Medieval Castle Bedroom – Layouts, Elements and Furniture

A medieval castle outlook reflects the culture of the middle age during the 14th century. Although we are in a modern period where technology is an integral component in our homes, there is nothing more classy and exquisite than creating a bedroom that reflects the culture of medieval times. Why? The elements of that period have become a source of inspiration for many interior designers today. The captivating dark and elegant style infused with medieval décor achieve a classy ambiance leaving an irresistible taste even for visitors. So, how do you create a medieval bedroom in your home? How do you achieve a simple but elegant design in your bedroom? Let’s find out in this article.

What Is a Medieval Castle?

A medieval castle is a defensive structure of strong personalities in the middle ages. It is one of the earliest castles of the 14th century. They were constructed from the 10th century CE to serve as a residential place for monarchs or lords, demonstrate their power and wealth to the locals, defend the people from external aggression, and serve as a local administration and justice center.

In the early middle ages, these castles were initially built with woods and timber. However, as time proceeded, wood could no longer be used due to its susceptibility to fire and insects. As a result, a scientific approach in the 13th century led to a swift change from woods to stones, enhancing the castle’s defense system. This move became evident among many northern European castles today.

What Does a Bedroom in a Medieval Castle Look Like?

A bedroom in a medieval castle was known as the great or bed-chamber. It is one of the most important rooms in the castle, mainly occupied by the lord and the lady of the castle. In other situations,  It is the main room of structures, including the royal palaces, country houses, and large manor houses. Since it was an important room, the design was created to suit the taste and reflect the culture and status of the lord and lady of the castle. Factors such as theme, walls, furniture, accessories, ornamental pieces, and more influence the style of the bedroom. In the next category, we will examine some elements that create an ideal medieval great chamber.

Elements of an Ideal Medieval Bedroom

Some elements are essential parts of a medieval bedroom. Without them, you cannot create a perfect medieval look for your bedroom. Some of these elements include:

1.    Stone Wall

One major feature of the medieval period was that the castle walls were made of stones. A typical example is a concentric castle. This was done to defend the castle from external aggression. As a result, a stone wall is an integral part of a medieval bedroom. The walls and the floor must create an earthy ambiance that reflects medieval times. Here, you can create an original medieval look by using dark stones such as slate. If dark stones are outside your reach, you can go for a lighter one like marble. The marble should be of earthy color to illustrate the period. However, if you can’t afford to create an original style, you can use wallpaper that incorporates a rock or stony style.

2.    Wall Tapestry

Wall Tapestry is another essential element of middle age decor. It is a woven wall art piece often hung on a decorative metallic rod with an ornamental tassel. With its design, it produces varieties of classic themes such as maidens, knights, etc. Although it is an elegant piece, a wall tapestry often takes a long time before completing by hand. However, you don’t have to worry about hand-sewing the piece today. Instead, varieties of tapestry are produced to suit the taste of homeowners. In short, the wall tapestry is an essential decorative piece in your bedroom that can enrich the look and reflect medieval times.

3.    Floor

Just like the wall, the floor must depict an earthy appearance. Therefore, it should be kept bare. That implies that you do not need that fancy rug or expensive tile to decorate your room. Leaving the floor bare adds a more stylish effect to the room while enhancing the medieval look. If you don’t want it bare, you can use wall-to-wall carpeting.

Good to Read: Flooring Trends that will make your space look amazing

4.    Theme

The medieval period does focus on a theme. Hence, you have to decide on the type of theme you intend to use for your room. Ask yourself these questions. Am I using a gothic, knight, or maiden theme? In some cases, you can create a theme that illustrates some animals, such as dragons. Irrespective of the tone you create, there are always decors that engage the look and reflect the middle age setting.

5.    Color

The Medieval castle often looks dark and mysterious due to little light. As a result, you have to design your room by going for various dark colors to reflect middle age vividly. In other words, you are to settle for a deep color when selecting your decors. Deep colors are suitable for a bedroom as it shades and adds a hue to reflect the period. Therefore, colors such as burgundy, brown, dark green, bronze, or gold are appropriate and appealing.

Good to Read: Bedroom Color Trends – That Will Stand Out

6.    Furniture

Nothing gives a medieval look than pieces of medieval-related furniture. You have to think outside the box and research to find something related to medieval times. In this case, you can start by looking for wooden pieces to fill the space. To create a stylish effect, you can further look for dark chunky wooden furniture incorporating delicate carvings. An example is a wooden antique treasure box that can serve as a coffee table or a storage box. You can place it in the corner of the bedroom to achieve a medieval style.

7.    Long Drapery

There is nothing more classy than using long drapery in the bedroom. When creating a medieval style, this piece can be a heavy drape or a velvet kind. Long and heavy drapes pool down and cover the window area. If it is long enough to create a puddled style, then let it be. It filters natural light, beautifully shades the room, and creates a stunning effect. To do this, you have to consider the colors and materials of the drapery. There are varieties of materials that can complement the room’s beauty. From velvet to chenille, damask to brocade, you can select any material to depict medieval style. As for colors, always go for dark ones. Avoid bright ones as they can reflect the modern period. Some colors you can consider include red, maroon, gold, dark purple, black, deep blue, emerald green, or any dark shade. These colors create an elegant and classy look for your bedroom.

8.    Doors

If you feel you can add one of those modern doors to the bedroom, then you are wrong. The medieval period utilizes specially-made doors, and that must reflect in your design. The doors, often wooden, incorporate an antique style that beautifies the room. If the doorway is shaped into an arch, then that is much better. Complemented with sets of antiques, you can achieve an elegant and polished look for your bedroom.

Good to Read: French Doors in the Bedroom: How Can You Make It Work?

9.    Minimalist Chandeliers

What is a medieval bedroom without a chandelier? It would be best if you had this piece to refurbish and have exquisite taste in your room. During those days, chandeliers were the artificial source of lighting that lit the castle through candles. Although you may not use candles for your bedroom, you can surely add something else to enhance the look as it fills up the space. Here, you may use some warm bulbs instead of bright ones to add a soft glow to the room. Using warmer light will elevate your mood and reminisce you of the past when there wasn’t electricity at all. With the right pieces of furniture and some glow from the chandelier, your medieval bedroom is all set.

10. Sconces

Sconces are extra lighting you can add to your bedroom. If you are not satisfied with the chandelier, you can utilize the sconces instead. Scones are placed in different areas that need some lighting. For example, they can be placed by the door, window, vanity mirror, or bedside. Scones come in various types. However, it would help if you look for some antique quality to elevate the style—scones made of dark metals (bronze) or woodwork. Besides, you can use either arm bulbs or candles for your scones to make it more appealing.

Good to Read: Dark Furniture in the Bedroom: How Should You Pair It?

Medieval Furniture for Your Bedroom

Specific pieces of furniture reflect the medieval bedroom. As a result, decorating the bedroom without these pieces won’t culminate into much medieval effect. If you are wondering what these pieces are, here is a list of them.

●     Canopy Beds

A canopy bed is a significant piece of medieval bedroom furniture. It is the material upon which the noble family. Usually, lay upon. It is the focal point of the bedroom as it captivates and reflects medieval culture and tradition. Made from wood, it consists of a large bed, springs made from ropes or leather strips, sheets, fur coverlets, pillows, and quilts. Although you may not incorporate other additional pieces that make up the bed, you can’t eliminate the four-poster beds that provide privacy and achieve a stylish effect.

●     Seatings

Seatings in medieval times consisted of stools, benches, and chairs. They were used for sitting and relaxing during leisure time. Among these items, the stool is the earliest form of seating. It comes in two types – the boarded and Gothic type, which was usually made of wood. When designing a medieval bedroom, you should include these rustic pieces to depict the style. Although the medieval bedroom often looks masculine, you can add a feminine touch by adding some stools, benches, and chairs. If it is a small room, these seatings fit perfectly. It does not have to be made of wood. Instead, you add other materials such as metal or even a sofa to enhance the room’s beauty.

●     Table

The table is another essential piece of the medieval bedroom. During medieval times, the table helped write documents, store them, and other decorative items. Tables were not only made of wood but also metal. You can go for any materials while adding any design that suits your taste when selecting this item.

●     Vanity Sets

The medieval castle comprises different rooms. Just like we have the solar for the lord, there is the boudoir for the lady. The boudoir is a separate room that serves as the lady’s dressing room constructed just for her to appreciate her beauty. In the boudoir, there are vanity sets constructed with oval or arched mirrors. To design your medieval bedroom, you can also add some vanity sets where you can spend quality time with your beauty. After all, you don’t spend all that time in your closet. Therefore, get some ornately designed vanity sets for the bedroom to transform the room’s beauty.

●     Cupboards

Often made from wood, Cupboards are another essential piece of furniture that suits the bedroom. Here, it can be used to store stationeries or any important material. Cupboards are carved with different styles. While some are simple, others can have intricate designs. For instance, most Gothic pieces often enhance how a room looks.  Aside from its style, cupboards are of different sizes. It can be small, medium-sized, or large. While the smaller sizes can be placed in the kitchen, the larger ones can be placed in the bedroom to store clothes and other vital materials.

●     Bed Frames

Bed frames are another essential piece in medieval homes. In most situations, they are made of materials such as wood or metals (iron). While some are made with simple designs, others can have intricate designs that make them more appealing. They range in different colors, including black and various shades of brown. Some of these frames usually comprise a metallic ring that holds the bed. You can get any piece that suits your taste at an antique shop.

●     Add some Memorabilia

Memorabilia are objects connected to last events. As for the medieval period, you can still discover some memorabilia of that age. All you have to do is look them up or do some research. After doing the research, gather some decors that can improve the beauty of the room. These decors do not take up much space. To make it easier, you can only go for the decorations related to the room’s themes. These collectibles add a perfect finishing touch that makes the room look great. Examples include carved frames, candle holders, statues, flags, figurines, and many more.

Conclusion

The bedroom is an essential part of any home. Designing the bedroom to suit the medieval style is a fun but challenging part. It is challenging because you may have to do lots of research to get suitable materials. However, the fun part makes the whole process enjoyable. So start designing today and create a perfect medieval bedroom.