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Canopy Beds: All Grownup and Still Magical

Add a Dose of Drama and Romance With an Elegant Four-Poster

Killy Scheer May 8, 2011

Comment18

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I always wanted a canopy bed when I was a kid. I thought they were romantic and whimsical and often imagined myself as a princess climbing into her tall fabric-swathed bed at night, or waking up in the morning with sheers filtering sunlight from my delicate skin. Then I grew up and wanted nothing to do with the frilly, flighty canopy bed. When I grew up even more and became an interior designer, I learned to appreciate many styles of decor. Whether or not I can envision something in my own home isn't the point; anything done well for the space it's in deserves kudos. Due to my enlightened outlook, I thought I should re-explore the world of the canopy bed.

I've discovered that they can be magical (and majestic) without being ostentatious or overly girly. I especially like canopy beds without the canopy — more of a four-poster-with-top-rail situation. They add a dose of drama, without the melodrama, to any bedroom. But even a little melodrama here and there isn't a bad thing: The bed is the most important feature of the bedroom, after all!

User

A simple, modern wood canopy bed, again without any frippery, grounds this bedroom with Zen lines and soft edges.

User

Fabric doesn't have to mean frill. This stately canopy bed extends all the way to the ceiling, integrating with the structure of the room and clearly delineating where relaxation takes place. The fabric panels, upholstered top and skirted bottom result in a quiet, calming sanctuary fit for a king or a queen. (Or both!)

Zack|de Vito Architecture + Construction

Up the style ante with a polished chrome canopy. The posts in this view-tastic bedroom mimic the vertical elements in the window, bringing the whole look together.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

With its turned wood posts, this design falls a little more on the traditional side, but its placement in a sun-drenched room with dark walls, a vaulted ceiling and bright white textiles give it a New England-beachy chic that makes me want to climb in after a long day on the sailboat (were I in possession of a sailboat).

Traditional furniture strikes a balance with this modernist four-poster bed, plopped in the middle of an urban loft. Even without fabric swooping around the posts, this bed feels like a cozy escape from the bustling city beneath.

Webber + Studio, Architects

Talk about stark! But there's a softness in the austerity. Perhaps it's the subtle detail in the ironwork, or the horizontal wood paneling, or the hint of traditional furniture. Whatever it is, this room feels complete, thanks to the four-poster bed.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

It doesn't get much more glam than this: sexy bedside chandeliers encasing a fluffly bed ensconced in white linens and fine textiles all around.

Wood trim and vaulted ceilings bring an Arts and Crafts vibe to this room, but the suzani bedding and matte metallic four-poster bed mix things up, making it difficult to place when the room was designed — a positive attribute in my book!

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Colvin Design

I love this set up for its understated elegance and masterful use of vertical lines, natural materials and quiet textures. It is soft, yet masculine and warm.

Elizabeth Gordon

Ramp up sophistication with splashy light fixtures. The ceiling fixture and two pendants on either side of the bed work well together, add interest, and make this already glamorous setup even more scintillating. The drapery wall behind the bed softens a look that could have been too cold, with all of the metal finishes.

Comment18

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Comments (18)

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Glentruan Furniture Ltd.

Here is a new four poster bed

4 Likes February 20, 2014 at 12:55AM

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neal777

Four poster bed, 100% hand carved! pure teak wood . Contact neal@fiveelements.co.in

Like May 8, 2014 at 12:50AM

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midcenturyfan

What canopy height-ceiling height ratio is appropriate? I have standard height ceilings and want to make sure the room doesn't feel crowded. Thank! This is the bed I'm considering.