1. Four poster beds are usually decorated by combining bed curtains with a valance and canopy. Even when tied back to the bedposts, curtains add greater color and body to a four poster bed. They can also subtly introduce a more contemporary tone or lighten a more austere bed design.
2. Both the front and back of the bed curtains and valance will be visible, so it's best to use a coordinating lining or line both with the same material. Popular dressing materials for four poster beds include silk, muslin, velvet, and chintz.
3. Traditionally, four poster beds were known as tester beds. The tester was a panel that was supported by the four posts, and it held bed curtains that were intended to exclude draughts and create a private enclosure.
4. The space between a tester bed and the wall was known as the ruelle. It was an area concealed by curtains, and would actually be used as an intimate gathering space. Unlike today, bedrooms were historically used as reception areas for close or fashionable friends.
5. The traditional uses of four poster beds may now be out of date, but the style remains popular due to its romantic charm and dramatic presence. Four poster bed styles are now highly diverse, and range from rustic, shabby chic, and colonial to modern and Art Deco.
6. Wood poster beds can have a very grand presence in a room. Some are as high as eight feet tall. If you have an unusually stately bed, complement its size with armoires, chests of drawers, or entertainment centers that will bring a sense of proportion and balance to your decorating scheme.
7. To create poster bedroom sets, simply browse the Product Accessories suggestions at the bottom of any bed's individual product page. The Hayneedle Related Stores bar at the top of each page also makes it easy to shop related stores for beds and bedroom furniture.
8. Because a four poster bed naturally draws your eyes toward the ceiling, now might be a good time to update your bedroom with a ceiling finish or light fixture that is a good match for your bed's style. Bed canopies and curtains were originally hung from the ceiling, so you might even want to install metal rings that could be used to drape fabric over the bed.
9. Decorating your four poster bed with a canopy or bed curtains is hardly mandatory. Some people prefer to emphasize the design of the bed by eliminating drapery altogether or by winding fabric around the posts for a more sinuous and elegant appearance.
10. Kids' poster beds are beautiful and durable, and ideal for creating a medieval or Victorian atmosphere that will satisfy your prince or princess. They're also a wise investment, as the sophisticated style of a kids' canopy bed will make it appropriate for your child even in his/her tween and teen years.
