Four Poster Beds

There are many stories concerning the origins of the four-poster bed. The best one regards Tudor times when most houses did not have corridors. People literally went from room to room. As you can imagine, this did little for the privacy of the occupants. So, along came the idea to add posts to the four corners of the bed, with poles running around the top. Curtains or tapestries were then hung from the poles, affording the occupants some privacy. Thus the four-poster bed was born.

Early four-posters had drapes but no top. The plaster used in Tudor times was of poor quality, often containing hair and straw to give it strength. Pieces of plaster often fell from the ceiling during the night, along with the various insects living in the plaster. So, to stop this, the next phase was born. A top was added to the posts, to protect the sleepers beneath. Originally, this was made from wood, but later on, material was also used. The wooden tops were called testers, and so the tester bed was born!

The posts, tester and headboard would have originally been plain, but as time passed, and people wanted to show off their wealth and standing, they grew ever more ornate. Some surviving beds are covered in the most fantastic carvings, some even depicting entire stories from the Bible, or scenes from classical mythology.

Today’s four-poster stands as a byword for luxury. Four poster beds come in a variety of heavy wood styles and which one you go for depends entirely on three requirements:
Space, space and space.

Because they are difficult to transport, difficult to maneuver and too heavy to move easily four-poster beds are reserved for rooms which have space and floor-strength requirements and are not likely to be re-designed every weekend.

This is one are where craftsmanship matters. If you decide to go for one buy the most expensive one you can afford. Find out how it’s made, what guarantees come with it and what type of wood has been used in its construction.

Four-poster beds are an investment. They tend to be passed on from one generation to the next so choose wisely and you will have gained not just a fantastic bed but also a valuable family heirloom.

© Buy Beds.org.uk 2006

Beds

Pink Hearts 4 Poster Single Bed- Frame Only.
Pink Hearts 4 Poster Single Bed- Frame Only.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, frame, frames, furniture, hearts, mattresses, pink, poster, single
...
£129.99


White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed - Frame Only.
White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed - Frame Only.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, frame, frames, furniture, hearts, mattresses, poster, single, white
...
£129.99


Star Collection Ballet 3FT Single Bedstead
Star Collection Ballet 3FT Single Bedstead
From Bed Star
, 190cm, 3ft, 90, antique, ballet, base, bed, bedstead, brass, brushwork, collection, finials, fit, four, gold, mattress, poster, single, slats, slatted, sprung, star, white
...
£145.00


Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed - Frame Only.
Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed - Frame Only.
From Argos
, argos, ashley, bed, beds, bedstead, frame, frames, furniture, mattresses, poster, single
...
£146.66


Langston Pine Four Poster Bed
Langston Pine Four Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, alikethe, among, base, baseelegant, bed, bedframe, bedroom, blissful, centrepiece, construction, contemporary, curved, décors, d203cm, d210cm, design, double, elegantly, ensure, finishsolid, focal, foot, four, furniture123, h196cmdouble, h196cmple
...
£159.98


White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Sprung Mattress.
White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Sprung Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, firm, frames, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, poster, single, sprung, white
...
£179.98


Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Sprung Mattress.
Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Sprung Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, firm, frames, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, pink, poster, single, sprung
...
£179.98


Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Sprung Mattress.
Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Sprung Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, ashley, bed, beds, bedstead, firm, frames, furniture, mattress, mattresses, medium, poster, single, sprung
...
£196.65


Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Trizone Mattress.
Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Trizone Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, firm, frames, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, pink, poster, single, trizone
...
£199.98


White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Trizone Mattress.
White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Trizone Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, firm, frames, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, poster, single, trizone, white
...
£199.98


Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Trizone Mattress.
Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Trizone Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, ashley, bed, beds, firm, frames, furniture, mattress, mattresses, medium, poster, single, trizone
...
£216.65


Star Collection Veneza 3FT Single Four Poster Bedstead
Star Collection Veneza 3FT Single Four Poster Bedstead
From Bed Star
, &, bed, bedroom, beds/single, beds/wooden, brazil, centre, classic, constructed, design, drapes, elegant, forest, frame, gorgeous, natural, picture, piece, pine, poster, south, star, sustainable, traditional, warm, wooden
...
£235.00


Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Healthy Mattress.
Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Healthy Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, firm, furniture, healthy, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, pink, poster, single
...
£279.98


White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Healthy Mattress.
White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Healthy Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, firm, furniture, healthy, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, poster, single, white
...
£279.98


Star Collection Veneza 4FT 6" Double Four Poster Bedstead
Star Collection Veneza 4FT 6" Double Four Poster Bedstead
From Bed Star
, &, bed, bedroom, beds/double, beds/wooden, brazil, centre, classic, constructed, design, drapes, elegant, forest, frame, gorgeous, natural, picture, piece, pine, poster, south, star, sustainable, traditional, warm, wooden
...
£289.00


Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Practical Mattress.
Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Practical Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, firm, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, pink, poster, practical, single
...
£289.98


White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Practical Mattress.
White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Practical Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, firm, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, poster, practical, single, white
...
£289.98


Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Healthy Mattress.
Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Healthy Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, ashley, bed, beds, furniture, healthy, mattress, mattresses, poster, single
...
£296.65


White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Pocket Mattress.
White Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Pocket Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, pocket, poster, single, white
...
£299.98


Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Pocket Mattress.
Pink Hearts Single 4 Poster Bed with Pocket Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, bedstead, children's, furniture, hearts, mattress, mattresses, medium, pink, pocket, poster, single
...
£299.98


Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Practical Mattress.
Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Practical Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, ashley, bed, beds, furniture, mattress, mattresses, poster, practical, single
...
£306.65


Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Pocket Mattress.
Ashley 4 Poster Single Bed with Pocket Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, ashley, bed, beds, furniture, mattress, mattresses, medium, pocket, poster, single
...
£316.65


Star Collection Veneza 5FT Kingsize Four Poster Bedstead
Star Collection Veneza 5FT Kingsize Four Poster Bedstead
From Bed Star
, &, bed, bedroom, beds/wooden, brazil, centre, classic, constructed, design, drapes, elegant, forest, frame, gorgeous, natural, picture, piece, pine, poster, south, star, sustainable, traditional, warm, wooden
...
£335.00


Bentley Designs - Newhaven Oak, 4FT 6" Double 4 Poster Bedstead
Bentley Designs - Newhaven Oak, 4FT 6" Double 4 Poster Bedstead
From Furniture Star
, adds, antique, appeal, atmosphere, bed, bedroom, brass, classic, clean, collection, contemporary, detailing, drawing, enhance, fourposter, furniture, handles, inclusion, influence, lines, maintenance, matt, mitigating, modern, newhaven, newhaven's, oak,
...
£378.00


King Parrot Four poster 3 in 1 cot bed - White
King Parrot Four poster 3 in 1 cot bed - White
From Mothercare
, bed, cot, cotbeds, esprit, four, king, mothercare, nursery, parrot, poster, white
...
£390.00


King Parrot Four poster 3 in 1 cot bed - Heritage Teak
King Parrot Four poster 3 in 1 cot bed - Heritage Teak
From Mothercare
, bed, cot, cotbeds, esprit, four, heritage, king, mothercare, nursery, parrot, poster, teak
...
£390.00


King Parrot Four poster 3 in 1 cot bed - English Oak
King Parrot Four poster 3 in 1 cot bed - English Oak
From Mothercare
, bed, cot, cotbeds, english, esprit, four, king, mothercare, nursery, oak, parrot, poster
...
£390.00


Bentley Designs 5' King Size Newhaven Oak Wooden Bed
Bentley Designs 5' King Size Newhaven Oak Wooden Bed
From Mattress Man
, 115cm, 145cm, 158cm, 203cm, 212cm, 5', bed, bedstead, bentley, designs, edition, finisha, four, head, high, man, mattress, mattresses, newhaven, oak, oakversion, oiled, poster, slatted, solid, stylish, suit, timbers, veneers, website, wide, wooden
...
£399.00


Bentley Designs - Newhaven Oak, 5FT Kingsize 4 Poster Bedstead
Bentley Designs - Newhaven Oak, 5FT Kingsize 4 Poster Bedstead
From Furniture Star
, adds, antique, appeal, atmosphere, bed, bedroom, brass, classic, clean, collection, contemporary, detailing, drawing, enhance, fourposter, furniture, handles, inclusion, influence, lines, maintenance, matt, mitigating, modern, newhaven, newhaven's, oak,
...
£416.00


Bella Four Poster Bed - FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY
Bella Four Poster Bed - FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY
From Furniture123
, £25, *this, 1230pm, aware, bank, base, beautifully, bed, bedframe, bedroom, beds, bella, blissful, catch, centrepiece, charge, checkout, clean, collection, complement, confirm, contemporary, cosy, d193cm, d215cm, deliver, delivered, design, double,
...
£429.98


Canton 4 Poster Double Bed with Memory Mattress.
Canton 4 Poster Double Bed with Memory Mattress.
From Argos
, argos, bed, beds, canton, double, furniture, mattress, mattresses, memory, poster
...
£469.98


Beulah 4 Poster Bed by Aspace
Beulah 4 Poster Bed by Aspace
From Heal & Son
, ‘grown, adding, adult, aspace, bed, beech, beulah, change, child’s, conventional, crafted, elegant, foot, forming, four, heal, longevity, mattress, painted, piece, poster, posts, removed, romantic, separately, silk, single, sleepover, solid, s
...
£495.00


Raven Four Poster Bedstead - FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY
Raven Four Poster Bedstead - FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY
From Furniture123
, £25, *this, 10am, adjustable, antique, antiqued, assembly, aware, bank, base, bases, beautiful, bed, bedframe, bedroom, bedstead, beech, black, brass, called, castings, centrepiece, charge, checkout, class, coil, comfort, complement, confirm, const
...
£719.98


Cello White Four Poster Bed
Cello White Four Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, aesthetic, assured, base, beautiful, bed, bed’s, bedroom, bedtime, boxes, cello, centrepiece, child, child’s, childs, childwith, clean, combines, complement, construction, continental, courtesy, d955cm, design, designfor, dream, durable, elega
...
£809.98


Orleans Cherry 4 Poster Bed
Orleans Cherry 4 Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, addition, advocate, appeal, attention, bed, bed’s, bedframe, bedroom, bird, button, cherry, comfortable, conplemented, corner, curved, design, designcurved, early, effect, elegantly, evident, fairytale, finishcherry, four, frame, furniture, furnitu
...
£909.98


Origins Provence Four Poster Bed
Origins Provence Four Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, adding, ageing, alternative, antique, antiquing, appeal, appearance, authentic, base, bed, bedframe, bedthere, begins, brown, byword, can't, character, charmonce, coats, corners, cured, curtains, customer, customers, d205cm, d212cm, daily, department
...
£939.98


Origins Derwent Four Poster Bed
Origins Derwent Four Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, 1820’s, adding, ageing, alternative, antique, antiquing, appeal, appearance, assembly, authentic, base, bed, bedframe, begins, brown, can't, character, charm, chatsworth, classical, coats, corners, country, craftsmen, creamfrench, cured, custome
...
£939.98


Origins Chartre Four Poster Bed
Origins Chartre Four Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, adding, addition, ageing, alternative, antique, antiquing, appeal, appearance, assembly, authentic, base, beams, beauty, bed, bedframe, bedroom, begins, brown, can't, carvings, character, charm, chartre, coats, corners, creamfrench, cured, customer,
...
£949.98


Origins Amberley Four-Poster Bed
Origins Amberley Four-Poster Bed
From Furniture123
, 6inch, adding, ageing, alternative, amberley, antique, antiquing, appeal, appearance, assembly, authentic, base, bed, bedframe, bedroom, begins, brown, can't, character, charm, coats, columns, corners, creamfrench, cue, cured, customer, customers, d2
...
£1139.98


Trinity 4-Poster Waterbed
Trinity 4-Poster Waterbed
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless
...
£1695.00


Stewart 4-Poster Waterbed
Stewart 4-Poster Waterbed
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless
...
£1790.00


Quebec - Short 4 Poster
Quebec - Short 4 Poster
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, co, double, dual, flotation, frame, king, mattress, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, stop, super, surround, system, uk, waveless
...
£1875.00


Manitoba Waterbed - Short 4 Poster
Manitoba Waterbed - Short 4 Poster
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, co, double, dual, flotation, frame, king, mattress, queen, righteous, sec, semi, sking, stop, super, surround, system, uk, waveless
...
£2095.00


Quebec - Tall 4 Poster Waterbed
Quebec - Tall 4 Poster Waterbed
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, co, double, dual, finishes, flotation, frame, king, mattress, polish, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, ssurround, stop, super, system, uk, waveless, wax
...
£2195.00


Louis Four Poster Bed Frame by John Reeves
Louis Four Poster Bed Frame by John Reeves
From Heal & Son
, baroque, bed, bedside, black, british, chair, chest, contemporary, corner, created, decadent, design, designer, divided, drawers, four, frame, ghost, heal, innovative, inverted, john, king, lacquered, leg, louis, mattress, part, philippe, piece, poster,
...
£2195.00


Toulouse 4-Poster Waterbed
Toulouse 4-Poster Waterbed
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, bed, beds, co, dual, frame, mattress, righteous, surround, system
...
£2345.00


Manitoba Tall 4 Poster Waterbed
Manitoba Tall 4 Poster Waterbed
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, brown, choice, co, double, dual, flotation, frame, king, mahogany, mattress, mellow, olde, queen, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, uk, waveless, wood
...
£2675.00


Frazer 4 Poster
Frazer 4 Poster
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, dual, flotation, frame, king, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, waveless
...
£2995.00


Rochester 4-Poster Waterbed
Rochester 4-Poster Waterbed
From Righteous & Co Limited
, **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", barley, bed, beds, brown, co, columns, double, dual, elegant, flotation, frame, king, mahogany, mattress, mellow, olde, queen, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, tapering, twist, uk, waveless, wood
...
£3130.00