Different Antique Bedroom Set Styles

If you are looking into the various designs of an antique bedroom set or two, you might just be looking into a long list of potentials. For starters, antique bedroom sets cannot be simply classified as Colonial and Pre-colonial. These labels only apply to North American furniture sets from those aforementioned historical eras. Labeling set pieces as European bedroom sets or Asian bedroom sets is also quite broad, since we all know that there are numerous known pieces from both Europe and Asia. Finally, categorizing a set by its makers like Sheraton or Chippendale is too specific. There are other noteworthy furniture craftsmen (and women) in the world that should not be overlooked. So if you are looking at the different antique bedroom set style, you might want to classify these into two categories: by the materials used and by the century it was made.

By the materials used

You can actually trace back the history of one antique bedroom set by simply knowing precisely what type of wood was used. Oak was prominent during the earliest times of furniture making, simply because this type of wood was the most abundant. Western furniture pieces from the 1500 and beyond were usually made of darkly varnished oak. These pieces were also known for their intricate decorative carvings. Walnut furniture became popular between 1600 to around 1730. Although antique furniture from this type of wood has fewer carvings, the pieces were still pretty much substantial in form and volume.

Mahogany and satinwood came much later, around the turn of the 18th century. These pieces were relative “lighter” since the method of cutting wood has improved dramatically. However, more Western furniture makers preferred mahogany while Eastern furniture makers developed refined techniques with satinwood. The 19th century craftsmen from all over the world started using “mixed” pieces, combining the popular wood with “unconventional” materials like ash, cedar, cherry wood, and even bamboo. There are even cases when the “traditional” wood (oak, walnut, mahogany and satinwood) were passed up altogether in favor of the less expensive and more abundant “unconventional” materials.

By the century it was made

On the broadest scale, many furniture pieces are marked within the century they were made. The 17th century pieces were marked by Carolean and Jacobean sentimentalities, particularly in the Elizabethan era. Bedroom sets from this century were usually overly decorated. This was also the start of the Colonial period in the United States where most craftsmen followed the Jacobean style. Prior to that, American pre-colonial bedroom sets were usually utilitarian in design. The 18th century brought about the emergence of the most popular cabinet makers in the world. In England, there were Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. In the US, the popular craftsmen were Adam, Regency and the tandem of William and Mary. In France, everyone knew Directoire, Empire and Louis signature pieces.

Aside from the Industrial Revolution, the 19th century was marked by a “revival” of sorts where furniture pieces exhibited a number of Egyptian, Gothic, Greek, Italian, Renaissance, Roman and even Eastern inspired décor. Finally, the 20th century is marked by contemporary designs and furniture pieces made of other materials aside from wood. However, the two most prominent styles during the age were Art Deco and Art Nouveau.