How to make a canopy for a crib: dimensions, necessary tools, step-by-step instructions and expert advice

Caring and loving parents try by any means possible to decorate the child’s room in order to give it comfort, beauty and, of course, please the little owner. They order a carriage-shaped bed for a girl, a car-shaped bed for a boy. They paint the walls in all the colors of the rainbow and sew curtains with images of their favorite cartoon characters. One way to decorate a nursery is to decorate the bed with a canopy. And the idea of sewing a canopy for a crib with your own hands is worthy of applause!

A canopy over a crib is a great way to make your baby's sleep comfortable, safe and fabulous. The size of the canopy for a crib depends one hundred percent on the age of the child. After all, you can decorate a bed with fabric not only for a newborn, but also for an adult child. Today this accessory can be bought in almost any children's store, but there is a risk that it will not fit into the existing interior. But there is good news - the Internet is replete with advice on how to sew a canopy for a baby crib with your own hands, with photos and detailed instructions. Let's look at how to do this in detail below.

Why is it needed?

A canopy is a fabric canopy over a child’s bed, which, first of all, is needed to protect the baby from dust, insects, and bright sunlight or light rays. For newborns, their functionality expands - the numerous folds of the canopy fabric are designed to hide from prying, often overly curious eyes. And, of course, we must not forget about the aesthetic function; beautiful canopies easily add tenderness and airiness to the interior. Different sizes of canopy for a crib allow you to play with the appearance of the decoration. To create different looks, just choose different fabric options - tulle, organza, chiffon, cotton. The latter does an excellent job of protecting against sun rays.

Functions and design of such an item

Canopies have been placed above the bed of royalty since ancient times. Previously, this design was truly luxurious: over a huge oak bed, a thick layer of velvet with gold tassels hung from the crossbars, and underneath there was light flowing tulle. Now the canopy looks much simpler.

Many interiors of children's rooms, especially for girls, contain this element as decoration. The most common canopies consist of a wire frame and airy tulle and fit perfectly into any setting.

But few people think about the true functions of the canopy:

Protection from light - royals are always very gentle, they should not be allowed to be woken up by light in the morning.
Protection from dust and insects - light tulle saves you from annoying bugs in the bed in the summer.
Protecting small children from prying eyes.
Protection from drafts.

Depending on the design of the canopy, it will combine various functions, and in some types even all.

Examples of canopy bed designs for children are presented in the following video:

For a newborn

Based on even one function of this accessory - protection from unwanted glances - one can judge whether a canopy is needed for a newborn. And all the other useful properties of this decor only confirm this guess.

A small, still fragile organism is so in need of protection. Choose the lightest canopies for a newborn crib so that the child does not feel the oppression of the canopy. Canopies for newborns need careful washing, otherwise there will be no protection from dust, but a completely unnecessary accumulation of it.

Photo of a four-poster bed in the interior of a children's bedroom

For a child over 3 years old

From the age of three years, children show maximum activity. Many parents worry about the safety of their children and strive to reduce all dangers to a minimum. Anything your baby comes into contact with should be soft, round or light.

Some people think that canopies can cause children to get tangled or stuck in the frame. If the child is irrepressible, endlessly explores something with his hands, or simply makes a lot of movements, then it is better to abandon the canopy.

Children over three years old should not hang long fabric with poor fastening, small decor, or mesh with large holes over the bed.

In the vast majority of cases, canopies are safe; it is difficult to get confused in the design if it is installed correctly. Read the packaging carefully or ask the store if this product is suitable for children aged three years and older. Then there will definitely be no problems with this decorative element.

Canopy over the bed of a child from 3 years old

For a teenager

The stereotype makes us think that a canopy is something made of tulle with openwork lace and ruffles, hanging only in little girls’ rooms. But that's not true. Textile masters create canopies specifically for teenage rooms in the most unusual colors and materials.

Children in transition often consider themselves adults, so they demand stylish rooms. Canopies made of thick colorful fabric will perfectly cope with the design of any interior. Moreover, you can hide behind a canopy, which also corresponds to the desires of teenagers - personal space is fenced off, you can dream about something intimate.

For children who are not quite adults yet, but no longer infants, a canopy will help decorate a playroom. In the boys' room, the canopy turns into the sails of a pirate ship. The girls' room becomes a princess bedroom with a king size bed.

Helpful advice: If the bed is located near the window, then the canopy can also serve as curtains.

Canopy over a bed for a teenager

The history of the appearance of the canopy

Many years ago, a beautiful fabric cape was the privilege of the children of the padishahs and came to our culture from the East. The standard sizes of a canopy for a crib in eastern countries are tens of meters of the most expensive silk and brocade. And even earlier, the prototype of the modern canopy was animal skins, which were used to cover the temporary bed of primitive people in order to retain heat. And only when private rooms appeared, the need for a canopy as a means of protection disappeared completely, leaving only an aesthetic function.

DIY round canopy

A canopy with a circle mount from the ceiling always looks chic. It’s easy to make a round canopy with your own hands.

Tip: Instead of a metal rod or pipe, you can use a regular plastic hula hoop. You need to attach a ceiling mount made of six pieces of wire to it and cover it with fabric.

Next, the canopy itself is sewn on to the desired size. At the junction of the fabric-covered hula hoop and the main fabric of the cape, a ribbon is sewn to help hide the seam.

Round canopy made from hula hoop

Advantages and disadvantages of canopies

Like every product, the canopy has its pros and cons. As a rule, they are not critical, but forewarned is forearmed! So let's talk about them.

So, the advantages of a canopy:

protects from drafts;
protects against insects;
protects against cold walls (however, this plus is only possible if the cape is made of thick fabric);
a newborn is not afraid of open space;
creates a feeling of security;
protects from bright light.

Minuses:

collects dust;
needs regular washing;
high price for products made from expensive and natural fabrics;
instability creates a risk of injury for the small user of the canopy.

Buy a canopy for a crib

A canopy for a crib is available for sale in many children's stores or online stores, where the item can be purchased with delivery. The kit includes the fabric itself, a holder, fastening (stands), screws and decor . The following describes options for possible accessories that are now popular among buyers of online stores and visitors to children's departments of hypermarkets. Based on the model name, manufacturer, brief characteristics, price, advantages and disadvantages, it’s easy to decide on a specific product to hang on a child’s bed.

Canopy Fairy

Convenient and practical, the owners will definitely be pleased with the beautiful and affordable version of Fairy:

Model name: Fairy.
Price: 789 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 300x170 cm, color – white, material – polyester, age – from 0 months.
Pros: protects from insects, drafts, decorates the bedroom, dims bright light.
Cons: does not close the crib.

Canopy Bombus

Take a look at an even more practical and attractive crib model:

Model name: Bombus.
Price: 1099 rubles.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 400x170 cm, color – white, beige, material – veil, age – from 1 month.
Pros: machine washable, safe for babies, hypoallergenic.
Cons: none.

Another attractive, but more expensive, is the second model from the same manufacturer. Its main difference is lace instead of the main tulle:

Model name: Bombus.
Price: 2500 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 400x165 cm, color – white, milky, material – lace, age – from 0 months.
Pros: allows air to pass through, retains natural warmth inside the cradle, does not get tangled, simple assembly, hypoallergenic.
Cons: Can only be washed rarely and by hand.

Canopy Baby Expert

The Italian lace model will help protect your child from drafts and insect attacks:

Model name: Baby Expert Megaviglia.
Price: 21480 rub.
Characteristics: made in Italy, dimensions – 300x150 cm, color – white, beige, fabric – cotton, lace, age – from 1 month.
Pros: it allows air to pass through well, keeps the cradle warm, decorates a child's room, hypoallergenic.
Cons: the cost is very high.

An expensive Italian product, decorated with hearts, is obscenely expensive, but very aesthetically pleasing:

Model name: Baby Expert Megaviglia.
Price: 21630 rub.
Characteristics: made in Italy, dimensions – 130x82x115 cm, color – white, beige, made of nylon with cotton elements, age – from 0 months, decor – appliqués in the form of hearts.
Pros: made of high-quality material (nylon), easy to install, hypoallergenic and safe for children, protects the little one from insects and drafts, machine washable on a gentle cycle.
Cons: cost.

Canopy Fairy

An inexpensive and convenient model for Fairy cribs is an excellent option and the most budget-friendly choice for moms and dads:

Model name: Fairy.
Price: 880 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 250x150 cm, color – white, blue, polyester, age – from 1 month, decor – cotton insert with a bright print.
Pros: protects from drafts and insects, has two satin ribbons with soft decor in the shape of hearts, retains heat, adds comfort to the children's room.
Cons: unstable fastening, inconvenient to put on, not suitable for a rocking cradle.

This beautiful and unusual Russian-made accessory will delight connoisseurs of practical things in the home. Made with high quality, except for the unstable holder:

Model name: Fairy.
Price: 800 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 250x150 cm, color – white, pink, polyester, cotton, age – from 0 months, decor – toys in the shape of hearts.
Pros: suitable for a cradle, protects against drafts and insects, has two satin ribbons with heart-shaped toys.
Cons: unstable fastening, difficult to assemble, inconvenient to put the fabric on the holder.

Canopy Toy Mart

to choose a small beautiful canopy for a crib:

Model name: Toy Mart blue for boys.
Price: 2350 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 40cmx40cmx40cmx40cm, color – white, blue, fabric – veil, age – from 1 month, decor – toys in the shape of hearts.
Pros: two types of design (picture with a cat and a dog or storks with a newborn), natural materials were used in production, protects the little one from insects and drafts.
Cons: does not protect from bright light, the mount is unstable.

Lightweight crib protection from a domestic manufacturer will allow your baby to feel comfortable in her “house”:

Model name: Toy Mart for girls.
Price: 2425 rub.
Characteristics: production - Russia, dimensions - 40cm x 40 cm x 40 cm x40 cm, color - pink, fabric - voile (calico), age - from 0 months, decor - toys in the shape of hearts.
Pros: two types of design (a picture with a cat and a dog or storks with a newborn), natural materials were used in production, protects the child from mosquitoes, flies, strong winds, drafts, pure natural materials were used for creation.
Cons: unstable mounting design, no protection from bright light.

Canopy Esspero

This is a lightweight product to protect your child from drafts and annoying insects:

Model name: Espresso Shine.
Price: 4800 rub.
Characteristics: production – Norway, dimensions – 400x160 cm, color – white, milky, fabric – voile, age – from 1 month, decor – embroidery on fabric with silk edging.
Pros: made of fine mesh, suitable for a cradle and a regular crib, protects the child from flies and mosquitoes, hypoallergenic, easy to assemble the frame, washable on a delicate cycle in the washing machine.
Cons: does not protect from bright light, the mount is unstable, does not protect the child from noise and drafts.

This model is made in the form of a light mesh , which allows air to pass through well, but at the same time does not provide the necessary protection from drafts:

Model name: Espresso Summer Flowers.
Price: 4800 rub.
Characteristics: production – Norway, dimensions – 400x160 cm, color white, fabric – jacquard (fine mesh), age – from 0 months, decor – embroidery on fabric with silk edging.
Pros: protects from poplar fluff, insects, dust, diffuses bright light, visually expands the space, hypoallergenic, can be washed on a delicate cycle in a washing machine.
Cons: no protection against drafts.

Canopy Roman Baby

A beautiful and lightweight product made in Italy is the undoubted leader, truly number one in appearance and quality :

Model name: Roman Baby.
Price: 21,500 rub.
Characteristics: made in Italy, dimensions – 300x165 cm, color – milky, beige, white, fabric – tulle, lace, age – from 1 month.
Pros: the dyes used are non-toxic, the material is natural and hypoallergenic, meets European standards, durable.
Cons: cannot be tumble dryed, ironed at 150 degrees, bleached, tumble dryed when hand washed.

Expensive and incredibly light, weightless option from Roman Baby Country is the best choice:

Model name: Baby Country novel for girls.
Price: 18,700 rub.
Characteristics: production – Italy, dimensions – 300x165 cm, color – white, cream, fabric – nylon, age – from 0 months.
Pros: protects the little one from wind, insects, bright light, dust, hypoallergenic, safe for children, washable on a gentle cycle.
Cons: cannot be tumble dried, bleached, or hand washed.

Canopy Baby Bjorn

An inexpensive and safe model, comfortable for a child of any age, is offered by the Baby Bjorn brand:

Model name: Baby Bjorn.
Price: 5250 rub.
Characteristics: production - Sweden, dimensions - 79x30x12 cm, color - white, fabric - polyester, age - from 1 month.
Pros: softens bright light, allows air to pass through, protects from mosquitoes and drafts.
Cons: Cannot be dried in a dryer.

A variation of the model discussed above, approximately equal in price, is the Baby Bjorn Kreid Harmony. This variation has a slightly different design:

Model name: Baby Bjorn Kreid Harmony.
Price: 5300 rub.
Characteristics: production - Sweden, dimensions - 79x30x12 cm, color - white, fabric - polyester, age - from 0 months.
Pros: easy to mount, comes with a storage bag, can be easily removed from the holder, and can be washed in a washing machine.
Cons: Cannot be dried in a dryer.

Canopy Karapuz

One of the cheapest for today is the budget option Karapuz, thoughtful and comfortable:

Model name: Karapuz 124-KI.
Price: 480 rubles.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 400x150 cm, color – white, cream, fabric – veil, age – from 1 month.
Pros: attached to the head, protects from dust, insects, and protects from bright lighting.
Cons: washable by hand, sometimes the fastening breaks.

An inexpensive but attractive modification of the previous Karapuz model is affordable and successfully performs its functions:

Model name: Karapuz (blue).
Price: 770 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 400x150 cm, color – white, blue, fabric – polyester, veil, age – from 0 months, decor – top in the form of a crown.
Pros: protects from dust, insects, diffuses bright light, sun rays, attaches to the head.
Cons: washable only by hand, unreliable fastening.

Canopy Lappetti

Lappetti's products have already gained popularity in the children's clothing and accessories market. Here are some of them:

Model name: “Birdhouse” by Lappetti.
Price: 1500 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 380x165 cm, color – beige, fabric – tulle, silk, age – from 1 month.
Pros: easy to remove, protects baby from dust, hair, insects, bright light, meets quality standards, can be machine washed on a gentle cycle.
Cons: none.

The infanta canopy crib (child of royal blood) from Lapetti will not leave any loving family indifferent:

Model name: “Canopy of the Infanta” by Lappetti.
Price: 4500 rub.
Characteristics: production – Russia, dimensions – 380x165 cm, color – beige, fabric – tulle, age – from 0 months, decor – embroidery, figured edges with braid.
Pros: protects the child from bright light and sunlight, attaches to a standard holder, protects the little one from dust and insects, creates favorable conditions for sleep, easy to assemble.
Cons: Hand washable - has embroidered details.

Features of sewing a canopy for a child

As mentioned above, the size of the canopy for a crib will directly depend on the size of the crib and the age of the child. In addition, we must not forget what material the cape will be sewn from - fabric consumption is of great importance.

Recommendations on how to choose a ready-made canopy

When choosing a finished product for a nursery, pay attention to the material of manufacture. It must be environmentally friendly, durable in color (not fade during washing), and not fade in the sun. It is advisable to choose soft, pleasant to the touch fabrics. When the crib is located near a window, the textiles chosen are dense; in the back of the room – more openwork, translucent.

For each age category, different recommendations are given for choosing:

for a newborn - the curtain is made light, but not entirely transparent, except when the room is located on the sunny side or there are often drafts. Then choose dense materials;
for a toddler - at this age the child is active, but coordination of movements is still poor, and the desire to explore everything around can lead to the baby simply getting tangled in the curtain, especially when it is long or mesh. Therefore, curtains are made short, medium-sized, from the most non-staining fabric;
three to seven years - children become stronger, but not all of them understand that they cannot hang on the canopy - the curtain may break. Here it is important to secure the frame as firmly as possible and fasten it correctly;
from eight years to adulthood - the child already feels almost like an adult, he has hobbies that can be partially realized using a canopy. The girl's bed will then become a teenage Barbie's house, a cozy princess palace with all the accompanying attributes, the boy will feel like a pirate sailing on a ship with sails, a van driver with curtained windows.

What do you need to sew a canopy?

You will need:

textile;
holder;
satin ribbon;
canopy pattern for a crib;
sewing supplies;
materials and accessories for decoration.

It is more convenient to sew a canopy on a sewing machine, but if you have enough time and patience, you can sew it by hand.

In total, for a standard size crib cover you need from 2.5 to 3 meters of fabric with a standard width of one and a half meters. The holder can be purchased at any children's store or made with your own hands - thick wire, pliers and strong hands will help you a lot with this. In order to decorate the upper part of the canopy, you cannot do without a wide, strong ribbon - 3.5 meters if you do not form a bow, and plus 0.5 m if you want to decorate the cape with a beautiful bow. For additional decoration, you can use flowers made of fabric, ruffles, sequins, beads - all this is abundant in the store for needlewomen.

Making your own canopy frame

The frame for the cape is also made by hand. It is made from thick but flexible wire, wooden, and plastic hoops. A good idea is a free-standing wrought-iron stand that has a lip with a ring at the top. Some options are attached directly to the crib using clips, clamps, and form a stable tripod.

Often a whole frame made of wood or metal is built under the curtain. The vertical parts serve as supports, the horizontal ones are intended for hanging fabric. The option looks original when the curtains “flow” directly from the ceiling - for this, a string cornice is mounted into the plasterboard ceiling structure, on which a canopy is hung.

Choosing fabric for the canopy

The canopy that you hang over the sleeping place of a child or an adult must be sewn from so-called “breathable” fabric. For sewing children's canopies, tulle and chiffon are most often used. Moreover, the dimensions of the canopy for a crib make it easy to form beautiful folds from these fabrics. In addition, they allow air to pass freely even in the hottest weather. Fabric options for a canopy for a baby crib, sizes with photos and designs are widely presented on handicraft forums.

If you plan to install the bed in the sunny part of the apartment, it makes sense to choose a denser material, such as linen, satin or cotton. That's what the experts say. Some people solve several problems at once and sew two canopies - one from dense material for the cold season, and the second from light, breathable and transparent material for hot days and nights.

You need to remember that whatever fabric you choose, it must be natural. No synthetics for canopies! It does not allow air to pass through well, can create a greenhouse effect and will completely make it impossible for the person whose bed it covers to have a sound and healthy sleep.

As for colors, they depend on the gender of the child, the interior of the nursery and the aesthetic preferences of the parents. The general recommendations of designers are delicate pastel colors, preferably plain fabrics. For decoration you can use bright fabrics and accessories.

Style, color

Canopies will best fit into such interior styles as:

classic;
modern;
baroque;
boho;
Oriental;
Mediterranean;
romantic;
antique;
Gothic.

The color of the fabric should promote restful sleep and be combined with the color of bed linen and other room textiles. Most often, the canopy is made in pastel colors and powdery tones. Sometimes the color of the canopy is matched to the walls or made contrasting or accentuated.

The gender of the child also matters - for girls, canopies are most often sewn from pink, peach, and purple fabric, for boys - from blue, gray, and dark blue. The universal idea is snow-white; it gives the room incredible elegance. Two-color options are also acceptable:

red with white and pink;
brilliant green;
sky blue with violet;
apricot with periwinkle;
bronze with light green;
aquamarine with beige;
mulberry with floral white;
pistachio with slate blue;
pink-amaranth with spruce;
turquoise with lilac;
pale chestnut with chamois;
zinnwaldite with sunny yellow;
fuchsia with dusty blue.

If desired, the canopy can be made rainbow, multi-colored, then the rest of the interior design should match.

Canopy in ten minutes

We will look at how to sew a canopy for a crib with your own hands step by step below. For this you will need:

large hoop (diameter at least 60 cm);
3 pairs of standard size curtains made of tulle (length 300 cm, width 250 cm) or similar pieces of fabric;
5 meters of tape 3-5 cm wide;
hook;
needles and threads/sewing machine;
drill, dowel and hook.

Let's start sewing.

First you need to disassemble the hoop, removing the protective mechanism from it - we will need it later.
The next step is to bend the top edge of the curtains by 5 cm and stitch on a sewing machine. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can use regular needles. We do the same with all six curtains.
We string the curtains onto the hoop and secure them using a security mechanism.
Cut the tape into three equal pieces. Their length will depend on how low you want to hang the canopy.
We fix the ribbon on the hoop every two curtains in the form of a loop.
We connect all three loops together, tying them at the top point.
Using a drill, we make a hole in the ceiling and attach the hook.
We hang the canopy on the hook.

Mounting methods

The canopy is mounted on special holders that have a round, oblong, or U-shape. The structure is mounted on the wall at the head, in the center above the crib, along the perimeter. When attaching the first option, which provides cover only for the headboard, a holder in the shape of the letter “P” is used, which is attached with screws, and the canopy is put on. Placement in the middle is done on an oval or round base, reminiscent of a hoop - the bed is partially or completely covered. For hanging around the perimeter, the racks are attached above the corners of the crib - on the crib itself or to the ceiling. The curtains are simply thrown over the top, forming a “roof”.

A child over six or seven years old is already able to clearly explain which canopy he likes, so his opinion should be taken into account.

Options for decorating canopies

There are an incredible number of ways to make a fabric product not just useful, but sophisticated, original, and beautiful. Due to the different sizes of the canopy, different accessories are used for the crib - the more fabric, the heavier the elements can be used for decoration.

Falling ribbons, braid, appliqués in the form of toys, wide frills, ruffles, lace - decoration depends only on imagination and the availability of resources. You can also combine the canopy with the now popular musical carousel; the baby will surely love this juxtaposition.

If time and money allow you, make two canopies. This way you can “play” with their design, and also change the bed covers depending on the time of year and when you need to put them in order.

Which canopy for a boy?

There is joy in your family - a son has been born. He is still just a baby, and I want to give him only the best and most beautiful things. Despite the fact that boys choose clothes and accessories of completely different colors than girls, the canopy for the crib should be beautifully decorated.

Which canopy should a boy choose, what color, and what decorations should he make? This question often torments parents who are waiting for the birth of their son.

The pattern of this cape will be the same as for the girl. The difference lies in the color of the base material and decorations.

What should a boy's canopy look like?

For a boy, they usually choose blue organza or thick silk of the same color. Finishing ruffles are made of denser fabric (chintz). From the same fabric you can make a large bow, triangular flags, boats and other objects that are attached to the top of the canopy.