Medieval
Decor
Textiles were the central focus of medieval decor. Light,
portable, and multifunctional, textiles could be used as room
dividers, wall hangings, floor or bed coverings, or protection
from the cold. Colorful fabrics added brightness and life
to dark rooms where glassless windows were of necessity small
and shuttered against the weather.
 Medieval
Period Furniture
Medieval furniture was primarily made of oak, since it was
easy to obtain, strong and durable. Perhaps the most important
piece of medieval furniture was the chest or coffer. Chests
were originally made from hollow tree trunks banded with iron,
hence the origin of the modern word 'trunk'. A type of chest
known as the hutch could be used for packing household possessions
when traveling, but it was also used as a seat, a desk, a
table, and a couch for sleeping purposes. When not traveling,
the hutch was used for storage.
13th Century Hutch Chest
For
the very early years of the medieval age, when Europe was
in great disarray, little can be said until we meet the rise
of the Carolingian dynasty in Germany in the mid 8th century.
Following the Carolingian reordering of European society we
encounter the great, settled traditions of medieval art, the
Romanesque, and Gothic. Also discussed in this section is
the Eastern contribution to furniture design in the Byzantine
world.
Medieval
Homesedieval
homes were the origin of the expression 'bed and board', since
these were the items of furniture necessary to life in the
medieval age. Medieval peasant furniture probably consisted
of the 'bed and board' only, with perhaps a few cushions,
mats and hangings to provide warmth. The 'board' referred
to the chief furnishing of the great dining hall where both
the owners and the dependents of medieval manor homes gathered
together at meal times. Originally, the 'board' was just that
- a board, probably supported on tree trunks. This evolved
into the portable trestle table hat could be easily transported,
or packed away when not in use.
Cupboards
In the medieval period, the 'cup borde' was a board used to
store cups. The cup borde gradually acquired the characteristics
of the modern cupboard, with shelves and doors. Later in the
medieval age the buffet was used for storage in the dining
hall.
Benches,
Stools, & Chairs
Benches and stools were commonly used for sitting in medieval
times - only the rich and important, or perhaps occasionally
the privileged head of the house, ever used an actual chair.
Folding chairs were popular amongst the medieval aristocracy,
since they could easily be transported when on the move.
Medieval
Beds
Beds
in Saxon times consisted of a board often placed in a recess,
hung about with curtains for warmth and privacy. A rough mattress
made of straw was covered with decorative fabric. The Normans
brought with them from medieval France a more elaborate bed
style, where iron railings were used to hang the curtains,
and both coverings and curtains were rich, elaborate and highly
prized.
These
gradually developed into the huge fourposter beds, heavily
carved and richly hung. The Great Bed of Ware, now in a museum,
was eleven feet square. However, despite the expensive and
decorative hangings and covers, early beds were still based
on a mattress of straw. It was only in the 14th century that
feather beds began to be used. A feather mattress was a prized
family possession in the later medieval era.
Medieval
Art & Design
 The
best examples of medieval design, not only in furniture but
also in medieval art and architecture, are found in churches
and cathedrals. The church alone was neutral in times of conflict,
and was more or less exempt from the nomadic lifestyle that
so influenced medieval furniture characteristics. Such medieval
antiques as are still in existence are mostly examples of
the more solid, permanent style of furniture only possible
in churches.
Medieval
Revival Furniture & Decor
Medieval home decor is again becoming popular, and medieval
furniture replicas are 'in'. Medieval home designs can be
fun, with lots of scope for using bright fabrics and interesting
lighting effects.
Use tapestries
and hangings to cover the walls, rush matting for the floors,
carvings or stencils in ancient heraldic designs, simple but
sturdy medieval furniture, "Lord of the Rings" style
weapons, armor or shields as decoration, and plenty of small
candle-type light fixtures. Medieval interior decor is all
about color and warmth, use of textures and textiles, and
simply made, practical furniture. Life in the middle ages
was harsh, but also full of excitement, fun and romance.
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