Canopy for bed

[Dan]

I am a novice woodworker looking for a simple plan to make a canopy for a queen size bed frame.

[MadMark]

You got posts already?

Basic canopy is simple rectangle.

One trick is to suspend it from *ceiling* and use gauzy fabric to drape over and hang down.

Normally there is no "top" to the canopy. You just let the fabic hang.

I have seen some more substantial canopies with tops and support, but they only look right if the bed is massive.

Give us a little more info as to what you have to work with.

M

[Dan]

Thanks for your responce MadMark. I don't have posts yet, that is my hangup. The frame of the bed has angle iron on three sides. The side angle irons do not reach to the foot of the bed where the foot posts will be. I am thinking of extending angle iron to reach the foot of the bed then bolting on the posts. I think that a wood post made by ripping 2x4 in half would work out ok. I have also been considering PVC pipe(not exactly furniture quality) or plastic fence posts (they seem so massive - 4x4). You are right, the top could be suspended but this bed gets moved around the room quite frequently so I am exploring using aluminum rods from the front to back posts with cross pieces also from aluminum. I think that for stability of the posts I will need to made a headboard and footboard but the way to attach them to the posts has me stumped sice I don't know how to joint them other then overlaping the pieces. Well, there you have my plans - still in the making.

[MadMark]

Ok, you have a basic metal bed frame. If you want a canopy and aren't satisfied with the rectangle hanging from the ceiling idea you're going to have to build a full bed frame. However this is NOT a particularly difficult task.

Rockler sells all sorts of bed frame components for making modular bedposts. They all interlock and you can mix & match and combine them in original ways to make most anything you can conceive. Basically you'll TOSS your existing metal bed frame and then make a headboard and a foot board. The side boards are just straight boards with an inside lip to hold the slats. You buy screw on connectors for the corners and you're done. The headboard and foot boards can be as simple as a piece of furniture grade plywood with a simple cap molding on it or as elaborate as you can dream (I would think that if you're going for a canopy you'ld want something more than just a flat piece of plywood). Anyway this is a very "doable" project.

Order a Rockler catalog off my web page and I'll make 50¢.

Look up their part #38840 and it'll key into the related parts.

M

[Dan]

Once again thanks for the help. This sounds like it will accomplish what I had in mind. I'll get on the Rockler site and see what they have.

[Pastor Paul]

Funny, I'm not quite 50 years old, but I distinctly remember the can o' pee being under the bed.

Sorry! I just couldn't resist.