Ancient Bedding Set Styles

Reason

• The Greco-Roman aesthetic idea is, overall, logical -- ancient style use repeating themes, geometric design and the constant interplay of ratios. What should strike the viewer in seeing any Greco-Roman aesthetic in the bedroom is its stark lines and repeating figures, each with a logical purpose, arrangement and proportion.

Angles

• The most common ancient aesthetic style that is useful for bedding set decoration is the repeating angle. This is everywhere in the Greco-Roman world from home design to decorative art. The angle was of immense importance to the Greek mind since it manifested the order of the universe and the number two; the female principle in the cosmos; the principle of division; and fertility. A bedding set using a simple solid color bordered by a striking angular pattern repeating throughout the length of the piece is stark, striking and undoubtedly authentic.

Curves

• It was the Romans who perfected the difficult architectural feat of the arch. It is not that the Greeks did not have curves in their art, they had lots of them, but both Greeks and Romans often used a repeating interplay of curves, dots and angles to make designs. Nothing is disorderly about a curve in bedroom or bedding design in the Greco-Roman mind. Like the number 2, the curve is the female principle, while the harsher straight lines are the male. Mixing them together provides a significant philosophical and psycho-sexual symbolism applicable in the bedroom. The usage of alternating and repeating curves and lines as a border should work well.

Animals

• The Greeks especially loved to decorate pottery and homes with animal figures. Little of ancient Greek furniture survives, but the pottery shows a repetitive animal motif likely taken from Persia. The animals can be real or mythological, but what they all have in common are their stylized nature and repetition. The Greek mind saw order in nature and its cycles, and so repetition of the same mathematically perfect piece or design reflected this understanding. Whatever you do, remember that each piece must exist in a mathematical ratio with each other. Angles, curves, lines, dots or animals must relate to each other in mathematical proportion to give the powerful impact of order and "naturalness" to your design.