History of Sleigh Beds
Sleigh beds look just like old-time sleighs, thus the name. These ornate beds feature curved headboards and footboards that approximate a horse-drawn sleigh. Traditionally, sleigh beds are made from wood. Some people set their sleigh beds in the middle of the room as a stand-alone piece of furniture. This bed makes such a design and structural statement that it should be shown off to its best advantage. Nowadays, you can purchase a sleigh bed that comes in twin, double, queen or king size. A twin-size sleigh bed, if placed lengthwise against a wall, can serve as a daybed, according to Decoration.com. Child-sized sleigh beds can be purchased for your children. These beds are positioned low to the ground so they make an ideal first bed for your toddler. Does this Spark an idea?
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Striking Napoleon's Fancy
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Remnants of this bed design have been found in Roman remains. Napoleon took a liking to this style of bed and popularized it during the period in France called the Empire Period that lasted from about 1795 to 1820, according to Classicbedsteads.com.
The United States Jumps on Board
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Awareness of this style of bed traveled to the United States and by 1815 had become popular. This period of time in the United States was called the American Empire Period, which was a reflection of the French empire style. Originally, sleigh beds were designed for just one person and were probably used as daybeds.
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Ornate
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The earliest sleigh beds were quite ornate, which suited the Victorian style that was in vogue. These beds were mostly owned by the upper classes, who could afford them. The footboard and the headboard were originally curved upwards and rolled at the top. However, the top roll could either be rolled outward or inward.
Popular in the South
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Sleigh beds became particularly popular in the U.S. southeast. Today, these beds are often referred to as French beds. They can be made out of upholstery, metal or leather, in addition to the traditional wood. The oldest sleigh bed company is the Charles Rogers Company, which has been manufacturing this bed since 1855.
Options
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While maintaining the look of a sleigh bed, the beds can be altered and adjusted to suit the consumer. A sleigh bed can be classic or contemporary, according to Decoration.com. The wood that is used primarily is cherry, oak or pine. The bed can be constructed out of iron, steel or aluminum if that's your preference. In addition, leather is now being used. Sleigh beds now feature taller headboards and shorter footboards with or without curves.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.furniturestoreblog.com
