Decorating & Design
DIY: No-Sew Canopy Bed
Published on April 7, 2017
Senior design editor Stacey Smithers creates a dreamy no-sew canopy bed with curtain rods and fabric.
I’ve been looking to smarten up my guest room and liked that this project gives big impact with little time commitment. Canopy beds often skew one of two ways: lovers’ paradise or little girl’s room — neither of which was what I was going for! But with the right fabric and furniture pairings, I created a look that’s airy and perfect for summer.
I love the hand-painted appearance of this botanical fabric — you could easily swap it out when the seasons change, but I think it’s perennially beautiful. The standard bolt of fabric is 54″ w., so you don’t even need to trim the fabric if you’re using it with a double or queen bed!
You’ll need fabric (6 yds. for a queen bed), 2 curtain rods and brackets, curtain tie-back finials, measuring tape, power drill, screws, wall plugs and a pencil.
Most adjustable curtain rods will expand to fit any bed from a twin to a king. Once you know the width and length of your bed, measure out the same distance on your ceiling. Mark where the four curtain brackets will go (two at the head of the bed, and two at the foot). You’ll want the fabric canopy to be close to the exact width of your bed, so the brackets should be set approx. 1″ wider than the bed on either side.
Line up the curtain brackets with the marks made in Step 1. The canopy will have some weight to it, and you don’t want it tumbling down on guests, so be sure to use screws and wall plugs to ensure the brackets are safely secured to the ceiling. Drill the holes where marked and insert the plugs. Use a power drill to screw the brackets into the ceiling.
After all four brackets are affixed to the ceiling, add the rods and finials. I used faux-marble finials that are meant to be used with curtain tiebacks — they’re smaller than regular curtain rod finials, so they can sit quite close to the ceiling.
Leave the edges raw or hem them for a more polished look. Steam or iron out wrinkles. I draped the canopy all the way down the walls at the head and foot of the bed. If your bed isn’t in a nook, I’d only hang the fabric down a couple of feet from the ceiling at the footboard. You don’t have to carry the fabric down behind your headboard either. It’s all personal preference!
Angus Fergusson
House & Home July 2016