4 poster beds might not be the most common out there, but surely it must be the most luxurious! In ancient times, just as in the present, these magnificent beds were a symbol of status. So if you want to expand your bedroom into a lavish, modern-meets-medieval space, a 4 poster bed is simply a must-have. Keep on reading to find out from our experts at The Mattress Warehouse why 4 poster beds won’t go out of style any time soon. (And how you’d benefit from getting one).

History and origin of the 4 poster bed

600 to 700 years ago, when kings reigned supreme and normal people slept around fires in great halls, beds weren’t all that common. However, some noblemen (the rich and famous back then) slept on something like a bed. Consisting of fur-covered boards stacked on tree stumps, it was a shadow of the beds we have nowadays. Now you can imagine that sleeping on cold, stone floors in large, drafty halls was probably not great. People got sick easily and, because they slept so close to each other, that sickness often spread like wildfire!

Thus entered 4 poster beds. Sure, the design went through a couple of iterations and no-one is entirely sure where it came from (some historians say Austria). But by the late 1400’s, the grand four poster bed frame as we know it was in use. What does it have to do with cold and sick people, you might ask? Well, the four posts were used to support a canopy and curtains that enclosed the whole bed. The curtains and canopy served multiple purposes:

• To keep the cold drafts out
• It also kept illness in
• And it gave the user some privacy

But don’t be fooled! Even though it would have been great for commoners to have 4 poster beds, it was only for the elite. Rich families had splendid beds to show off their wealth and power. These grand beds were passed down from generation to generation as an heirloom.

After that brief history lesson you might be wondering…

Are 4 poster beds going out of style?

Simply put, no. Although in most cases, we don’t need them to keep the cold out anymore, 4 poster beds are still very much in fashion! Moreover, with a modern makeover, these beds radiate stylish sophistication that will fit right in with your bespoke bedroom design.

Benefits of 4 poster beds

Grand and luxe. These two words best describe the modern four poster bed. If these two words appeal to you and you want your bedroom to make a statement… Well, then a four poster bed is what you need. Seeing as it was used as a status symbol in the olden days, why not use it for that exact same reason? Because honestly, if you can sleep like a royal, why wouldn’t you?

Here are some of the benefits of owning a modern four poster bed:

• It is glamourous: Even though most 4 poster bed owners leave out the canopy and drapes, these beds still add a sense of glamour to your bedroom. Large and imposing, there is nothing that stamps down “glamour” like a four poster bed.
• Make a statement: Having a four poster bed in your bedroom is a statement. No-one can argue with that.
• It is great for themed children’s bedrooms: If you want to give your little princess the ultimate treat, get her a fairy-tale four poster bed! It goes beautifully with a princess or Disney theme and she will be able to use the bed for both sleep and play.

Things to know before you buy a 4 poster bed

Because of its size and grandeur, 4 poster beds look better in some spaces than in others. You can imagine that a large four poster bed frame can make a small bedroom feel and look cramped. So before you start looking around for four poster beds for sale, consider the space you want to put the bed in. You want:

• Space: Large, airy rooms are better suited to play host to a four poster bed. You want to place the bed in the middle of the room or centred along one of the long walls in your bedroom. Like this, the four poster naturally becomes the centrepiece, but you have enough space around it to move and place other luxurious pieces of furniture.
• High ceilings: Because of the actual posts of the four poster bed, you should make sure that your ceiling is high enough to accommodate the height of the bed.

Of course, you can put your dream bed in a smaller space, but then it might be prudent to look for a smaller sized bed so that it does not dwarf the space.

How do you dress a 4 poster bed?

Modern four poster beds are all about clean lines and can fit in with most decorative styles. Gone are the days of gaudy drapes and thick curtains. Designers choose to leave the skeleton of the four poster bare nowadays. But you can still put curtains on your bed if you prefer that old feel… If you want to go with a traditional farmhouse kind of vibe, look for a wooden four poster bed. However, if you want a minimalist or industrial feel, look for an iron-wrought four poster bed frame.

Four poster beds for sale from The Mattress Warehouse

You’ve got the space and you want to show off. So the natural next step is for you to start looking for 4 poster beds for sale. Well, you don’t have to look too far. In fact, getting your dream four poster bed is just one click away. We stock beautiful graphite four poster beds with clean lines that will fit in perfectly in most modern bedrooms. Click here to see what they look like. And then, you can select the size you want and we’ll deliver it to your door, free of charge. Taking your bedroom to the next level of splendour has never been this easy.