Old Federation Bedrooms in the 1900s

Beds

• Iron or wooden beds of the half-tester variety were used in Federation bedrooms. A tester is a fabric canopy that covers the bed. Full tester beds had a post at each bed corner supporting a full wooden frame from which the canopy hung. Half-tester beds had two posts at the head of the bed supporting a frame that extended half-way down the bed, and the canopy hung from this frame. During the summer, the canopy was often a mosquito netting. In winter, warmer curtains were used. Iron beds were preferred because bedbugs were easier to control on metal rather than wooden bed frames.

Other Furniture

• Bedroom furnishings included a washstand with washbasin and water jug along with a toothbrush stand, toothbrushes, soap holder, towel rack and other items for personal cleanliness. A dresser held folded clothing. A dressing stand held a mirror, combs, brushes, and shaving equipment. There was a wooden wardrobe for storing hanging clothes. Upholstered chairs were found in the master bedroom, with simple wooden chairs more likely in the minor bedrooms.

Utilities

• At the turn of the century, water closets might be included in Australian houses. Electricity was not yet in use. Chamber pots -- or sometimes a commode chair -- were often in lesser bedrooms for bathroom needs. Lighting was by gas light, and heating was done with fireplaces. The size and ornamentation of mantels and fireplaces varied according to the importance of the room, so the master bedroom might have had a large fireplace with an ornate mantel. Often fireplaces were set in the corner of the room to save space. Cooling was accomplished by opening windows or by moving beds through wide door frames onto bedroom balconies for sleeping out-of-doors.

Ceilings

• The largest bedroom was likely to have an ornate ceiling in keeping with its status as a major room on a level of the drawing room and dining room. Ceilings were of lathe and plaster or pressed metal. An ornate central medallion such as a rose could be surrounded by decorative patterns like patterned ribs or relief-work. Many Federation houses had Australian motifs such as bush flowers or Australian animals incorporated into the designs. More expensive houses could have oval or circular domes incorporated into the ceiling. Cornices -- the design element between ceilings and walls -- were more decorative in master bedrooms and simple in minor bedrooms. Stenciled or wallpaper friezes were popular at the top of walls just below the cornice.

Floors

• Federation homes generally had dark wood floors. Linoleum-covered floors or carpet runners were used in lesser bedrooms. The largest bedroom could have larger carpets in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as carpet runners. Carpet runners had decorative borders incorporated into their design and were held in place by a system of rods and brackets. Linoleum runners existed as well.