Four-poster beds have been a bedroom favourite for centuries, as far back as 15th-century England, in fact. In the past, bedrooms (particularly those in large stately homes or castles) could get quite draughty, so four-poster beds with curtains around them were the perfect solution to keeping warm.
Nowadays, four-poster beds are a luxurious choice and a statement piece in any bedroom. Whether you're creating the traditional aesthetic typical of grand historic homes or you simply wish to add some grandeur to a spacious room, a four-poster bed is the perfect way to achieve it.
From heritage metal frames to comfortable upholstered offerings, there are plenty of beautiful options on the market...
Find out more about antique four-poster beds here
Best four-poster beds at a glance:
- Best overall four poster bed: Somerset Four Poster Bed
- Best traditional four poster bed: Astoria Grand Solid Wood Four Poster Bed
- Best wooden four poster bed: Astoria Grand Solid Wood Four Poster Bed
- Best metal four poster bed: Isla Metal Four Poster Bed
- Best upholstered four poster bed: Wardley Four Poster Bed
Best four-poster beds for 2023
Somerset Four Poster Bed
- Buy now from Cornish Bed Company (from £1,970)
Size: 9 sizes available from Small Single to Emperor
Height: 210cm
Material: Brass
Colour: 13 options available
Price: from £1,970
A beautiful extension of their traditional-style brass beds, the Somerset Four Poster Bed has solid brass bed knobs and top caps to ensure the frame remains strong and sturdy.
One of the most unique features of frames made by Cornish Bed Company is that they use traditional methods and fixings, so you can be certain this bed is as well-made as the antique ones you see in stately homes and grand royal residences. This bed in particular has no bolts or welds, offering a completely seamless finish.
Rated the best overall four poster bed on our list, you can expect classic elegance and longevity with this option, a perfect choice if you're looking for an antique of the future.
You might also like the best traditional-style metal beds
Charlbury Mineral Grey Kingsize Four Poster Bed
- Buy now from Cotswold Company (£999)
Size: King 152 x 212cm
Height: 203cm
Material: Painted ash woodColour: Grey
Price: £999
For a four-poster bed that blends traditional style with a more modern finish, the Charlbury Four Poster Bed from Cotswold Company will certainly appeal. Simple in design, the bed frame consists of four straight wooden upright posts connected with hidden joints and sturdy headboard for maximum comfort.
Thanks to the classic style and neutral paint choice, this four poster bed will suit an array of interior styles, from coastal and contemporary to more traditional period homes.
Zipcode Design Anika Metal Bed
- Buy now from Wayfair (£319.99)
Size: Single, double and king
Height: 190cm
Material: MetalColour: Available in black or white
Price: £319.99
Traditional meets modern in this Zipcode Design Four Poster Bed from Wayfair. Featuring sleek lines to create the four posts, the headboard and footboard take inspiration from more classic designs, with a curved top edge and vertical bars adding support and detail.
Caroline Double Canopy Rattan Bed
- Buy now from Urban Outfitters (£999)
Size: Double
Height: 209.5cm
Material: Rattan and mahogany woodColour: Natural wood
Price: £999
If you're looking for something entirely unique, why not opt for this boho-style Caroline Double Canopy Rattan Bed? Made from rattan and mahogany wood with a natural finish, the bamboo look is sure to give you that holiday feeling. Thanks to its thought-out structure, you can easily hang drapes, lights or decorations on the canopy.
This bed has 21cm of space for under the bed storage, so you can easily slide boxes or shallow drawers to make the most of every inch of the room.
Sassy Boo Boudoir Majestic Black 4-Poster Bed
- Buy now from French Bedroom (£1,815)
Size: King 203 x 221cm
Height: 224cm
Material: MetalColour: Black
Price: £1,815
Fans of TV's 'Killing Eve' might recognise this bed – it was featured in Villanelle's bedroom in season 3! If you don't like the idea of having an enclosed four poster bed, the Sassy Boo Boudoir Majestic Black 4-Poster Bed is the perfect choice. With four decorative posts at each corner, there is no structure connecting them or stretching across the top, so the bed still feels open and airy whilst retaining that classic four poster bed style.
Gallery Interiors Boho Retreat 4 Poster Bed
- Buy now from Olivia's (£1,195)
Size: King 191 x 211cm
Height: 200cm
Material: Mango woodColour: Brown
Price: £1,195
Rich dark wood tones and interesting headboard patterns make the Gallery Interiors Boho Retreat 4 Poster Bed from Olivia's a desirable piece. The headboard height also adds a sense of grandeur – it certainly wouldn't look out of place in an impressive stately home.
Cast Iron Antique Four Poster Bed
- Buy now from Victorian Dreams (£3,600)
Size: King 153 x 212cm
Height: 237cm
Material: Cast ironColour: Black
Price: £3,600
For an antique option, this Cast Iron Four Poster Bed from Victorian Dreams is a regal option. Although recently sourced in North Africa, this bed was originally made in Birmingham circa 1880. The central brass castings feature an intricate sunflower design, and the upper brass fittings allow a canopy to be installed. A standard British kingsize mattress perfectly fits this four poster bed.
Isla Metal 4 Poster Bed
- Buy now from Next (from £799)
Size: Double, king or super king
Height: 210cm
Material: Metal and woolColour: Black
Price: £799 - £999
Stuck between an upholstered or four poster bed? Why not have both with the Isla Metal 4 Poster Bed? The structure is created using metal, the top section curving towards the centre for a soft finish, while the headboard and footboard are luxuriously upholstered in a wool blend natural stone fabric.
You might also like our pick of the best upholstered beds
Lille French 4 Poster Bed
- Buy now from Crown French Furniture (£1,360)
Size: King and super king
Height: 177cm
Material: Ash woodColour: Warm walnut
Price: £1,360
A much shorter style, the Lille French 4 Poster Bed features spindle-style posts that reach just a touch higher than the headboard, a perfect option for rooms with low or vaulted ceilings. Made from ash wood and stained in this warm walnut tone, the French-inspired carved headboard lends itself well to more traditional interiors.
Wardley Four Poster Bed
- Buy now from Neptune (from £1,795)
Size: King and super king
Height: 225cm
Material: Oak and fabric (11 available)Colour: Oak or painted frame, 74 fabric colours available
Price: from £1,795
Another upholstered option, the Wardley Four Poster Bed from Neptune offers a more rustic aesthetic in its raw form, or for something more contemporary, opt for the painted finish. The upholstery is focused on the headboard, and with 11 fabric options in 74 different colours, you can certainly make this four poster bed your own.
Astoria Grand Solid Wood Four Poster Bed
- Buy now from Wayfair (£3,393.99)
Size: Double, king and super king
Material: Mahogany woodColour: Waxed mahogany
Price: £3,393.99
This four poster bed is a truly traditional design, reminiscent of the antique beds you'd likely see in estates owned by the likes of National Trust and English Heritage. This Solid Wood Four Poster Bed is been handcrafted from mahogany, which has been sourced from sustainable plantations, and coated with wax to not only protect the wood, but also to give it a lovely finish.
Strauss Four Poster Bed
- Buy now from Hadley Rose (£4,125)
Size: Super king 208.92 x 218.44cm
Height: 193.04cm
Material: Oak, linen and metalColour: Natural oak
Price: £4,125
If you require a four poster bed that's easily customisable, consider your needs met. The Strauss Four Poster Bed has an optional metal canopy that can be added to the top of the oak structure, so depending on your space and style you can take it or leave it! Plus, the headboard and footboard are upholstered in this lovely linen fabric with a nailhead trim, which can be customised on request.