Four poster bed (bed frames)

Even today the traditional four poster bed remains the bed design with the highest status. Indeed stately homes and the bridal suites of hotels still feature this ostentatious and established design.

How the design came about is still open to some debate. The strength and stability of the bed (and old beds were heavy and made from solid timber) no doubt benefited from continuing the legs up to a higher level with a platform or square ring frame capping off the structure.

However, the other reason for the design was the inclusion of curtains and a canopy which surrounded the bed and which would be suspended from the top of the four poster’s vertically elongated frame. Only a four poster bed could provide this extra luxury, privacy and status.

Modern four poster bed – different designs

In the twenty first century very few people have a four poster bed. Room sizes, weight and the removal of a need for curtains mean that only a minority of people choose something as extravagant as a four poster. However the lucky few still do and this style of bed makes a stunning feature piece.

There are also a number of different four poster models ranging from the full canopy bed through to the low four poster where the posts only extend a few inches beyond the levels of the foot and head boards. These options mean that it is possible to have an open four poster bed where the style, polished timber and ornate mouldings can be enjoyed without the bed dominating a small or medium sized bedroom. These beds can be made of cast iron or a natural wood like pine.

The main variations on the four poster bed design are as follows.

The full canopy four poster

Here the bed frame extends upwards on four solid posts on top of which there is a canopy. The height of these posts is such that they can be very ornate and incorporate any number of traditional or contemporary forms of wood turning.

The materials and finish can include light and dark woods stained to various effects. Features like curtains and a valance may also be included in the design.

Most four poster beds are very traditional in appearance, however there are some modern and contemporary designs available.

Half tester bed

A variation on the four poster is the half tester.

This design does away with the posts at the foot of the bed, but retains them at the head end. The result can be an extended head board, or an open two post design that may or may not include features like drapes (decorative curtains) and a small canopy extending over the head of the bed.

Beds of this design can be every bit as ornate and decorative as a full four poster.

Pencil post bed

The pencil post bed has four posts that extend upwards to create a feature, however they are not topped with a frame or canopy. The result is that these posts are purely decorative and serve no functional purpose. Even so, they can have a dramatic and impactful appearance.

Beds incorporating the pencil post design can be modern or traditional and they have the advantage of keeping a room feeling open and airy.

Low four poster bed

There is not really anything classifying as a low four poster bed, but the name is still applied to beds that follow the pencil post design, but which have very low posts.

Bed frames like this may have posts that only extend upwards a matter of inches and in some cases they have nothing more than fancy capping mounted on top of the head and foot boards. Even so they do create a feature and they can transform a bedroom and give it a sense of style and class.