How to Make a Canopy Bed With Sticks

Find four branches or sticks long enough to reach the desired height of the canopy. Find two sticks that measure a few inches longer than the length of the bed. Find eight to 12 sticks that measure a few inches wider than the bed. Use only sticks that show no signs of rot or damage. Peel the bark from the sticks and leave them in a warm, dry area until the wood dries.

Soak a long, unraveled strand of twine in water for several minutes.

Tie the four longest branches to the bed frame’s corner posts. Tie twine around the branches and posts at several points to ensure a strong connection. Use at least 12-inch lengths of twine, wrap them several times tightly and secure them with knots. Once dry, the twine ties will tighten even more.

Create side rails for the canopy. Orient the sticks that are just longer than the bed horizontally, toward the tops of the post sticks. Tie the sticks together. Wrap lengths of twine around all four corners of the intersections and secure them with knots.

Add cross rails running the width of the bed, running perpendicular to and on top of the side rails, using the remaining sticks. Tie the cross rails at even increments from the head to the foot of the canopy, like train tracks.

Drape sheer curtains, netting or another type of lightweight fabric over the top and down the sides of the canopy rails.