Half-Tester Beds Are the Biggest Designer Trend You’ve Never Heard Of

Move over, canopy beds! The half-tester bed, a close cousin of the canopy, is having a major moment as a bedroom decorating idea right now, especially in more traditional leaning spaces. Designers love this predominantly fabric feature as a way to make a simple bed frame feel more special. Moreover, half-testers can be a better fit, literally, in small bedroom layouts that don’t skimp on style.

“If you have aspirations of a canopy bed but don’t have the space in your bedroom to make that work, a half-tester is a great way to get a similar vibe,” says designer Grey Joyner. Designer Kelley Proxmire appreciates the air of formality that half-tester beds introduce into a bedroom. “It’s also a way to incorporate additional color and texture into the space,” she says. 

Want to know more about this new-old bed style? Here, designers speak to the history and purpose of the half-tester bed, how to source one for your home, and the many benefits these beds offer. If you’re looking to add a little bit of softness and personality into your sleep space, you’ll want to keep reading to hear all about half-testers here.

A half-tester bed is a type of canopy bed where only the headboard is covered with fabric. Half-tester beds have been around for centuries and are excellent choices for rooms that may be overwhelmed by the size of a traditional canopy.

“Some say the half-tester originated in Italy or France in the 17th century,” say Mary Graham and Nicole Salvesen of Salvesen Graham, a design duo that uses half-testers in their projects frequently (check out the example from their recent book A New English Style, authored with David Nicholls, at the top of this page). “What we do know is the design evolved from its original purpose to give protection from drafty bedrooms.”

It’s important to first understand the differences between fully covered canopy — or full-tester — beds and half-testers. Full-tester beds date back to medieval times and served a number of practical purposes. “They were designed to retain heat, provide privacy for nobles, and keep out pests,” designer Emily Vaughan explains. 

Half-tester beds came about later as housing conditions improved, she notes. “Colonial Americans did not contend with issues faced by residents of the English countryside — such as rodents falling from sod roofs — making a fully enclosed bed unnecessary,” the designer says. 

As such, she adds, half-testers were more of a decorative choice than a 100% pragmatic one. “They signaled a sense of luxury but with a less imposing presence than full-testers,” Vaughan says. “Additionally, they were more economical to construct, requiring significantly less fabric.” 

While it can be difficult — and expensive — to source an authentic half-tester bed today, you can certainly create your own, either with the help of a skilled upholsterer or by taking the DIY route. A half-tester can take a bunch of forms, depending on how you choose to create the half-canopy.

Salvesen Graham, for one, go about this feature in a number of ways. “We often use a kick pleat pelmet for a tailored, more masculine look or a gathered valance for a feminine look,” they say. “A demi-lune tester can be achieved with a corona and is better suited to a single bed so it doesn’t feel too overpowering and has real impact when repeated for twin beds.”

Whether you find a readymade half-tester or want to go the bespoke route, this type of bed setup can be an investment. “Many of the half-tester beds featured in magazines are custom-made,” Vaughan says. “A local drapery or upholstery workroom can create a similar look by fabricating a wall-mounted valance with coordinating back and side panels.” 

Those who do not wish to design their own half-tester beds may have luck searching for them on high-end secondhand sites such as 1stDibs or at antique shops, Proxmire adds. 

On a tight budget? You can still enjoy a half-tester bed of your own by getting a bit creative. “Consider adapting a standard canopy bed by attaching tie-top curtains to the back and sides,” Vaughan suggests. She notes that pairing a dark wooden frame with gauzy fabric curtains can yield a similar look. 

Interior designers appreciate half-tester beds for a variety of reasons, both functional and aesthetic. Though half-tester beds date back centuries, they still offer plenty of functionality in the 21st century. “The side panels can help obscure modern distractions — like a glowing phone charging on the nightstand — maintaining a more serene and restful atmosphere,” Vaughan says.

Another benefit of half-tester beds is that they can make a room appear taller by drawing the eye up to the ceiling, Joyner says. Salvesen Graham agree. “A half tester draws the eye up and fills the height of the room, which makes the scale of the room feel balanced, and, in turn, it makes it feel taller,” the design pair say. “We’ve also used similar continuous tones for the tester, headboard, and wall, which supports the illusion of balance and height. The quantity of fabric used provides a regal and cozy feel without overpowering.”

Plus, as Joyner adds, the fabric can help soundproof a room. This can be essential in a sleep space, particularly on a busy street. 

Vaughan appreciates the drama the height of these beds can add to a room. At the same time, though, she maintains that half-tester beds can also be a great way to cozy up any bedroom. “It adds softness and warmth to the space, offering an opportunity to incorporate rich textiles and layered design,” she says. “The cocooning effect of the canopy and side panels enhances the sense of coziness, creating an inviting and intimate sleeping area.”

Don’t sleep on this look if you’re in a small space either. You might not be able to fit a full canopy bed into a tiny apartment or small suburban bedroom. But you can get the draped effect with a half-tester, and it’s an equally stunning focal feature in the grand scheme of a bedroom’s design.

“Compared to other full canopy styles, a half tester is a good solution in smaller spaces, equally if a room is large but has a small ceiling height,” say Salvesen Graham. And if you want to see even more examples of this style bed, check out Salvesen Graham’s book above.