“Why did people sleep in this instead of a bed?” 😯🗄️ It looks more like a storage chest than a place to rest — but for centuries, it was the go-to spot for sleep. Can you guess why? The surprising reason is in the article below 👇🏻
Why did people choose to sleep in a confined space resembling a cave? What were the pros and cons of such beds, and why did they become a thing of the past? It may seem unusual to us today that people once preferred such places to sleep.
Saving space: In past eras, houses were small, and families, on the contrary, were large. The wardrobe bed was a great solution for optimizing space as it took up less space compared to a regular bed.
Warmth: Such a place provided heat retention, which became especially valuable in cold winters when central heating was not available. In the Middle Ages, people did not have such technological improvements as central heating and sleeping in such places kept them warm.
Feeling of security: The closed space of the bed-wardrobe gave people a feeling of security from the cold and noise. This cozy haven provided them with a psychological sense of comfort and safety, providing a peaceful place to rest.
Personal Life: In homes, a bed-wardrobe provided people with a small space. In addition, they served as miniature bedrooms and could be used for sleeping when there was not enough space for everyone.
Cost Savings: Wardrobe beds were more affordable than regular beds. They were also used by some rich people for their migrant workers as these cabinets could sleep 5-6 people at a time.
In the early 1900s, the use of such wardrobe beds ceased due to their significant disadvantages:
Cramped and poorly ventilated closet beds could harbor dirt and vermin.
Lack of proper ventilation could lead to suffocation, especially if several people were in the bed at the same time.
In addition, they became associated with poverty and rural life, which also contributed to their emergence from everyday life.
