Free Poster Bed Plans
A collection of poster bed plans including elegant English style canopy beds.
Four Poster Bed Plan
Build this classic, Early-American style bed in any size, from twin to
King, by simply enlarging the frame and headboard dimensions.
Pencil-Post Bed
Bed posts with octagonal feet and the classic tapered octagon on top.
Hand-carved lamb's tongues, a tester frame, and figured wood lend a period
look.
Child's Poster Bed
Plans for a 1800mm-high four-poster bed has space for a curtain rail to
hang a mosquito net in the summer months.
How
to Build a Child's Four Poster Bed
List of materials, tools and instructions for making a durable children's
four poster bed.
English Poster Bed
Plans for an elegant queen-sized poster bed that combines features
from both English and Provincial designs.
Making a Pencil
Post Bed
An informative blog describing one person's experience in building a post
bed. Lots of photos.
Pencil Post Bed Diagram
Thirteen parts. That's all there is to this pencil-post bed. Cutting
diagrams and materials list available to download.
16th Century Post
Bed
Photo of period bed with curtains, recreated at Weald and Downland Museum.
Four
Post Bed
Very clean lines on this pencil post bed. Includes a cut list. DXF Format.
The Poster Bed
A poster bed is a bed that has four posts, one in each corner, that support a tester (aka, testor or upper) rectangular panel. The traditional function of the tester was to hold bed curtains in order to keep out draughts. The English poster bed features four tall corners that are either turned, tapered, or in some cases, square. Sometimes the top is a canopy that is held up by the four corners. The provincial style employs curves in the head and foot boards as well as in the skirting.
A pencil post bed is a type of poster bed in which the the posts are
octagonally faceted and tapered like elegant dinner candles. Modern
versions of this classic design often do not employ a canopy, resulting in
a bed with simple, clean lines and an airy, open feel.
