Since the Neolithic period, man has continued to make their beds - literally! History will prove that humans have always placed a designated sleeping area for themselves, whether it is outside or indoors there has always been a bed-type space for people to sleep on. Things like childrens bunk beds and platform beds however were not in existence, because even though there was bed spaces there were no actual beds.
Credit for what we perceive as the modern day bed is given to the Ancient Egyptians who produced first beds as we know of it. These were not commonly used until the 17th century as beds was rare and only the privileged individuals were able to use them. King Tutankhamen was recorded to have slept on a bed made from ebony and Gold, whilst the local people slept on a heap of palm bows stacked in the corner of their homes.
The Romans would then develop the concept of mattress stuffed with feathers, hay, reeds or wool. These were the first luxury beds, as previous beds had leather stretched over it with a mattress (if one was used) which was a sack of linen filled with planting materials. The Romans were also behind the first waterbed which was effective in keeping the sleepers relaxed and providing a soothing rocking motion.
It would not be until the medieval period that the bed became more commonly used, with many people using it as a separate piece of furniture. However, these were nothing like what we see today, as they were seen as a major family affair. The whole family, from different generations would share one bed, which were made to fit up to eight people or more. It was right up until the 18th century that saw wealthy Europeans sleeping in elaborately designed beds, with intricately designed posts and comfortable linen.
Children brought in a wealthy family were given their own beds, either to share, or use on their own. At this point childrens bunk beds were not in existence until the outbreak of World War I, when bunk beds were used to house soldiers in dormitories and save space in rooms. These then became a very popular piece of furniture for normal houses as a way to save space within bedrooms and economise so as not to buy multiple beds.
Over the years bunk beds has slowly moved away from its military predecessors to a more gentle and playful image, for being a fun piece of furniture for young children. It continues to serve its purpose in youth hostels and army camps, but is more commonly associated with young people who are more used to sharing a bedroom with their siblings. The design of a bed has developed from being a simple bed frame and linen-filled sack, to designer beds with spring filled or comfort mattresses.
These days' beds are a subject of physical wellbeing with peoples postures placed at the upmost importance when designing a new bed. Having a bed is one of the most important pieces of furniture to have in a home, which is prevalent in every household. These have gone from being a rare luxury to an ordinary tool that keep people comforted, warm and safe, under one roof.
Author Resource:-
Anna Stenning is an expert on the history of childrens bunk beds, having researched how they came into existence.
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