It is really odd to think that bedroom furniture has only been a feature in European homes since the 1600s. Before that people lived out of a trunk and many of the poor did so right up until the mid 1800s. They did not need a chest of drawers, because they had no clothes to put in them.
Thankfully times changed and by the early 1900s most people slept on a bed and had at least one change of clothes, which is when, in the UK at least, the bedroom furniture industry was born.
Stand Alone Bedroom Furniture
At first stand alone bedroom furniture was the norm. The must have item was, of course, the bed and once people got a little more money together they would have a clothes chest. These chests fell out of use in time, although many people still have Ottoman chests in their bedroom today they tend to keep bed linen in them.
They were replaced with chest of drawers and things like suits and winter coats were kept hanging on the back of the bedroom door or in a single wardrobe that everyone used.
Over time people got richer and had more suits, coats and long dresses and this is when the use of standalone wardrobes in every bedroom became the norm.
Fitted Bedroom Furniture
Fitted bedroom furniture was to only be found in the homes of the rich until the mid 60s when middle class families began to have them fitted. Nowadays fitted bedrooms are the norm.
This is lucky because a fitted bedroom allows you to get far more into the same space. Drawers and wardrobes are designed to use the entire cube and to store clothes and accessories properly, so that they do not crease or get damaged when not being worn.
Fitted bedroom furniture can be bought and installed by the homeowner, but to get the most of it you need to have a professional to design, build and install it for you. This kind of fitted bedroom is often referred to as a bespoke bedroom because it is tailored to the precise needs of the homeowner.
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