Canopy Bed & Poster Bed Differences

What's the difference between canopy beds and poster beds?

Though the terms canopy bed and poster bed are often used interchangeably, the subtitle of this article is a question that we hear from time to time. There are differences, of course, but the history of canopy and poster beds includes a variety of forms, and their progression was not entirely linear. Some historical misconceptions have also arisen about why canopies were first used. But to make a long answer reasonably short, here are the differences between canopy beds and poster beds.

History of Canopy & Poster Beds First, a clarification. Bed canopies did not originate because medieval people had rats and bird droppings falling on them while they were sleeping. Rich people used bed coverings too, and the reason was that they provided warmth and privacy. Bed hangings such as canopies were already in use when testers were introduced in the 13th and 14th centuries. A tester is essentially a flat canopy or fringed rectangular panel. Originally, testers were suspended by cords or chains from the ceiling or attached to the wall, and they typically covered only the upper half of the bed. Curtains were hung from the tester and could be drawn or opened.

Today, such a canopy would be supported by a headboard or two posts. These designs are known as half tester beds. In the 17th century, canopy beds with hanging testers were known as lits a la duchesse (duchess-style beds) or angel beds, the latter name given because the floating tester seemed to be supported by cherubs.

Portability was an important quality for beds to have in the late Middle Ages, but massive four poster beds that could support a large, full tester appeared in the 15th and 16th centuries. These were typically made from oak and featured carved patterns and other decorative woodwork. A notable example is the Great Bed of Ware from 1590, which measures 10 feet by 11 feet and can accommodate more than 15 people.

Canopy & Poster Bed Definitions

In general, canopy beds carry on the tradition of half tester beds. They're designed with a frame or canopy that covers the head of the bed. A do-it-yourself canopy bed might simply be a standard bed with a canopy draped from metal rings in the ceiling.

Four poster beds are much like full tester beds, but these days they often don't have an actual tester. The four posts are connected to form an open frame, and a canopy or other covering can be draped on top. Thus referring to a poster bed with a canopy as a canopy bed is not really inaccurate. You might say that all poster beds are canopy beds, but not all canopy beds are poster beds.