These four poster bed ideas are modern and chic. Because while they might be Medieval in origin, four poster beds are very much of the moment.
The four poster bed is seeing a serious revival in modern bedrooms; gone are traditional overtones and classically curvaceous lines – the modern makeover comes in the form of unusual materials and stylish shapes.
The below 23 four poster bed ideas range from dramatic wood structures and glitzy disco beds to sleek, simple, minimalist designs. We love the whimsical, dream-like beds too; like the canopy bed draped in mesh fabric, and the steel bed frame that twists like branches, crowned with steel flowers at the top.
Metals have really come to the fore, including brass and moulded steel.
Originally designed as a practical way to maintain warmth and privacy, four poster beds – or canopy beds – are hands down the grandest style of bedroom furniture.
As well as the intricate, carved style you're used to seeing in stately homes, in recent times the design has been given a creative makeover to suit chic, modern bedroom ideas.
Many are designed drape-free, the simplicity of wood poles drawing the eyes upward to enhance the ceiling height.
However, the addition of drapes absorbs external sounds and lends insulating, cosseting qualities, meaning you can cut back on the heating. So it's practically saving you money.
Ensure your room is large enough to take a sizeable bed and keep the rest of your furniture to a minimum for a look that’s simple, striking and oh-so chic.
These styles prove that four poster beds aren't just for fairy-tales. And once you try four poster, you'll never go back.
Explore 23 of our favourite four poster bed ideas below...
1. Drape fabric for an eclectic edge
Don't let walls have all the fun; an expertly executed four-poster bed will transform any bedroom. Here, a bold Navajo-inspired upholstery fabric brings an eclectic edge, while soft drapes channel hotel style.
Get the look: Reims bed in Farrow & Ball's Radicchio, £638, by The Original Bedstead Co; upholstered in Manta Performance fabric in Pink and Orange, £425m, by Schumacher at Turnell & Gigon.
2. Choose a modern metal frame
A classic Serge Mouille wall light punctuates the calm palette and complements the metal framed four poster.
Get the look: Bed is from Restoration Hardware, with an up-cycled headboard. Bedside Table is from Lawson Fenning.
3. Under canopy
The four poster bed helps draw the eye up, emphasising the ceiling height. Any other bed might have been dwarfed by the space.
Get the look The bed was designed by Roddy Murray for RJ Murray Design. The Egg chair, designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, has been upholstered in Kvadrat fabric.
4. Simply the best
This room is quite big, so a four poster bed was chosen to help draw the eye up and make the most of the ceiling height.
Get the look This is a custom-made Paramount canopy bed, available from Vielle and Frances in the US. The Seventies palm floor lamp was bought at auction. This is La Rochelle bateau bath from The Cast Iron Bath Company.
5. Dreamy draping
Soften a simple white metal four-poster by wrapping it with layers of fabric.
Get the look: The white Company’s Pimlico bed, from £795, is similar, as is Tsuga linen in Silver, £70 per m, designers Guild.
6. Rustic Update
We love the way modern furniture contrasts against the rustic, traditional floors and walls, giving it a fresh look.
7. Whimsical Woodland
A neutral bedroom is jazzed up with an unusual steel Roses and Ivy four-poster bed by metal designer Jaz Asbury, from £1,500.
8. Up The Drama
This master bedroom designed by the Novogratz is full of drama; from the modern four poster bed to the statement lighting and art. Explore the rest of this home here...
9. Extra Tall
With 10 foot ceilings design firm Alice Lane knew that they could get away with a tall canopy bed that would anchor this master bedroom and add a sense of grandeur. The designers added the Garlon bone inlayed desk from Made Goods at the end of the bed to create a functional work space in the bedroom.
10. Stylishly simple
A lot of the pieces for this home – including this bed – were sourced at rock down prices, either online or in clearance sales.
Get the look Four-poster bed, MDF Italia from The Conran Shop. Bamboo-effect brass and glass table, Kiki Design. Table lamps, Pooky. Green salon chair and stool; red goat skin vegetable tanned stool, all Cassandra Ellis. Wall light, Charlotte Perriand. Walls painted Pale French Grey, Little Greene.
11. TEEN DREAM
Glamorous metallic furniture mixed with quirky accessories make this the perfect teenage girl bedroom scheme.
Get the look Walls painted in Dove Tale by Farrow & Ball. Maison Bed, Bunny Ears Desk Chair, Maison bookcase, Brass Bunny table lamp, Bunny Alarm Clocks, Aubrey bedside table: all Emily & Merritt at Pottery Barn Teen.
12. peaceful haven
The bedroom was designed with pared-back furnishings and subdued colours to add to the relaxed feel of the space.
Get the look The bath is from W4 Bathrooms. The curtains are in Romo’s Launay Thistledown linen. The side table is from DI Designs. Barker and Stonehouse sells a similar table lamp and shade. The bed is by The White Company.
13. Dramatic Timber
Create an indulgent sleep space with a dramatic timber bed and layers of linen. The king-sized four-poster is from Raft, £1,854, shown with crushed linen bedding from Volga Linen, priced from £45.
14. Clean & Simple
The drama of this design comes from its architectural lines and simplicity.
Find the Asseman bed by de Padova at Aram Store, £2,930.
15. tall dark and handsome
A four-poster bed fills this room, looking striking and elegant. Blackout blinds are installed in here to keep out the morning sun and are controlled through a centralised system on the owner’s smartphone or tablet.
Get the look The four-poster bed is by BDDW. The bed linen is from Paris-based Anne Becker. This is hand-painted mermaid- motif wallpaper by New Yorker Carolyn Ray.
16. Disco bed
Brass combines dramatically with fuchsia in this disco-inspired scheme.
This is the Kensington patinated-brass king-size bed, £7,800, Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam.
17. Ground a girly scheme
The owners here majored on pastels when it came to choosing the colour scheme, such as the pastel pink in the bedroom an ideal backdrop for the dark wood four poster.
Get the look For a matching wall colour, check out Fired Earth’s Manna Ash matt emulsion. The desk is by Ofist. Try The Conran Shop for similar. This is the Nerd chair by David Geckeler for Muuto. The Alcova ’09 four-poster bed is by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto at B&B Italia. This is the ST04 Backenzahn side table by Philipp Mainzer for e15, available at Viaduct.
18. Four posted beds for small bedrooms
A deep blue wraps around this bedroom, while the glossy verticals of a four-poster bed draw the eye upwards.
Get the look The walls are painted in Hague Blue estate emulsion by Farrow & Ball. For a similar bed, try Emaf Progetti’s Milleunanotte at The Conran Shop. The bedside tables and lamps are vintage finds. Graham and Green’s marble lamp base is similar.
19. Sleek and stark
The ceiling cornicing was remoulded, based on what was originally downstairs. The central rose beautifully frames a dramatic light over the four poster.
Get the look The four-poster is from B&B Italia. The floor lamps are from Twentytwentyone and the Thirties side tables are from Restoration Hardware.
20. A modern classic
Brass details add a luxe look to this room.
Get the look This is the Hoxton Four Poster Bed, £7,065from And So To Bed
21. Go for gothic
There’s a Victorian Gothic vibe to the scheme, inspired by the antique four poster. White floorboards, crisp paintwork and that prim print wallpaper keep it looking fresh.
Get the look The grand four poster is complemented by Little Greene’s Albemarle Street wallpaper, plus a bedside cabinet and armoire found at The Giant Shepton Flea Market. The mirror was bought at Ollie & Bow in London’s Golborne Road. The cushions are from Sera of London.
22. Blue sky thinking
This bed was custom-made and set against the striking backdrop.
Get the look Amalfi Silk vinyl wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries. The butterfly throw is from Kokon to Zai. The alpaca fur rug is from The Rug Company. The side table, bedside lamp and antique door are from Galerie Glustin in Paris.
23. Minimalist dream
This four poster gives the uncluttered, clean design a slight edge, and prevents it from looking boring.
Get the look Try Lombok for a similar bed. The Small Ghost Buster bedside table is by Kartell at John Lewis. The walls are painted in Steel V by Paint & Paper Library. The cushions and throw are from Liberty.
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