If you have already decided to make-over your bedroom and replace your existing bed and want your room to radiate style and romance of times gone by, then introducing a modern canopy bed draped in fashionable canopy bed curtains can be a good option.

Wooden Canopy Beds
Creating the ideal bedroom so that it is a charming and peaceful sanctuary to relax in after a hard day at work can become a reality if you use a mix of some old day charm along with modern materials, trendy colors and classy fabrics. Nowadays, the basic bedroom will usually consist of a bed in size double, Queen or King, matching bedside cabinets, dressing table and a wardrobe.
A modern canopy bed made from wood can look stunning in a bedroom with its tall square timber frame nicely finished in clear varnish. These beds can be expensive when compared to other bedroom furniture, but they certainly can be an eye-catching decorative feature when the frame is covered with canopy bed curtains made from a lavish luxurious fabric such as silk, chintz, satin or velvet.

Decorative Features

By initially selecting the fabric for your canopy bed curtains, you will be in a better position to decide what color to have for your bed coverings, sheets and pillow cases. This approach will also allow you to be innovative so you can choose feature items in your favorite colors to complement the theme you have already chosen for your bedroom. For example, you may want to have a selection of cushions in contrasting colors as decorative features that can be placed on your canopy bed next to a soft toy such as a large teddy bear.

Bedroom Lighting

Another important feature that can be forgotten is the strategic use of lighting in a bedroom. Providing mood lighting can be accomplished simply by fitting dimmer switches to trendy light fittings and bedside lamps so they can provide soft ambient lighting at the turn of a small knob. Introducing a fashionable arc floor lamp can also look elegant and effective in the bedroom particularly when the heads are swivelled so they can project soft light onto a feature such as a nice colorful floral arrangement or a piece of abstract art.

During medieval times it was common for the upper classes to have heavy tapestry canopy bed curtains draping from their bed canopies. These curtains were designed to help keep sleepers warm at night inside cold stone castles and palaces during chilly winter nights.

The poorer peasant classes, who traditionally lived in modest thatched homes, also used canopy curtains over their beds to not only keep the warmth inside, but to also safeguard sleepers from falling pieces of roofing thatch and insects which were a constant menace during the summer months.
In some tropical climates where flying insects such as the mosquito are a problem during hot steamy nights, canopy bed curtains made from designer nets and fabrics are commonly hung from bed canopies so sleepers are not disturbed by the drone and bite from these insects.

Today, with a little bit of imagination canopy bed curtains are commonly used to add a touch of beauty and elegance to any bedroom setting. If you are looking to makeover the look of your bedroom to create a fresh classy and stylish look, then it will be necessary for you to firstly consider the existing features in your bedroom such as the wall color, furniture, bedding material and lighting. You will also need to be aware that canopy beds come in all shapes, sizes and materials with the most popular material being wrought iron.

The cost of a canopy for your bed will depend a great deal on the size of bed you have. For example, a king size canopy will cost much more than a twin size canopy. There are also less expensive canopies available that hang from the ceiling with a wire attachment allowing the canopy bed curtains to extend from this attachment. If you have a poster bed then there are several canopy styles that are designed to simply attach to the four posters on the bed. Other cheaper options that can be used are to install curtain rods around the bed to keep the fabric in place and to install rings over the bed and then drape the fabric through the rings.

No matter what type of bed canopy you use in your bedroom, it is the style, fabric and color of the canopy bed curtains you select which will ultimately define the mood of your bedroom. It is therefore important to ensure the color of the curtain fabric you choose does not clash with the existing bedding.
However, if you are starting with a blank canvas in a new home or renovated bedroom, then you can let your imagination run wild. For example, you will be able to select your fabric from a wide selection of exotic luxurious fabrics that are available today made from chintz, silk, calico and velvet to name a few. There are also available some vibrant, exciting fashionable colors such as emerald green, electric blue, purple and rich pinks you can choose for your fabric.
To enable you to select what best suits your taste, you will need to take your time and look at the various color and fabric options available before you make a decision on what to buy.

If you are creative and artistic and want to have a more interesting and colorful look for your bedroom you can fit beautiful acrylic beaded, real glass beaded or even bamboo painted canopy bed curtains. These types of curtains can be custom made to your requirements in a variety of rich colorful beads and look stunning at night when the glimmering glass beads are enhanced by the low lighting from a bedside lamp.

With some creativity and imagination you will be able to change a dull boring bedroom into a charming romantic sanctuary.

The master bedroom for most people is a peaceful haven and a private place in the home where you should be able to rest and relax peacefully away from other distractions in the home. By having stylish colorful canopy bedroom curtains in your bedroom you will be able to enhance the whole mood and look of the room to suit you personal tastes.

These days you can change the theme of an ordinary boring looking bedroom to one of class and charm simply by fitting new ultra modern light fittings, repainting the walls with trendy gloss paint and having your canopy bed draped with an expensive luxurious silk, satin, chintz or velvet fabric. Most suppliers can provide these fabrics in a wide variety of rich beautiful colors such as trendy purples, forest greens, hot pinks and electric blues to name a few. If these colors seem too loud then you can settle for more neutral colors such as creams, taupe and sand.

If you want to have something completely different or out of the ordinary then there are a number of different options available. For example, you can let your imagination run wild by having anything from bamboo painted curtains, acrylic beaded curtains to real glass beaded curtains on your bedroom canopy. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to colors and styles so it can be creative fun stamping your own personality and taste on whatever you decide on.

If you have seen other bedrooms that have stylish canopy bedroom curtains and have your heart set on having them fitted to a canopy in your bedroom the key is to plan around the existing colors of your bed, furniture and floor coverings or other features in the room. You can also get some really great ideas on what is available to consumers in the way of canopy bedroom curtains by looking online.

By using a little imagination and creativity you can use canopy bed curtains to transform an ordinary looking bedroom into a charming, private romantic sanctuary. For example, by using modern colorful fabrics that blend in with your bedrooms color scheme, stylishly made canopy curtains will be a classy addition and eye-catching feature that will make the room come alive.

It is also not essential for you to have an expensive 4- poster or ready-built canopy bed in order to have canopy bed curtains. For example, if you already have a single, double, Queen or King sized bed and have a stepladder and are a handy DIY person, you can look at fitting your own very basic canopy fittings to your bedroom ceiling. These relatively inexpensive fittings/hardware items mentioned below can be readily bought at most hardware stores or from some specialty curtain suppliers.

The following are some examples how canopy bed curtains can be designed and be effectively used in the bedroom.

Crown canopy.

The centrepiece is a crown shaped valance unit fitted to the back wall above the headboard from which long luxurious and colorful fabric panels gracefully fall down the back of the headboard and to each side of the bed.

Ring canopy.

Four metal or wooden rings are attached to the ceiling above each corner of the bed. Long swags of lightweight fabric are then looped through the rings so they drop and gather on the floor.

Swagged canopy.

A length of pipe or doweling is fitted to the wall at the back of the bed, centred about 15-30cm below the ceiling. On the same wall two tie backs need to be fitted either side of the bed about 75cm from the floor. The completed canopy curtain fabric is draped from the center pipe down both sides of the back wall, where it is gathered with the tie backs to each side of the bed.

Whatever you decide, the style, pattern and type of fabric you choose are the key to determining what sort of mood and ambiance your bedroom will have. In most cases a stunning elegant effect can usually be created by coordinating the colors of unlined or lined fabric that contrast with the bed and pillow coverings.

If you are not confident measuring how much material you will need for your canopy curtains or what style or color would suit, then a professional curtain maker or decorator should be engaged to carry out that part of the process. Some of the luxurious fabrics available today are also very expensive, so it would be in your interests to ensure the material you buy is the right color, style and is cut, pleated and stitched exactly to your specifications.

During medieval times, the classic poster bed was used by noblemen and people of high status and was considered a symbol of wealth and stature. During this period of history in medieval Europe, drapes and worsted fabrics that hung from the ceiling were used to provide some privacy for the ruling nobles and Lords from their attendants who often slept in the same room as their masters. These heavy drapes made from luxurious fabrics such as silk velvet from Italy and chintz from India, were suspended from rings that ran along iron rods attached to a wooden frame attached to the rafters and ceilings in stately homes, manors and castles.

Following the introduction of the classic poster beds also widely known as four-poster beds during the 15th and 16th century, the canopy bed gradually evolved and this allowed for canopy bed curtains to be hung from a structure fixed to the four bed posts completely enclosing the bed. Very decorative and elaborate fabrics were used to adorn the upper area between the posts and a large piece of cloth was used to create a ceiling or a canopy over the bed.
In the main, canopy beds in today’s society are either a traditional or contemporary design.

Many of the traditional type canopy beds are made to reflect a 19th century look and have either solid metal black colored frames or richly varnished carved wooden frames and posts. The canopy bed curtains used to cover these traditional canopy beds look wonderful and capture the romance of the period with their beautiful heavy pleating and ruffled drapes.

Today, modern contemporary canopy beds are made from wood, metal or both materials. These plain looking canopy beds are a sharp contrast to the traditional canopy bed but are popular in some homes as a modern alternative. To add a touch of class, users have the choice of using expensive and stylish fabrics as canopy bed curtains which can be obtained in rich trendy colors to suit any taste.

Although these canopies were commonly used by the wealthy and upper classes in days gone by, they still have a place in the modern home. By using custom made canopy bed curtains made from stylish fabrics and trendy warm colors, the modern bedroom can be transformed into a stunning romantic room in any home.

These days, canopy beds are available in either full, single, Queen or King size’s and are generally made from wrought iron or wood. Depending on the size, both these styles of canopy can be expensive to buy, although homeowners can have the choice of using several other cheaper type options.
If you are a handy DIY person and your bedroom is long overdue for a makeover and you want to experience the romance and history of a canopy type bed, then you can save yourself the expense by making your own.

The following are some examples of how to make your own canopy.

1. Install curtain rods onto the ceiling above and around the bed, attach floor length panels of a stylish colourful fabric to each curtain rod so they drop to the floor. During the day the canopy bed curtains can be pulled to each corner of the bed.

2. Place a round wood or metal ring into the ceiling above the center of the bed head. The ring should be big enough to allow your chosen fabric to be drawn through so it can be pulled down to the floor on either side of the bed. Then frame the bed by spreading the fabric out or drape the fabric around the posts at the top of the bed.

3. Install 4 rings above each corner of the bed in the ceiling. To create a classy look, pull a long panel of stylish fabric through each ring so that it reaches the floor. Wrap the fabric to create loops or a criss-cross style for extra effect.

Remember, although making your own canopy may save you the expense of a buying an expensive 4 poster canopy bed, the cost of the material and making of your canopy bed curtains will also need to be considered. Classy luxurious fabrics such as chintz, velvet, silk or satin can be very costly, especially if a lot of material is required to be used to make the panels to drape around a large King sized bed.

Because some of the more luxurious and modern fabrics available today can be very expensive, the cost of your canopy bed curtains will depend a great deal on the quality of fabric you settle on. There will also be additional costs for making your curtains.

The following is a simple guide on how to choose canopy bed curtains for your bedroom -

1. Color. Decide on what color would best blend in and coordinate with the theme of your bedding, window dressings and carpet. Consumers these days have a large selection of exciting rich colored fabrics to choose from. By choosing a nice trendy rich blue, warm pink, black, purple or leaf green color, you will be surprised how easy it can be to lift the look of a dull looking bedroom.

2. Fabric. These days, specialty fabric stores and curtain suppliers have available a wide variety of fabrics such as silk, calico, chintz and velvet fabrics that can be custom made into drapes and curtains to meet consumers requirements.

3. Style. For a classy look your curtains can be lined and either cut to touch the floor or for a luxury look “bunched” on the bedroom floor.

Whatever you choose, you will find that by hanging these stylish canopy bed curtains above your bed it will add a sense of charm and class to your bedroom.