Bedroom decor through the centuries

From simple to sumptuous, we chart the changes...

• In past times, when bedrooms were effectively public places, spending huge amounts of money to decorate the room was a chance to demonstrate wealth and power – and beds were duly status symbols worth eye-watering sums. This can be seen in the increasingly lavish state beds enjoyed by royalty, especially around the 17th and 18th centuries (see page 40).

• As the bedroom became a more private space, those with money and status began to pay less attention to its decoration, focusing on the public areas, such as hallways and drawing rooms instead.

• Around the mid-19th century, aesthetic attention returns to the bedroom – this time enhancing the room as an intimate space, rather than for show. The Industrial Revolution meant materials for beds and bedding could be mass-produced and became less expensive to buy, while events such as the Great Exhibition of 1851 helped to fuel the demand for homeware and furnishings amongst the middle classes.

• In the 20th century, Hollywood and the rise of mass media developed the fashions of bedroom decor still further, and today this space is perhaps the most personal reflection of our taste and style.