Many associate the concept of "canopy" with oriental splendor and opulence, but the emergence of this design element is associated with a utilitarian reason. Initially, canopies were used as a comfortable cape to protect a sleeping person from wind, dust and annoying insects.

In Russia, the prototype of the canopy was a piece of ordinary chintz, which was covered with the baby's cradle. This cape was notable for its practicality and reliability: it saved the child from drafts, dust and insect bites. It was the baby cradle with a chintz dome that became the progenitor of the four-poster bed.

Types and methods of attaching canopies

Thanks to the efforts of the designers, the functional cape was transformed over time into an element of decorating the bed, and today the canopy above the bed plays mainly a decorative role. According to psychologists, the canopy gives a sleeping person a feeling of peace, comfort and security, therefore its use in the interior is not only desirable, but also useful.

It is customary to distinguish the following types of canopies, the frame of which can:

• attach to bed racks and fit under the ceiling;
• mount directly to the ceiling;
• have the shape of a tent and be fixed only on bed racks;
• have the shape of a circle or square, and the canopy itself, in this case, is attached to the axis passing through the center of the bed;
• have the shape of a semicircular arc, attached to the wall at the head of the bed, then a piece of fabric thrown over the frame acts as a canopy.

Modern canopies over the bed often have a pretentious shape, made of textured fabrics or non-woven materials. The uprights and canopy frame are usually made of wood or metal. The choice of materials depends not only on the designer's intention, but also on the financial capabilities of the future owner of the four-poster bed.

Children's four-poster beds

Typically, parents choose these models for babies and toddlers. Of course, girls like canopies much more than boys. Any little princess will be delighted with such a bed, and boys may refuse to sleep under a canopy.

Girls' beds are usually made of pink or peach flowers. Other shades are acceptable, but preferably gentle and warm. For teenage girls, the color scheme can be more varied.

As for the design, canopies in the form of a tent or a frame are suitable for babies, giving the box the appearance of a cozy house. Older girls and younger girls will love the drapery at the head of the bed, which will make the room more feminine.

You can decorate a children's canopy with a scattering of bright decorative flowers or outlandish butterflies. The garland attached to the canopy will not only give it an original look, but also solve the problem of night lighting.

Canopies for adults

They play the role of a design element, so you need to properly combine them with. If the room is decorated in a classic style, thick one-colored fabrics should be used for the canopy. A thin canopy with flounces or draperies will perfectly fit into interiors in the Baroque and Rococo styles. A translucent canopy will decorate a bedroom in an oriental style, and a canopy for a hi-tec bedroom is better made of unusual material.