Almost every little lady dreams of a four-poster bed. Most romantic girls and women would also like to have such an accessory in their bedroom. Unfortunately, in Russian apartments such a decorative element can be found very rarely, since it is believed that it takes up too much space.
A small digression into history
The canopy over the bed appeared during the time of the first eastern rulers, who always adored surrounding themselves with unprecedented luxury. However, then the canopy served not so much for beauty as for protection against annoying insects, and also played the role of a kind of barrier beyond which the ruler could retire from the all-seeing eyes of his subjects.
Nowadays, such an accessory is most often used as an element of decor, although no one has canceled the functional qualities of the canopy. For example, the interior of a children's room, where a four-poster bed is located for a girl, looks very nice. In it, the young lady will feel like a real princess. The canopy also looks good on an adult bed, especially if the bedroom is decorated in Moroccan or Oriental styles.
Classic frames in the form of a crown and an arc
Designers warn that the canopies in the bedrooms can not fit perfectly into all existing interior styles, but only in some of them:
- Frame "crown". It is a ring with a fabric fixed on it. Usually it is attached to the ceiling in the center of the bed and resembles a kind of crown. A similar frame will be appropriate in the Moroccan and classic bedrooms. He also fits perfectly into styles such as romance and provence.
- Frame "arc". It is made in the form of a semicircle and is mounted at the head of the bed. It is wonderfully suitable for the following styles: baroque, classic, provence and colonial
Other types of canopy double bed frames
- Cords. A canopy placed on such a frame will be appropriate in a teenage room or over a bed located in a summer house. With the help of cords, you can arrange an original canopy, you only need to show imagination.
- Frame "frame". Most often, these are racks located at the corners of the bed. From above, they are interconnected by crossbars. This article contains a photo of a four-poster bed, where the frame stands with a frame with racks on which the fabric is hung. Sometimes they are absent, and the rectangular frame itself is attached directly to the ceiling.
- Independent wireframe. For example, it can be a cornice, a tree branch covered with varnish, or crossbars. In this case, it will be enough to arrange such a fixture in accordance with the style of the bedroom, and the result will be impressive.
Choose textiles
It is desirable that the fabrics used to make the canopy for the bed in the bedroom meet the following requirements:
- Loose structure. Preferred is a material that has free weaving of threads.
- Naturalness. For the manufacture of canopies, it is advisable to choose a fabric made from environmentally friendly raw materials.
- One color scheme. It is best if the canopy will match the basic tone of the bedroom. Also a fine option for an interior designed in any color scheme is light fabric.
- The required amount of material. The fabric should be enough to form a beautiful drapery, but its layering should be avoided.
A good canopy can be made from materials such as natural silk, cotton, satin, batiste and tulle.
Advantages
A four-poster bed has a number of advantages that cannot but be appreciated:
- Decorativeness. Such a curtain in the bedroom can be a real highlight of the interior. Canopy visually lowers high ceilings, which, according to psychologists, prevent full sleep.
- Comfort. Oddly enough, but thin tissue can cause a feeling of security and solitude. Probably, many in their childhood erected huts, covering them with blankets from above, and then hiding inside, feeling safe and some special cosiness. The canopy located above the bed can cause the same feelings of warmth and complete harmony.
- Protective functions. The canopy on the crib, made of opaque fabric, can protect both a child’s night sleep from the glow of a too bright moon and daylight from the penetration of sunlight. Also with its help it is easy to hide from nasty and annoying insects. In addition, the dense fabric of the canopy can protect against the penetration of cold air and drafts.
- Privacy. The presence of a canopy by the bed can become indispensable, for example, in a studio apartment, where there are no interior doors. It will help to reliably hide from prying eyes.
- Soundproof properties. Dense fabric can muffle loud sounds coming from the street or neighboring rooms.
Disadvantages of Canopies
Unfortunately, the four-poster bed has its drawbacks, which are much less than the pros:
- Dust is the main problem of fabric awnings that are able to collect it on its surface. That is why people with allergies, it is not recommended to build such a canopy over their berth. However, you can successfully deal with this problem if you erase the canopy at least once a week.
- Visual reduction in space. If the room is too small, and even with a low ceiling, then the canopy, most likely, will have to be abandoned. Otherwise, the bedroom can visually turn into a very tiny room.
- Frequent washing. Even people who do not suffer from allergy attacks should carefully monitor the purity of the canopy. It is recommended to send it to wash at least once a month.
- Additional expenses. While the fabric is in the wash, its place will be empty. If this state of affairs confuses someone, you will have to buy another canopy. It is not necessary to purchase two identical canopies, since with different fabrics the bedroom will look updated every time. Therefore, this disadvantage, if you wish, can be considered a virtue.
DIY canopy on racks: materials and tools
To build this type of frame is a somewhat time-consuming process, but the result can exceed all expectations, since the bedroom will instantly turn into luxurious royal apartments. To implement this plan, you will need the following:
- Four frames. Two of them should be equal to the length of the bed, and the rest should be equal to its width. At points of sale, you can buy ready-made trims with spikes that will ensure their reliable connection with the racks.
- Four decorative tips. They should immediately get as many gaskets.
- Four ready-made wooden racks. It is good if the material is under the frame, with U-shaped grooves.
- Self-tapping screws or screws.
- Joiner's glue.
- Wood varnish.
- Four dowels.
- Fabric at least 10 m long.
Rack Installation Instructions
In fact, this is the frame on which the canopy will be fixed. Racks of such a frame can be made of metal, plastic or wood. In our case, we use the last of the above materials. Following the step-by-step instructions below, you can relatively easily make a frame for a canopy on an adult bed with your own hands:
Step number 1. Crossbars and racks are interconnected by inserting spikes into the grooves and enhancing their fixation with self-tapping screws and glue.
Step number 2. The finished structure is varnished in two or three layers. If the bed is made of dark wood, then the frame must be pre-treated with potassium permanganate or stain, and then wait until the surface is completely dry. Only then can it be varnished.
Step number 3. Install the finished frame so that the racks are in close contact with the corners of the bed.
Step number 4. The frame is draped with fabric by throwing it over the crossbars. There is also another design option when the material is divided into four parts and beautifully tied to the frame posts.
Suspension materials and tools
To do this, you need the following:
- Building pencil.
- Roulette or ruler.
- At least four pieces of anchors or dowels.
- Four meters of some kind of ribbon or silk braid.
- Drill screwdriver.
- Two pre-painted wooden planks or shanks for shovels at least one meter long.
- Fabric for a canopy.
Making a hanging canopy: step by step instructions
Step number 1. Markings must be applied directly above the bed. To do this, measure the length of the slats or cuttings, which should be the same. Mark the places where the anchor will be attached. It is very important that they are paired and parallel to each other. The distance between the anchors should be at least 50 cm. It depends on the width of the bed.
Step number 2. In the marked places, holes are drilled and anchors are inserted into them, and tapes are tied to them so that a beautiful decorative loop is obtained. Their length will be 40 cm with a standard room height of 2.8 m. If the ceilings are higher, then more ribbons will be needed.
Step number 3. Already prepared and pre-processed along the edges of the fabric is laid out on the floor. The material for the canopy should be a solid piece, the length of which is equal to the height of the room, multiplied by two, plus an additional 2.5-3 meters.
Step number 4. In the middle of the fabric, a segment is marked, the width of which is equal to the distance between the anchors. It is necessary to add at least 40-50 cm more to it so that the canopy hangs beautifully over the bed.
Step number 5. To attach wooden planks in marked places on the fabric make a line. In this way, a groove is formed, into which the strips are then inserted. Then the resulting frame is suspended by tape loops. So that they do not slip from the slats, at their ends you can make some decorative details that will play the role of plugs.
Step number 6. Canopy bed is ready. It remains only to beautifully distribute the falling fabric on both sides, forming a free drapery.
The same suspension design is used for equipping a round canopy frame. For this, an ordinary hula hoop is ideal, the diameter of which can be chosen at your own discretion.