I wonder if box beds might be a good idea for certain teenagers’ rooms? I’m just thinking many parents and their children would love to shut the door on an unmade bed.
Western Europe, especially the north of England, Scotland, Brittany and the Netherlands had a strong tradition for these stored away sleeping compartments. By the 18th century they had developed from basic boxes, often with just a curtain on one side, to a sophisticated piece of furniture. Emily Bronte had Mr Lockwood, in Wuthering Heights, exclaiming with surprise when he realised his bed would be in a ‘little closet’, despite these private little nooks reputably being very popular at the time with young gentlemen in London. When fashions changed and people became more prosperous in the later 19th century many of these charming little closets were upcycled into cupboards or book shelves. Some remain however and maybe we should take another close look at them as the trend for bijou sized, central city living spaces increases.