How to make a canopy over a bed with your own hands

A little history

A nice textile curtain for a bed dates back to the times of the dominance of eastern rulers. Such a curtain primarily played a protective function:

• protected from annoying insects;
• created a certain microclimate in the area of ​​the canopied bed;
• played the role of a visual barrier, which created a feeling of closedness from prying eyes, peace and solitude.

Today, a bed canopy is more often used in the design of a children's room. However, its use will also be relevant in an adult’s room. Especially if the bedroom is made in oriental or Moroccan style.

In general, with a certain amount of imagination and creativity, you can correctly design a canopy for a bed in almost any interior. We'll give you ideas.

Choosing textiles: how not to harm your health

Along with the many benefits that a beautifully designed canopy provides, there is one compelling point against such a curtain - its airtightness and tendency to accumulate dust.

In this regard, the textiles used to create the canopy have some requirements:

• The fabric must be natural.
• The structure of the textile is preferably looser (the weaving of the threads is free).
• It is necessary to use a sufficient amount of fabric, but avoid creating multiple layers.
• It is better if the textiles for the canopy are light shades or kept in the same color scheme as the main tones of the bedroom.

For a good canopy that will bring exceptional benefits, the following types of fabrics are suitable:

• natural silk;
• light cambric;
• weightless satin;
• elegant cotton types of fabrics;
• tulle (subject to use as a light decorative element).

Important: wash the finished canopy every day. And if possible, get yourself a second set of fabric for changing the curtain. And change it as often as your bed linen.

Types of frames and their compatibility with the interior

In the world of designer fashion, there are several main types of frames for attaching a canopy over a bed. And you can use them as you wish, but you should be careful: not every frame will fit perfectly into the interior of a particular bedroom.

Thus, the “crown” frame, made of a ring with fabric attached to it, is most often attached to the ceiling space in the center of the bed and creates the illusion of a kind of crown. In this case, the cascading waves of textiles create an aura of mystery and mystery. This frame is relevant for a bedroom in a classic or Moroccan style, as well as in Provence or romantic styles. You should not use this design to create a canopy in a modern or high-tech bedroom. In this case, the prevailing romance will cancel out all the efforts of the designer and nullify the initially specified style.

Such a canopy will turn any bed into a truly “royal bed”

A simple “arc” design for a canopy, mounted at the head of the bed in the ceiling space, can fit perfectly into the styles: classic, colonial, baroque or Provence. Wherever smooth rounded lines are appropriate, a canopy on a semicircular frame will harmoniously complement the interior.

An elegant arc canopy will fit into almost any interior

A frequently used fastening for canopy textiles is bed posts, which allows you to create truly bold and interesting design solutions. Such a frame will look most interesting in a bedroom decorated in modern, high-tech, classic, Moroccan or Mediterranean styles. A bed with just such a canopy will resemble a real bed of an eastern sultan.

This canopy will suit both a high-tech bedroom and the “bedchamber of the eastern sultan”

If you want to get creative, and the only available materials are cords, then it is best to create such a canopy in the bedroom of a country house or in a teenager’s room. Bold decisions, wild imagination and the desire to decorate the house will allow you to use cords for an original canopy.

The lightest possible design, in which ordinary cords are used as supports

If you mount a canopy on an independent circuit, then we are talking about using various available means. These can be curtain rods mounted under the ceiling at the head and opposite side of the bed, durable tree branches, processed and varnished, and simple crossbars assembled into a single structure with bed posts. In all these cases, it is enough to design the canopy mounts in the same style as the bedroom interior. The result will impress you.

A contour of any shape suspended from the ceiling can become a frame for a canopy

Master class: DIY hanging canopy

The simplest design for attaching a canopy over a bed is hanging. Based on the name, we understand that we will have to hang something somewhere. And hang it, of course, from a ceiling mount.

Tools and materials

So, to carry out the work we will need:

• Meter ruler or tape measure (depending on what we have available or whether it’s easier to work with your hands up).
• Construction pencil.
• Drill-driver.
• Dowels or anchors with hooks (at least 4 pcs).
  To attach the canopy to the ceiling you will need special hooks
• Silk braid (or any other tape) - 4 m.
• Shovel handles (or other wooden planks), pre-painted - 2 pcs x 1 m.
  Ordinary shovel handles painted white are suitable as supports.
• Textiles for canopies.

Stages of work

1. Markings must be applied to the ceiling directly above the bed.
   To do this, we measure the length of our slats/cuttings (each). Note that it must be identical. And on the ceiling we mark the places where the anchors are attached, which should be located in pairs and parallel to each other. That is, two on the right and two on the left. The distance between these rows of anchors should be about 50-70 cm (in general, depending on the width of the bed, you can take the average value. For example, if the width of the bed is 1.5 m, then the distance from the bar to the frame bar can be 70 cm, and if the width of the bed is 2 m, then the distance can be increased to 1 m. In general, improvise. Marking the ceiling
2. We drill holes in the designated places and drive anchors into them.
3. We tie a ribbon to the resulting fasteners in such a way that each piece of ribbon forms a kind of decorative loop.
   Garter loops

   Adjust the length of the loops depending on the height of the ceilings. So, if the room has a standard height of 2.8 m, it will be enough to make loops 40 cm long. Accordingly, if the ceiling height is higher, then the loops can be lengthened.

4. Now we place the prepared textiles and hemmed edges on the floor. This should be a single piece of wide fabric, the length of which will be equal to two heights of the room plus 2.5-3 m.
5. In the center of the cut, you need to mark a piece with a width equal to the distance between the rows of anchors.
   To this value add a few tens of centimeters for the beautiful sagging of the canopy above the bed. As a rule, this is at least 40 cm. The easiest way to measure the required length of fabric is using the frame support strip
6. It is necessary to stitch the fabric along the marked points, forming a special passage for threading a wooden strip into it.
   That is, two blanks will be threaded into a piece of textile, similar to cornices. In order not to make a mistake with the width of the pocket, it is better to sew it with a placket inserted inside
7. We hang the canopy strung on the frame by its hinges, prying the cornices on each side.
   The edges of the cornices can be secured with decorative plugs so that the hinges do not slip during the use of the canopy, and the structure remains in its original form. Planks with fabric are suspended from loops hanging from the ceiling
8. Place hanging fabric beautifully on both sides of the bed, creating a loose drapery.

The hanging canopy is ready.

Now an ordinary bed looks much more romantic

Using the same hanging structure, you can equip a round frame for a canopy. A standard hula hoop is perfect for these purposes.

How to choose a canopy

If you nevertheless decide to decorate your bedroom with such a design element as a canopy, and want to make it yourself, then first of all you should decide on its appearance. You can use photos of ready-made options as a source of imagination. Here you can really find a wide variety of options for how to implement this idea.

Otherwise, you just need to have all the necessary tools at home, such as a drill, hammer, knife and sewing machine. This is enough to make a beautiful curtain that will especially decorate your room, and it will look like the bedroom of aristocrats.

You can buy elements for the curtain at any store, as they are often sold as separate elements to create a design. You can simply combine several of these products and create your one and only curtain. This method is the most practical, since buying ready-made curtains for the bed is quite expensive, and besides, they do not have a large assortment, so making your own bedroom decor is the best option. All you need to do is just show a little effort and you will definitely succeed. In addition, do not forget about decorative elements. For example, a baguette attached to the cornice will almost completely hide it and give it an elegant look. But such work cannot be called difficult, since it can be done in just a few hours, even if you are limited in tools and materials.

Canopy on stands - step-by-step instructions

There is another simple way to equip a canopy over a bed - place textiles on a special wooden frame, the basis of which is beautiful decorative racks. This process is somewhat labor-intensive, but the result will amaze you and your guests. The bedroom will turn into real royal chambers.

This design is suitable for both modern and classic bedrooms

Tools and materials

So, you will need:

• Ready-made wooden racks with a section of 58x58 mm. Ideally, choose a material with ready-made U-shaped grooves for the frame. You will need 4 such racks.
• Frames - 4 pcs. Two of them are equal in length to the width of the bed, two are equal to the length of the bed. It is better to buy blanks with already formed tenons for a reliable connection to the racks.
• Wood glue.
• Screws or self-tapping screws.
• Decorative tips - 4 pcs.
• Wooden spacers for them - 4 pcs.
• Dowels - 4 pcs.
• Varnish for wood coating.
• Textiles - at least 10 m (5 m of fabric on each side of the frame).

Stages of work

In fact, the creation of such a canopy consists of installing a frame frame above the bed. It can be either wooden, metal or plastic. In our case, consider the wooden option.

1. We connect the frame parts (uprights and cross members) using the tenon/groove principle, strengthening the fixation with wood glue and self-tapping screws.
2. We coat the finished structure with two or three layers of varnish. If the bed is initially made of dark wood, then the material can be pre-treated with stain or potassium permanganate. After this, dry and varnish.
3. We install the frame in the bedroom so that the posts touch the corners of the bed.
4. We drape the frame with fabric, throwing it over the crossbars. You can show your imagination and divide the fabric into four sections, beautifully tying one from the side of each frame post.

A beautiful and solid canopy is ready.

Ready-made canopy on wooden stands

If your bed already has posts and you want to make a frame, then you can stretch decorative cords between the posts, through which drapery textiles are thrown. The hanging parts of the thangka can be beautifully wrapped around each bed post.

Buy or make it yourself

As in any other situation, with design elements, you can either buy a ready-made canopy or make it yourself. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages. These are the ones that should be taken into account if you decide to get this addition to your home.

The easiest option is to buy it at a furniture store. But it is worth considering that this piece of furniture is quite unpopular, so it is quite difficult to find a large variety. Although, manufacturers can offer some pretty good options. The disadvantage of purchasing is that it involves material costs.

If you want to save money, then you can make a canopy over the beds with your own hands; this method is the most low-cost, since you will only need to purchase the canvas and fastenings for the canopy, and this is much cheaper than buying a ready-made option. In this case, the disadvantage is that you have to work a little, spend a little time. You can take any photo from the Internet as a basis and make a similar version.

There are quite a few ways to make a canopy over a bed with your own hands, and besides, you are not limited in design, you can make a truly unique design in your bedroom.

Photo gallery: canopies in different styles

Unusual canopy in the bedroom Canopy in a marine interior Mediterranean style bedroom Canopy made of light flowing fabric Canopy is also great for high-tech style Round bed with a canopy Canopy on stands Canopy in an attic bedroom Canopy in an oriental interior Interior of a children's room

Allow yourself and your family to relax, giving in to the feeling of security and absolute peace under a beautiful luxurious canopy. Considering that just a piece of fabric can perform such an important psychological function. When carrying out work on creating a canopy, be sure to listen to your feelings and the feelings of your other half. Consider all wishes. After all, the relaxation room is a zone of absolute comfort for complete recuperation.

• Author: Sergey Kolosov
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Born in 1977 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Graduated from the Donetsk Polytechnic Institute (now Donetsk State Technical University) with a degree in Automated Control Systems. Worked at the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant. In 1997 he moved to Moscow, where for 8 years he worked in several construction teams. Rate this article:

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Canopy bed: canopy options for an adult and children's bed

A canopy is a great idea that can make your bedroom interior more cozy and comfortable without breaking the bank. Maybe this idea has already occurred to you? We hope our photo selection will inspire you!

Canopy over the bed

What is a canopy? This is an elegant canopy over a sleeping area, which allows you to visually separate it from the rest of the room, give it a romantic atmosphere, or simply add a “zest” to the design of a bedroom or children’s room. In addition, you can easily make a canopy with your own hands.

Most often, fabrics of soothing colors are used to make it pleasant to fall asleep, and silk fabric will give the canopy even more chic. It is important to choose a canopy so that it matches the bed linen.

How to make a canopy over a bed

To do this, you need to have a frame that fits your bed and the fabric itself. It is necessary to cut the fabric with a small spare, then it will not hang as a solid piece, but will form nice folds. Although, of course, if you wish, you can make a canopy in the form of ordinary curtains. It is also necessary to take into account that it is necessary to use lightweight materials for the frame or posts so that this entire heavy structure does not fall on you someday and cause injury.

DIY bed canopy

Is it possible to do all this with your own hands instead of buying a ready-made canopy bed? Of course you can. Even in the most difficult case, you just need 8 planks, which will need to be connected together with ordinary corners. It is very easy to secure the fabric on such a stand; for this you can use ordinary curtain rings or sheathe the fabric so that you can make connections to the frame.

Adult canopy bed photo