Throughout history, the bed has served as both a statement of social position and an ornamental feature to a bedroom. While we may have progressed from the previous era to some extent, the bed remains one of the most crucial aspects of a bedroom. Since the Middle Ages, a canopy bed has been associated with luxury, and today we’ll take you on a journey to learn how that came to be! Continue reading to learn more about the history of canopy beds and how to choose the ideal one for your bedroom:
An Overview of the Past
Have you ever thought about how, when, and why the canopy bed came to be? Well, it’s not that difficult to track down. Canopy beds initially appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages, around the 13th century – the mediaeval era – and have been evolving ever since. The nobles, on the other hand, had their own domestic situation to deal with while the poor made do with straw pellets.
The first castles in Europe, after all, had their own traditions. Because the lord and his family slept in the grand hall, surrounded by attendants, the concept of canopy beds was devised to provide some sense of solitude. While the master’s bed was originally walled off by a ‘wall’ of curtains draped from the ceiling, the canopy bed’s evolution meant that a frame was built to support the canopy, from which the curtains were later hung to provide further seclusion.
While the design of these beds was first solely pragmatic, they quickly became popular. The concept was then replicated in the homes of other rich townfolk, eventually becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Since then, antique canopy bed has evolved in design to become the simple, contemporary ones we know and love today!
The canopy bed has evolved over time
Even today, the vintage canopy bed is praised for its unrestricted beauty and grace, but how did it come to be this way? Let’s take a quick look at how the canopy bed’s design has evolved over time:
As we’ve seen, seclusion was an important design priority for beds in mediaeval times, therefore curtains and valances were used extensively. These drapes were created of sumptuous, exotic textiles like silk because the beds’ origins are a tribute to high aristocracy.
The canopy bed became a symbol of’status symbol’ as the style became popular among the wealthy. The beds grew in size, weight, and adornment throughout time. The headboards had complex carvings, exquisite woodwork to underline the social stratification, and expensive materials to finish the look.
However, by the time the Rococo period arrived, the canopy bed had evolved to meet the delicate tastes of the time. The designs become a little more conservative and less flashy. Instead of the original walnut and oak wood, these lighter and slimmer forms were later made of iron.
As time passed, the frou-frou trappings became less common, until we arrived at the contemporary age. This period is notable for its extreme minimalism and extreme simplicity. You might envision how the canopy bed’s filigrees and brocades were peeled away until only the frame remained.
However, because the second half of the twentieth century was all about experimentation, there was a lot of stylistic experimentation. We had barrel arched canopies, fall ceiling canopies incorporated into the ceiling, and even carriage style frames! Canopy beds were very popular in the 1990s, and the trend continued into the next century.
Finally, there’s the modern contemporary canopy bed to consider. This is the most popular style nowadays. A modern canopy bed normally consists of a four-post framework and a mattress platform. The presence of a headboard and footboard is entirely dependent on whether or not you want them in the design!
Set up your space to match the canopy bed!
Setting up your bedroom to accommodate the canopy bed can be a difficult chore, but we’re here to help you get through it! We’ve put together a list of pointers based on our Larvik 4 Piece Bedroom Set that will help you figure out how to create your own bedroom ambiance:
We’ll have to evaluate the style of our Larvik 4 Piece Bedroom Set because it’s a contemporary-rustic design. To make the bed appear wonderful, follow these steps:
You must work with the wood’s natural grain. Use neutral colours in the background to make it stand out. The ideal colours to choose are white, grey, beige, and tan.
Hanging a three-set gallery wall or simply a single artwork between the headboard and canopy is a wonderful option to make sure the space above the canopy doesn’t look too empty. If you want to keep things simple, skip the artwork and opt for a couple of LED box lights above the headboard instead.
To highlight the style of your furniture, you must also establish a visible barrier between the floor and the lower portion of the bed. So if you can spread a good, neutral-colored, minimally designed area rug half-under and half-outside the bed, it will be ideal.
You’ll also want to draw attention to the canopy, so a plain white faux ceiling is a fantastic choice.
If you want to go for a modernist look, don’t hang any curtains. However, if you really want to, fragile organza curtains that are both breezy and opaque are the greatest option.
Points to keep in mind while ordering a canopy bed!
The canopy bed is distinct from other types of beds, and there are a few things to keep in mind while acquiring one. Before making this decision, keep the following considerations in mind:
Room Dimensions:
When purchasing a canopy bed, the size of your room is critical. For easy bed making, you’ll need at least 2′ of room on either side of the bed. You should also examine the canopy’s height in relation to the tallest individual who will be using it.
Proportion and scale:
When comparing the size and dimensions of the room to the design of the canopy bed, you must also examine the space’s scale and proportions. Expensive canopies don’t work well in small spaces, so if your bedroom is on the smaller side, opt for a simple canopy bed.
Your canopy’s fabric:
The type of fabric you choose for your canopy bed is the last item you should think about. There are many options available, but it ultimately comes down to where you reside. If you reside in a tropical area, we advise against using heavy drapes. Mosquito nets are a useful solution in these situations.
So there you have it: the history, styling, and what’s trendy and what’s not when it comes to canopy beds! Overall, they’re the epitome of style and luxury, therefore you should certainly get one up! If you’re interested in learning more about antique and vintage furniture, visit Bidsquare’s Auction News section for news and articles.
