Paintings from the 15th century show a base frame as part of a carpentered bed box. On top of that was a bag filled with straw or dried leaves, then a duvet and on top of that a bed cover made from linen or hemp. A bed-chamber could be 4 m x 3.5 m big.

In Northern Germany, the bed-chamber was soon not simply used to sleep in. People worked, read or received visitors. In the middle was a pompous bed as a symbol of a harmonic marriage. Around it, jewellery, crockery, linens, clothes and books were displayed. In the 19th century, catafalques and bed cupboards came into fashion. One assumes that these alcoves were developed from the berths of the fishing boats. They offered good protection against cold and humidity. People layed in them half sitting. At that time, the first duvets were introduced.