Modern Beds - Where did they come from?

Beds have a more humble origin than luxury and comfort. During ancient times, a bed consisted of little more than straw, rope, moss or other natural materials. Eventually, they began to be made off the ground with the single goal of escaping draughts, bugs and dirt. For the upper classes, where you slept became associated with how much wealth and power you had. Egyptian Pharos had beds made of wood with gilded gold while the Greeks had wooden frames with stretched hides complete with head and foot board. Ancient Romans made mattresses from reeds, hay, wool and eventually feathers, which lied on grand bronze and silver bedsteads that had to be reached by stairs.

Europe in the middle ages used necessity to a similar form of extravagance. Guests and middle class often slept on rugs or beds of feathers or hair placed upon benches, but commonly used linen sheets. Curtains were hung around more sophisticated carved and painted wooden beds which used pillows to make the head higher than the feet. By the 14th century, woodwork became of less importance with the four poster tester bed, enclosed by silk, velvet or even golden cloth which served the purpose of keeping out a draft. Over the next decade, beds often grew up to 8 by 7 feet.

During the Renaissance, "the century of magnificent beds," a la duchesse tester beds, with only one curtain at the head, became highly popular in England and France. Lois XIV was known for having up to 413 of the most opulent beds, encrusted with pearls, gold and silver. The French custom of the "bed of justice" began with Louis XI while attending parliament in which the King lay, princes sat, officials stood and lesser men kneeled. Iron beds were first brought to use in the 18th century with recommendation of being insect free. In England, beds were considerably less extravagant and a four post bed was a common citizen’s bed until the 19th century.

The history of beds, from straw to grandeur is an interesting evolution. Their past is still an influence on the styles of today, such as canopy beds.