Canopy Decorating Ideas for a Kid's Room

Canopies for Girls and Boys

• When you think of a canopy, you may envision a ruffled, pink canopy best suited to a little girl's room, though canopies are appropriate for either sex. While girls often enjoy that princess feeling that accompanies a delicate, feminine canopy, little boys may prefer a camouflage canopy, a camping tent canopy or a canopy that resembles a circus tent. By tailoring the canopy to fit the sex and preferences of your child, you can choose options that work for boys or girls.

Choosing a Theme

• Themes for a canopy bed are limited only by you and your child's imaginations. Peruse Internet websites and mail-order catalogs for canopy ideas. Whether you choose to purchase a canopy or create your own, catalog images can generate ideas that work as a jumping-off point for choosing the perfect canopy for your little one's bed. If you're talented with a sewing machine, visit fabric stores to locate material that is decorated with a must-have pattern that pleases you and your child.

Store-Bought Canopies

• While store-bought canopies present a more limited selection, busy parents may prefer the convenience. Canopies for kids are often decorated with favorite characters from juvenile movies and television shows. A pop-up bed tent is a quick, easy alternative to an actual canopy for the smaller set. Skip the cartoon characters for older kids, who may quickly outgrow them, and choose options such as string canopies that attach to the ceiling and create a cozy alcove or a canopy that attaches to the wall above the head of the bed and provides lengths of gently-draped fabric to encase the upper portion of the bed.

DIY Canopies

• Instead of shopping for a canopy, why not use your creative skills to make a one-of-a-kind canopy bed for your favorite boy or girl? Choose a bed that has four posts, each connected by horizontal bars at the top corners. Choose several pairs of curtains or fabric shower curtains, hang them on hooks and attach the hooks to the rails to create an aura of privacy for your child. Alternatively, hang strands of beads from the ceiling over a regular twin bed, and allow them to drape over the edges to create a retro look that will delight.