Intricately carved beds make show-stopping centerpieces

"Bed is a bundle of paradoxes: We go to it with reluctance, yet we quit it with regret." Charles Caleb Colton, (1780-1832), English cleric and writer, Lacon (1825)

On my recent trip to China, I had the opportunity to see some remarkable furniture and accessories that I would love to have in my home. In the last Inside Spaces I talked about Asian accent pieces and how to use them in your home.

Today, I would like to share some photos of the amazing Chinese beds and talk about how they would fit into your space.

Chinese beds are a perfect example of outstanding craftsmanship and attention to detail. The original Chinese bed was a symbol of wealth and status, and the most intricate designs and ornamentation can still be seen in these older beds.

Used for sleeping at night, the beds became the center of the home during the day. A thin pad was used as a mattress and when it was removed in the day, the bed was used as seating and a small table would be placed in the center of the bed where the family would take tea. In the furniture factories I visited, this was the way most were displayed.

It's hard to imagine sleeping on such a hard surface with very little padding, but I discovered that a lot of things we take for granted and expect, like comfort, were perceived differently centuries ago.

So, what would you do with one of these beds today?

These beautiful pieces could be the centerpiece of any room. Placed in a sitting or living room, it would definitely be a show-stopper. If you were to use one of these lovely pieces as a sofa, a lot of pillows would have to be used to soften it up. Keep in mind that it's wood and not the most comfortable seating. A small pad, similar to the ones used for sleeping, could also be used, with pillows added in the back and sides.

Fabric also can be draped over the frame to soften it even more and bring in added color.

While the beds are beautiful in and of themselves, I also saw a lot of decorative pieces that had once been part of a bed. One of the factory owners told me that occasionally only panels from the beds could be found; or if the beds were in really bad condition and couldn't be saved, those scouting out the beds would rescue panels, restore them and sell them as decorative wall plaques. If you are lucky enough to find these panels in antique stores or retail stores that import directly from China, there are several ways to use them.

Hanging these free-standing panels on a wall shows off their intricate designs. In addition to being hung over a chest, table or sofa, they also make great over-the-door accent pieces.

While I don't own one of these beautiful pieces, I can certainly appreciate their beauty and history. If you are interested in owning an original Chinese bed, or a Chinese-style bed, check the Internet for sources or visit antique stores or your local import store.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the founding president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.