DO you yearn to feel like a princess, and be swept away by romance and cherished in your bedroom?

You might not yet have met Prince Charming, but there is an answer - the four-poster bed.

Once confined to stately homes and royal palaces and something most of us could only daydream about, they are now so much more affordable that many of us are choosing to transform our bedrooms into sanctuaries and indulge night-time fantasies with these grand beds.

Whatever the vision - a seductive, regal bedchamber of the past complete with carvings and swagged curtains, hotel chic' with today's sleeker contemporary versions, or maybe just a simple country look with a wrought-iron frame and muslin curtains - there's something for everyone.

A four-poster is the ultimate romantic bed,'' says Andy Hills, managing director of And So To Bed, whose collection of traditional beds, starting from around £3,000, has such detailed hand carvings and sumptuous hangings that the designs look like illustrations from the pages of a history book.

These beds are popular because people increasingly want to spoil themselves at home and create a bedroom that's not just luxurious and opulent, but also glamorous.

We hear some lovely romantic stories from our customers. Some of them have always promised themselves a four-poster bed and have saved up to treat themselves One chap said he proposed to his wife in a four-poster and wanted to surprise her on their 30th wedding anniversary, while others have slept in four-posters in hotels, often on honeymoon, and want to replicate that experience in their own home.

The appeal is growing because there are so many styles on offer to suit both contemporary and traditional homes. We now have a white-painted version of our traditional Georgian four-poster which is incredibly popular as it's equally at home in a modern room or a period setting."

While four-posters, which probably originated around Tudor times, have a long history, there's no longer any need to pay a king's ransom for one.

Most of the major companies include one in their collections, and if you shop around there are smaller companies who can also offer something special at competitive prices.

You can get a basic model for just over £150, or you can splash out for the bed of your dreams and spend thousands more dressing it in rich fabrics.

The only limit is your pocket and your imagination.

So wake up, there's no need just to daydream. Find the perfect four-poster in our guide.

FAIRY TALE FANCY

IF you want to feel like a queen or (or king) and sleep in stately style, a traditional wooden, carved, draped four-poster should grace your boudoir.

These really are the stuff of dreams, but be aware that dressing these beauties in the luxury fabrics they deserve - silks, velvets and brocade - is an expensive business on top of the price of the bed.

Andy Hills advises: These are large and dominating beds and need space around and above them so their grandeur can be properly appreciated. They shouldn't crowd the room or scrape the ceiling.

Displayed properly and lavishly draped with side curtains and a ceiling canopy they turn any bedroom into an indulgent romantic sanctuary.'' The height of a room needs to be above 10 feet to accommoda traditional, classic four-poster comfortably, and ideally the bed should be set in a 15-foot square room space.

10:17am Friday 11th April 2008

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