Canopy over the bed: 20 examples of beautiful design

Ways to place canopies over a bed

The canopy plays the role of not only a decorative decoration, it also protects the sleeping area from dust, annoying insects, excess light and drafts. Under this canopy you can sleep peacefully even during daylight hours in direct sunlight. A canopy will also help hide from prying eyes, which is especially important for owners of small loft-style studios, as well as one- and two-room apartments, where the bed is in a common room for several people, rather than placed in a separate bedroom.

Before implementing an idea for decorating a canopy, you should listen to the designers’ recommendations, look at examples of mechanisms, and draw up a drawing of the project. You should also draw up a bill of materials for the project, a preliminary visualization in the form of collages, in order to be able to make edits before carrying out work on installing the canopy.

To harmonize the canopy with the style of the room, you need to select it taking into account the size of the room and the bed. There are several basic ways to place a canopy over a sleeping area.

Useful tips for beginners

Beginners may find the following recommendations useful in the process:

1. When choosing textiles for a canopy, it is necessary to take into account that it should be approximately 20 centimeters more than indicated in the calculations. All these centimeters will be spent on hems and fastenings.
2. It will be much easier to install the frame on the ceiling using hangers. The system is installed on the wall using dowels.
3. It is not necessary to make a full-fledged canopy; you can install a simplified version. To do this, first, rods are fixed above the sleeping place, and ordinary curtains are already hung on them.
4. Instead of solid loops, you can use fabric ribbons to match the material of the canopy.

   It is better to purchase material with a reserve

Frame canopy

The best fastening for large sleeping areas. The essence of the design is to evenly distribute the fabric on a frame mounted on 4 bed supports. The fabric completely covers the sleeping area on all sides, which will be important for rooms with several functional areas.

The materials for the stands are wood or metal. When choosing the right material, you should take into account the design of the room and personal financial capabilities. Designs with carved wooden supports, as well as forged beds, look great.

Wall canopy

The frame in the form of an arc is placed on the wall on the side of the bed or at the head of the bed. This design is often made in a room with a complexly shaped ceiling in order to preserve its design.

The canopy can consist of a single piece of canvas or be in the form of small decorative curtains. The design gives the room an atmosphere of security, comfort and tranquility.

Varieties of canopy frames and combination with the interior

There are several basic forms of structural frames on which the fabric is attached. In order to make the right choice, we will look at each of them in more detail, because not all of them can be combined with the overall interior of the room.

Table No. 1. Shapes of canopies

The frame is constructed from various materials. Let's consider the most famous options:

1. Cornice made of metal profile. It is sometimes used instead of the standard version; it is fixed to the ceiling around the perimeter of the bed.
2. Tube (metal). Fixed to the ceiling with dowels.
3. Stands made of plastic, metal and wood. If the bed is made of solid wood, then it is not necessary to purchase the same supports, because they can be either plastic or metal.
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   You can purchase a ready-made version of the canopy, which only remains to be secured above the bed

Frameless canopy

A modern method of arranging a sleeping place. One edge of the fabric is attached to the wall near the head of the bed, and the second is thrown over a special crossbar, which is built into the ceiling.

Also, this type of structure can be made in the form of two planks fixed to the ceiling. In this case, the canopy is thrown over the slats and hangs freely to the floor.

This design allows you to place the canopy in non-standard rooms, for example, in the attic. The canopy can be made in the form of steps, distributing the fabric at different heights.

Types of canopies

Depending on the design, there are four main types of canopies.

1. In the shape of a semicircle, mounted on the wall at the head of the bed. It consists of a frame in the form of an arc or a short cornice located perpendicular to the wall, on which a light flowing fabric is fixed. Such a curtain has a purely decorative function, effectively complementing the headboard.

Photo examples of a canopy at the head of the bed

1. In the shape of a tent (dome). The fabric in this design is fixed to a frame in the form of a ring and suspended from the ceiling. If the “tent” is large enough, it not only decorates the sleeping area, but also performs a protective function. For example, it protects against mosquitoes, flies, and bright sun.

This is what a canopy tent looks like in a bedroom interior

1. In the form of a sail over the bed. It is a rectangular fabric canopy attached to the ceiling and hanging over the bed. To attach such a canopy, rod curtain rods, wooden slats, plastic or metal pipes are usually used.

Canopy-sail over the bed

1. Classic canopy. The supports are installed at the four corners of the bed and framed with fabric around the perimeter. A variation of this design is a zoning curtain. In this case, instead of supports, cornices fixed to the ceiling are used, and curtains are hung on them to isolate the sleeping area.

Examples of using a canopy to zone a sleeping area

Canopy fabric

For high-quality and stylish canopies over beds, the following materials are most often used:

• silk – helps create a light and delicate look;
• velvet is a dense and heavy fabric that fits well with the classic style;
• organza – adds a touch of romance to the bedroom style;
• tapestry fabric - looks original, but can darken the bed, so it is worth using it in bright interiors;
• tulle is the most common textile for canopies; it looks beautiful with spectacular flounces and folds;
• linen – does not look pretentious and is suitable for modest interiors.

When choosing a canvas for a canopy, you should focus on the wishes of the bedroom owner, as well as the interior design style.

What is a canopy over a bed?

In fact, a canopy is a canopy over a bed made of light and transparent fabric. Previously, it had a practical purpose, as protection from drafts, mosquitoes and other insects. In addition, this attribute was used as a luxury item, since a four-poster bed was considered a mandatory attribute of nobles or rich people.

In modern design, other than privacy, it has no practical function. Most likely, this is a decorative design element. Of course, if the owners of the house do not use a fumigator or other means to protect against insects, then this design element will be practical, but this happens extremely rarely.

If you want to add variety to your design with a bed curtain, then you can do it in many ways, the most important thing is that the new element fits nicely into the existing interior.

The use of canopies in the design of bedrooms of different styles

A canopy over a sleeping area is considered a universal element that can be used for bedrooms of different styles:

• Shabby chic is a vintage and sophisticated design. Near the bed you can place designer chests of drawers that match the style. A translucent canopy with careless waves will fit well into such an interior.

• Provence, also called French country. This style is characterized by pastel colors, light furniture and natural materials. Provence combines rustic and luxurious elements, so a canopy with a floral pattern is perfect here.
• Baroque. It stands out among other styles for its pomp, so a king bed decorated with expensive luxury linen would be appropriate here.
• Sea style. It involves a combination of white and blue shades, as well as natural wood. The canopy over the bed should be light and bright to emphasize the airiness and romance of the style.

• Loft. To decorate such a room, untreated surfaces are used; the materials used here are harmonious with metal and concrete. At the same time, in such an interior it is important to emphasize spaciousness and light, which is helped by loft-style sconces (https://romatti.ru/catalog/svetilniki/bra/bra_v_stile_loft/) placed in the room. It is appropriate to decorate the bed with transparent fabric, which is placed on black corner posts.
• Classic. These bedrooms have beds with beautiful headboards and elegant frames. The design of the canopy over the berth is domed; it does not completely cover the bed and serves a mostly decorative role.
• Scandinavian. These are interiors characterized by minimalism with natural decor. The sleeping area and canopy frame are made of wood, and the pastel-colored fabric is made of light and delicate materials.

• Oriental. Involves the use of bright colors in design. Therefore, the curtain rods above the bed are translucent or made of thick fabric with colorful patterns. To make the structure look as luxurious and expensive as possible, a frame canopy with supports around the bed is used.

You can choose one of the described options to harmoniously complement the canopy above the bed, or you can come up with an independent design project.

How to decorate a canopy?

If we are talking about a bedroom for adults, then it is recommended to use satin ribbons of various widths or thick laces with tassels as decor. To create a bright accent, you can use several colored cuts to form one canopy.

Sometimes the canopy is decorated with a voluminous bow, which is best installed in the middle of the hanging structure. It should be made only from durable fabric that holds its shape well. You can attach it using pins.

You can make a voluminous bow as a decorative element.

If this is a crib, then some mothers prefer to make unusual mobiles that are installed in the center of the canopy. They are usually made of felt in the form of cartoon characters and various animals. The canopy can be decorated with all kinds of garlands and balls. Such decorations look especially original on transparent fabric.

With your own hands you can make not only a canopy and mobiles, but also the crib itself. Detailed step-by-step instructions for making a wooden crib can be found in our article.

Canopies for a child's bed

In a child's room, the canopy over the bed performs a decorative and protective function; the material of the canopy plays an important role. If the fabric does not allow air to pass through, the child may have an allergy, so it is not recommended to make canopies from synthetic fabrics. It is better to choose materials of natural origin: silk, tulle or organza.

It is also worth paying attention to the decor and colors. For newborns, it is better to choose products in muted light colors, which have a good effect on the child’s psyche. It is better to avoid bright fabrics, as their stimulating effect can disrupt the baby’s sleep.

Yellow, golden, pink or lilac canopy shades are good for girls. It is appropriate for boys to make canopies over their beds in blue, green, light blue and yellow.

Equipping a sleeping place with a beautiful canopy can be relevant both for a small studio and for three-room and five-room apartments over 100 m². By choosing a stylish and functional canopy, you can improve your interior and ensure healthy sleep.