A canopy bed is always a great way to add a sense of romance and drama to a scheme. One of our favourite forms of canopy bed is a half tester.

Unlike a traditional four-poster canopy, a half tester is only attached to the headboard. It creates the same opulent feeling of a four poster bed, while offering a more contemporary solution which creates a greater feeling of space.

In my ‘Pop-Up Caribbean Suite’ for Turnell & Gigon we have used a beautiful half-tester around the bed to create a romantic mood. Soft linens are contrasted with an over-scaled headboard, upholstered in Schumacher’s quirky ‘Under The Sea’ embroidery, with motifs inspired by Caribbean beaches.

We usually use this aesthetic feature in rooms with a higher ceiling but this isn’t a rule. A half tester can be a dramatic feature in smaller spaces too, such as the more minimal half tester in The Soho Hotel’s Room 507 (below). A half tester also gives us an excuse to combine even more texture, colour and pattern!

At Covent Garden Hotel in Room 217 (above) we have combined a traditional ticking stripe by Robert Kime for the walling with Vaughan’s Greek-inspired embroidered leaf motif as the main fabric on the half tester. By contrasting a hand blocked print for the lining, with a plain cream headboard and strong red border, we have created a fresh and contemporary take on this romantic feature.

We often call Covent Garden Hotel our Grand Dame, so the grandeur of a half tester has always been a great fit.

In Room 417 we have used a large scale headboard, covered in one of my latest fabrics for Chelsea Textiles, Ashenwood in Summer. Over the bed is a traditional corona half tester in a Lee Jofa floral fabric. The floral fabric on the outside of the canopy is contrasted with a vibrant yellow Tissus d’Helene print.

Half testers are a wonderful way to bring a touch of opulence to your next scheme. Use this versatile and elegant design detail to bring together exciting combinations of textures and patterns.