ALBANY, N.Y. -- Four-poster beds add an elegant, eye-catching touch to any bedroom, whether the posts are ornamented with a fabric tester and fabric curtains or not.
The popularity of this style of bed spans three centuries and continues. Although the bed is now considered decorative and romantic, its original design was functional.Before central heating, the four-posters were hung with heavy silks (curtains) to shield their occupants (anyone from royalty to presidents) from drafts, as well as to provide a modicum of privacy to the bed chamber. During the summer and in warm climates, the bed was draped with netting to keep mosquitoes away.
The four-poster bed is so inviting that it causes some people to spend more time in bed, whether it be to sleep, breakfast, read or watch television.
Traditionally made from wood, these beds also are made now from other materials, such as stainless steel and wrought-iron. Styles range from traditional to contemporary.
Depending on the turnings, carvings, type of wood or other material, the four-poster bed can fit a feminine or masculine decor.
A white provincial four-poster bed draped with frilly or lacy fabric, or thin stained posts topped with a lace tester (canopy that is hung on the four posts), is very feminine, compared with heavy, carved or metal posts, which provide a bolder, more masculine look.
The posts, which can be smooth, carved or turned or a combination of all three, are often topped with a slender finial.
It is said that the size of the posts often signaled one's wealth.
A four-poster bed can be placed against a wall or set free-standing in the middle of the room, as it is usually the centerpiece of a bedroom. Placing the bed in the center of the room was common in earlier centuries, so that one could enjoy the summer breeze from open windows, as well as the view.