Update: Wow — you’ve all shared so many great ideas! I’m reading every comment and loving the suggestions.
Happy Friday! We’ve been busy this week painting the bathroom and closet walls, tackling a basket craft project, de-wallpapering our biggest room yet (the 21-foot kitchen), and planning another update in Clara’s room. Before we get to the bigger plans, here’s a small, twinkly addition we added to her canopy.
We wanted the canopy to feel extra magical and also bright enough for story time, but we didn’t want traditional Christmas lights—their weight could make the fabric sag and they can look messy when off. After some searching we found tiny “fairy lights” — small LEDs on a thin, flexible wire.
The set we used was lightweight and very moldable, so it was easy to weave across the 18-inch corbels that support the canopy fabric. One 33-foot strand worked perfectly, running back and forth several times along each side of the canopy peak and securing at turns with white tape so Clara can’t easily unwind them. The lights will give if pulled, so they aren’t a strangulation hazard.
Draping the canopy back over the lights hid the thin wire; the tiny LEDs tuck into the folds and are barely visible when off. When illuminated, they create a soft twinkle beneath the fabric. Because the bulbs are LED, they stay cool to the touch and won’t damage the fabric, and they’re small resin-like dots rather than fragile glass bulbs.
The only less-ideal part was the plug and power adapter, which were larger and darker than we’d prefer. We were able to tuck the adapter behind the bed and wrap the cord so it stays mostly hidden behind the canopy while still being accessible when needed.
Clara absolutely loves the lights. She’s delighted by the name “fairy lights” and enjoys having a private, glowing space above her bed. We planned to use them only for story time and special moments, but their glow is substantial enough that we turn them on any time we’re in the room and natural light is low.
We tested them for a couple of weeks before writing about them, just to make sure they held up, and so far they’ve been perfect for our gentle girl. She hasn’t touched the lights but enjoys gazing at them. We did joke that a more adventurous child might try to climb the canopy, so consider your child’s behavior when installing similar lights.
Even with the lights, the canopy area still feels a bit too pale — lots of white on white — so we’ve been brainstorming paint and decoration options for the peaked wall above the canopy. Below are several ideas we’ve been considering, shown as concepts so you can imagine different directions.
Idea 1: Paint the peaked area a soft gray to add drama and a dreamy backdrop for the canopy. A subtle gray tone can make the glowing lights stand out while keeping the space calm and soothing.
Idea 2: Create an imperfect, painterly mural — a hand-painted, organic texture across the peak for a whimsical, artisanal feel. This would add visual interest while staying light and airy.
Idea 3: Paint a cluster of colorful raindrop shapes in a palette of soft hues. This introduces color and playful pattern without overwhelming the small space above the canopy.
Idea 4: Paint a blue-green background with small, simple birds or silhouettes. This option leans toward nature-inspired charm and could be calming at bedtime.
Idea 5: For an animal-loving child, a friendly giraffe or zebra head peeking down from a blue-gray background could be delightful and age-appropriate, adding personality without clutter.
Idea 6: A series of colorful teardrops in a few complementary shades would create a modern, graphic look that still feels playful and soft.
Idea 7: Hang a bold piece of fabric with large-scale pattern or color behind the canopy. This would be a non-permanent, textile-based way to introduce pattern and color while keeping installation simple.
Idea 8: Paint the peaked area a deep charcoal and add asymmetrical handmade banners or felt bunting for contrast. A darker backdrop makes the lights pop and allows colorful banners to stand out. We’ve also considered a chalkboard-like finish so Clara could doodle, but we worry about chalk dust over the bed; chalk markers are an option, though less charming.
We’re leaning toward either the soft gray from Idea 1 or the deep charcoal from Idea 8, possibly combined with a small 3D element like felt bunting or a paper lantern. We’ll invite Clara to help choose and hope to complete the update soon — along with stenciling the bathroom floor and finishing a sunroom tile project this weekend.
Update: Clara has already weighed in on several mockups and even combined ideas into a favorite. We filmed her reaction and can’t wait to finish the room and share the final result.