Photo: Archi_Viz (Shutterstock)
Canopy beds can make your bedroom feel romantic, calm, and peaceful. But canopy beds themselves are, well, expensive. You can get the canopy look, though, but without the cost. Just make your own.
What you’ll need for your canopy bed
For these projects, you’ll need a tape measure, screw gun, and a stud finder. And since screwing into ceiling plaster above your head can get particles in your eyes, you should also wear safety glasses.
Make an embroidery hoop canopy
To get a round, drapey effect, use sheer curtains and a large embroidery hoop. To hang this canopy, screw pot rack hooks into three places in the ceiling, 24 inches apart. Open your embroidery hoop, put your curtains onto the outer hoop, and reassemble it. Then hang your hoop from the pot rack hooks and drape the curtains around your bed.
Mount curtain tracks above your bed
For a larger, curved look, you can use a ceiling-mounted curtain track and a grommeted curtain set or shower curtain. Install the track above your bed with the hardware provided, and then hook the curtains onto it. This also allows you to pull back your canopy when you want.
Use curtain rods around your bed
Straight curtain rods can also be mounted to the ceiling and aligned with each side of your bed to get an enclosed, canopy-like effect. Attach drywall anchors and screws to the ceiling, and then add the rods with the curtains onto them. Using the right hardware will help prevent them from rattling loose or falling.
Use the curtain rod panel method
To drape curtains along the head or foot of your bed, you only need two ceiling-mounted rods. Just thread your panel into one rod, and then drape it across the second. This design can also be used at each side of the bed to drape up and over, except that you’ll need to thread a curtain panel into each rod and overlap them over the bed. This method works best for bold prints and less pleating.
Use industrial pipe for your canopy
Using pipe and flanges is also a way to add a canopy to your bed with some industrial flare. For this method, you’ll need to either be able to cut the pipes to size or buy pre-cut pipes with the dimensions of your bed. Use a flange at each corner and a two way right angle elbow at each corner. Hanging your pipes will go more smoothly if you assemble them on the floor first. Once your flanges are screwed into the ceiling, thread your curtains onto your pipes, and screw the pipes in.
For each of these applications, use a stud finder to check for ceiling joists so that your screws will be driving into solid material. Make sure to read the package of your materials as well, particularly to check for weight limits on the hardware so your canopy won’t collapse on you.
