Why did canopy beds come into existence?
Although canopy beds in American homes today serve a primarily aesthetic purpose–giving a bedroom a luxurious look–they came into existence centuries ago for practical reasons: protection, warmth and privacy.DefinitionA canopy bed has posts rising from the corners to a framework overhead. Cloth panels can be hung from the framework to enclose the bed on all sides.OriginCanopy beds appeared in Europe during the medieval period. By the 1500s, they had become common.ProtectionCanopies afforded protection from soot and cinders that drifted down from the ceiling in rooms heated with a fireplace or stove. They also kept out insects.WarmthHeavy cloth canopies helped keep bed occupants warm in poorly heated or unheated rooms by trapping heat within the bed space.PrivacyWhen all members of a household slept in a single room–including servants, in some homes–canopies provided privacy.MythOne explanation widely posted on the Internet claims that canopy beds were invented to protect against bi
