7 Frill-Free Ways to Work a Four-Poster Bed
The modern four-poster bed couldn’t be more different from its elaborate ancestor – but it still packs a dramatic punch
Kate Burt
6 August 2018
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
If your bedroom is large enough to take it, making a focal point of the bed is one way to go – and a four-poster design is the piece for the job. Where antique designs might have tended towards dark wood and lots of fabric, today’s versions are cool, contemporary and largely curtain-free.
Equally, if you have a too-large bedroom (or an average-sized one but not enough furniture), then this style of bed can be a stylish way to fill the space without adding clutter. Take a look at these schemes for inspiration.
Equally, if you have a too-large bedroom (or an average-sized one but not enough furniture), then this style of bed can be a stylish way to fill the space without adding clutter. Take a look at these schemes for inspiration.
1. Channel some Scandi cool
Choosing pale colours and a light wood, such as ash, birch or oak, makes for a classic nod to Scandinavian style.
Although this bed is a statement piece, the layers of neutrals (not to mention bags of natural light) really play down the drama.
Browse more Scandi-style bedrooms
Choosing pale colours and a light wood, such as ash, birch or oak, makes for a classic nod to Scandinavian style.
Although this bed is a statement piece, the layers of neutrals (not to mention bags of natural light) really play down the drama.
Browse more Scandi-style bedrooms
2. Let your wallpaper shine
The glamorous bed in this elegant, luxed-up room, on the other hand, is all about the drama.
The space is large, with a high ceiling, so it needed a big bed, but one that wouldn’t block the beautiful wallpaper. This four-poster in dark wood has presence, but frames rather than obscures the paper, and complements the garden scene rather than fighting with it.
The dark-painted cornice and picture rail tie the look together.
The glamorous bed in this elegant, luxed-up room, on the other hand, is all about the drama.
The space is large, with a high ceiling, so it needed a big bed, but one that wouldn’t block the beautiful wallpaper. This four-poster in dark wood has presence, but frames rather than obscures the paper, and complements the garden scene rather than fighting with it.
The dark-painted cornice and picture rail tie the look together.
3. Try traditional with a fresh twist
This gorgeously airy period room shows that a nod to the classic four-poster doesn’t need to equal heavy drapes or lines.
The posts themselves, though ornate and dark, are slender and delicate. While the previous beds look fantastic in their own contexts, in this room they’d risk looking incredibly chunky.
The curtains (just visible to the right of the image) are light and neutral in colour, lending a contemporary edge to the whole look.
This gorgeously airy period room shows that a nod to the classic four-poster doesn’t need to equal heavy drapes or lines.
The posts themselves, though ornate and dark, are slender and delicate. While the previous beds look fantastic in their own contexts, in this room they’d risk looking incredibly chunky.
The curtains (just visible to the right of the image) are light and neutral in colour, lending a contemporary edge to the whole look.
4. Pare down your palette
This shabby-chic room shows again just how versatile a four-poster can be.
Here, a simple, curtain-free design has been painted white and artfully scuffed (like the floorboards). It lends character and a sense of history to the room, but without taking over, as the design of the bed itself is so minimal.
Painting the bed and backdrop white or another pale neutral is a smart way to play down the grandeur of the style.
While this bedroom is full of treasured possessions – chiefly mismatched faded fabrics and paintings – it doesn’t look cluttered, as everything ties into the shades on the checked blanket and floral cushions.
Authentic French Style Advice Direct From France
This shabby-chic room shows again just how versatile a four-poster can be.
Here, a simple, curtain-free design has been painted white and artfully scuffed (like the floorboards). It lends character and a sense of history to the room, but without taking over, as the design of the bed itself is so minimal.
Painting the bed and backdrop white or another pale neutral is a smart way to play down the grandeur of the style.
While this bedroom is full of treasured possessions – chiefly mismatched faded fabrics and paintings – it doesn’t look cluttered, as everything ties into the shades on the checked blanket and floral cushions.
Authentic French Style Advice Direct From France
5. Up the opulence
Satins, silks, ebonised wood and chinoiserie make for an opulent foundation in any bedroom. Throw in a four-poster and you need strong design skills to pull off something fresh and contemporary rather than dark and overpowering.
And here’s how to do it! The bed itself, though chunky and curtained, is lightened by the pale jade and cream colour theme. And one curtain, just at the back of the bed, provides texture rather than acres of fabric beefing up the space around the bed.
Satins, silks, ebonised wood and chinoiserie make for an opulent foundation in any bedroom. Throw in a four-poster and you need strong design skills to pull off something fresh and contemporary rather than dark and overpowering.
And here’s how to do it! The bed itself, though chunky and curtained, is lightened by the pale jade and cream colour theme. And one curtain, just at the back of the bed, provides texture rather than acres of fabric beefing up the space around the bed.
6. Position it centre stage
Unlike a regular bed, a four-poster gives the impression of being more of a complete, boxed-in unit – even when it’s an airy, minimal design like this.
The benefit of this is that it won’t look adrift set in the centre of a room, as you can see in this sun-bleached coastal space.
To pull off such a placement, you’ll almost certainly appreciate a four-poster with a built-in bedhead. Otherwise, with no wall to lean your pillows against, reading or enjoying a lazy holiday breakfast in bed will become a bit of a pain.
Unlike a regular bed, a four-poster gives the impression of being more of a complete, boxed-in unit – even when it’s an airy, minimal design like this.
The benefit of this is that it won’t look adrift set in the centre of a room, as you can see in this sun-bleached coastal space.
To pull off such a placement, you’ll almost certainly appreciate a four-poster with a built-in bedhead. Otherwise, with no wall to lean your pillows against, reading or enjoying a lazy holiday breakfast in bed will become a bit of a pain.
7. Don’t disregard a smaller room
This interesting design, which looks like a classic cast-iron bed frame with double the height, shows you don’t need as much space for a four-poster as you might imagine. The trick is that the frame is incredibly slimline, so the bed doesn’t appear bulky in this relatively narrow room.
Note, too, the solution to bedside lighting where there’s little space either side of the bed. Containing the light fittings within the frame of the bed appears to reduce its size, and matching the colour of them to the bed frame, especially against such a busy wallpaper, keeps the effect looking calm and pulled-together.
Tiny shelves, one beneath each switch and perhaps painted white, could provide enough space for a glass of water and a paperback.
Tell us
Would you make way for a four-poster in your bedroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
More
Find an interior designer or decorator to help with your bedroom makeover
This interesting design, which looks like a classic cast-iron bed frame with double the height, shows you don’t need as much space for a four-poster as you might imagine. The trick is that the frame is incredibly slimline, so the bed doesn’t appear bulky in this relatively narrow room.
Note, too, the solution to bedside lighting where there’s little space either side of the bed. Containing the light fittings within the frame of the bed appears to reduce its size, and matching the colour of them to the bed frame, especially against such a busy wallpaper, keeps the effect looking calm and pulled-together.
Tiny shelves, one beneath each switch and perhaps painted white, could provide enough space for a glass of water and a paperback.
Tell us
Would you make way for a four-poster in your bedroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
More
Find an interior designer or decorator to help with your bedroom makeover
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Never heard of a canopy bed (possibly UK/US English) but the very idea of having drapes hanging around the bed makes me sneeze (dust trap), let alone the practicalities of wading through curtain to get up for a pee, and then you have to air the thing. I air pillows and quilt alternately. Plus extra washing and hoovering. Why?
capeanner... It would appear that the comment from someone by the name of HU + a lot of numbers has been deleted either by Houzz or Hu himself/herself so my comment now falls flat!
I like the romantic appeal of a four poster but prefer a style I saw once in an old home .It featured a metal rod coming out of the wall at 90 degrees above the centre of the bed. It had a knob or wooden disk that prevented the curtain which swagged to the top corners of the bed head from falling off the front. Romantic soft effect without involving the bed frame. Not sure what the idea is called.