How to Make an Old Fashioned Wood Canopy Bed Look Modern

Remove the mattress, box spring and all accessories from the bed frame. Examine the bed closely for any structural damage, and make necessary repairs. Check wood for scratches and gouges, and sand out or repair with wood filler as necessary.

Sand the entire bed with coarse sandpaper, then again with medium-grit, then again with fine-grit to smooth the finish. If you're going to paint the bed, just roughing the surface should be sufficient. If you would rather apply a stain, you need to sand the existing finish off completely.

Apply your chosen paint or stain according to the directions on the can. Options abound -- consider a bright, glossy color for a girly tween's room, or consider using multiple stain shades to create visual interest on different parts of the bed. Apply a protective clear top coat for durability.

Add accents if desired, using a small artist's paintbrush and metallic paint or a contrasting paint of any color. Paint the inside of carved crevices or the detail on finials to spice up the look.

Use tacky glue to apply appliques, beads or plastic jewels around the frame base, along the canopy rails or as scrollwork accents. Consider adding strips of carved wood trim to spice up an otherwise plain frame -- these strips may need to be clamped on until the glue dries. Tacky glue is weak enough that whatever you add can be easily pried off at a later date, and the glue residue will sand off of the wood.

Replace the mattress and box spring, and add new bedding. A new sheet set, comforter and pillows go a long way toward changing the look of a bedroom. Add a few throw pillows and a throw blanket to make the bed look a bit more grown up.

Use long, sheer curtain panels instead of a canopy cover. Wind them in and around the canopy rails, arranging the drape effect until you are satisfied. Or, just hang one sheer from each post and let it trail to the ground for a more subtle effect. For big drama, use clip-on curtain rings to hang regular curtains on all four sides to create a totally-enclosed sleeping space, and use tie-backs on one or two sides to provide access.

Add further accents as desired. Artificial flowers, feathers and beaded strands look great wound amongst the sheers, or you can replace the sheers entirely with artificial vines wound around the canopy rails for a more open, airy look.