*Thanks so much for the kind words and support after yesterday’s post. Reading your stories and memories was truly touching.
A few weeks ago Clara saw a canopy over a friend’s bed and immediately fell in love. She asked us—right then—to build a canopy for her. We were happy to oblige, minus the “hammering blankets” approach she imagined.
We love that this was her idea and that it brings a playful touch to her room. It could even help her transition from crib to daybed; she’s still napping in the crib, but seems closer to switching every day.
To begin, we pulled some spare fabric from my stash to test the shape we liked and to figure out how many yards we’d need. Early plans happened before we painted her room, closet, and ceiling, but we decided to paint first so the canopy would be installed into finished surroundings.
The next step was a quick fabric test: we held up some old sheer curtains to see how white would read in the room. Because the rug and curtains already include a lot of pattern, and we plan to reuse art from her nursery, a white canopy with a colorful trim felt like the best option—playful without being overwhelming, and likely to remain versatile as Clara’s tastes change.
We liked the white sheers but they felt plain without trim and were a little short on the sides. Using them as a placeholder, we measured and determined we needed six yards of fabric to create a canopy long enough to drape fully over each side of the bed.
Shopping was a win: six yards of washable cotton/poly blend fabric for under $21 after a 50% coupon, plus six yards of turquoise pom-pom trim to edge the canopy. The pom-pom trim sealed the deal—Clara discovered it first and loved it—and it coordinated beautifully with the room’s colors. The trim was also discounted, so the whole trim purchase was budget-friendly. I especially liked how the pom-poms add a fun, whimsical touch.
After washing and pre-shrinking the fabric, I double-hemmed all four sides for a neat finish. I folded and sewed each edge twice so the inside would be clean and free of loose threads—important, since you can see the canopy’s interior while lying in bed.
Hemming an 18′ by 4′ piece of fabric took a while—longer than it would for a more experienced sewer—but I got in a rhythm and finished the lengthy edges. I even joked to myself about calculating the total feet sewn; it was oddly satisfying. Then I sewed the pom-pom trim along the entire 18′ front edge, which instantly elevated the look.
In total the project took about four hours. Someone faster at sewing could likely do it in one, but I’m thrilled with the result. The pom-poms pick up the colors in the rug and curtains and give Clara something cheerful to look at from her bed.
For hanging, we reused two decorative wooden brackets from another project and bought one more, which we painted to match. The brackets were shallow, so we attached 17″ wooden slats to extend them, then secured everything to the wall with screws and anchors. Each bracket hangs on two screw heads to stay firmly in place.
Safety and placement were top of mind. We mounted the side brackets about 32 inches above the mattress top so the canopy stays out of the way during story time, snuggling, and general play. The slats align with the bed arms, keeping the canopy clear of areas where someone might lean or jump.
The canopy fabric currently rests on the brackets. I planned to add Velcro strips along the top to hold it in place, but Clara has been gentle with it—tracing the pom-poms and gazing up—so I’m leaving it as-is for now. If it gets pulled or becomes fussy, I’ll attach Velcro later.
The photo of Clara, though slightly blurry, captures how smitten she is with her canopy. We’re not finished with the wall under the canopy: we’re considering chunky crown molding and might add a mirror, art, or a 3D paper-mâché animal collection to break up the white triangle under the fabric. For now, I’ve experimented with a mirror placement in a mockup, but we’ll decide on the final look as we go.
Overall this was a kid-friendly, washable, and not-too-complicated project that made Clara very happy. This morning I overheard her telling Burger that he must wear “a crown and a wand to come into my room because it’s for royal sleepovers.” Burger hasn’t accepted the royal dress code yet, but Clara is thrilled, and that’s what matters most.
Update – If you want to know where we got something in our house or what paint colors we used, click the button below.