Next consider what style of home and period of other furnishings.  Modern homes and bedrooms are generally not built to display a iron four poster completely dressed to its original state, for example.  These beds ideally need a twelve-foot high plus ceiling and a spacious bedroom to accommodate them.  The canopies came in various styles and fully dressed with a calico canopy, valances and bed curtains makes these a very dominating piece of furniture. Earlier periods favoured heavier fabrics be used such as tapestry and velvets, these also assisted in reducing draughts.  Later the trend was towards lighter fabrics such as chintz.  When choosing your fabric keep in mind heavier fabrics and valances require higher maintenance and cleaning than lighter versions, and of cause dust should also be considered especially when considering health issues. In today’s world, there is a variety of heavier materials, which do offer easy care, as well as a variety of patterns and textures.  Decorative trims may also be used.  Outed bed drapes may be tied to side posts with braided cord or ribbon. Beds with swinging arms known as “Italian bedsteads” can be simply dressed with side drapes, which by personal choice may be swung to the side. By far the most popular styles of beds had round or square testers.  A quick way of dressing is by simply threading café curtains on the lace rail. However by fitting a mosquito net, calico canopy with lace drapes creates an elegant looking bed. Personal choice allows for a variation in styles.  Laces are available with straight edges, scalloped edges, curved lacework; these give a very successful effect.  Full-length lace can be draped behind the back post or tied to the side posts.  Ready-made curtains are a great time-saver and can create some excellent effects in the various styles available. Low four posters rely on the right quilt to create their image.  Patchwork, crocheted and Marseilles quilts have always been favoured. To truly find the correct dressing, make reference to books in your local library, which may include facsimilies of old, mail order catalogues or even turn of the century ladies journals will have hints.  “The Workwoman’s Guide” recommended to its reader……

“Beds for common use are hung with linen or cotton check, or stripe or print, but for better purposes, with dimity, fine stuff, moreen, damask, chintz, turkey twill and lined with glazed calico or muslin of various colours and for staterooms fine silk, satin or velvet is employed.”

There are many ways to show how different a dressed bed can look.  The examples include:

1.Café curtain for a quick dress

2. Modern cottage craft look using modern co-ordinating fabrics for the valance and quilt.

3. Traditional scalloped damask valance with lace backdrop and lace side drapes tied to the side post.

4. Straight edge damask valance with an old style  “wedding ring” design patchwork quilt.

5 and 6.  Original mail order catalogue sketches, which show use of drapes and mosquito nets to its readers.

These styles will also suit timber beds with back posts, canopies and testers. Should you require further information on dressing your bed we are only a phone call away.

Mark and Lynne BennettTimeless Antiques

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