Why do four-poster beds have curtains?

Four-poster beds were first created in the 16th century, a four-poster bed is a bed that has four vertical columns on each corner of the bed that holds up the upper panel. This upper panel has railings going the whole way along it which allows curtains to be hung.

What is the purpose of the curtains on a four-poster bed?

The four-poster bed was created for several different reasons. The first reason why the four-poster bed was created was that during the night bedrooms often had draughts and were quite cold, the curtains on the four-poster bed could be used to keep the individual warm by trapping their body heat.

The second reason why the four-poster bed was designed with curtains was to help and give privacy to the occupant of the bed whilst they slept, this is because, in the 16th century, servants and bodyguards also slept in the same bedroom.

What were the curtains made of?

The curtains were made of a range of fabrics which depended on the place, time period and wealth of the owner of the four-poster bed. The fabrics that the curtains were made from included wool, cotton, linen, and fustian, and those who were wealthier and could afford it would use silk or even velvet. The stitches that were in the curtains were in wool or for the wealthy it was silk and gold. The decorations and decorative pieces that were on the bed hanging and curtains were based on the time period and where the bed was geographically.