An Expert’s Guide To Canopy Beds
By
3 hours ago
Think you know your half-testers from your corona drapes? Think again
Picture this: a plush four-poster bed dressed with velvet drapes, heavy throw blankets and a small mountain of cushions. For many of us, an ornately decorated canopy bed is the dream – and nothing feels quite as luxurious as having one at home. But where do you start in the quest for the perfect canopy? We ask the experts their top tips.
The Case For A Canopy Bed
If you’re looking to spice up the bedroom – no, not like that – start with the bed. As the natural focal point of the room (and the place we spend roughly a third of our lives), the bed is the perfect canvas for a characterful design (and drama).
And when it comes to frames and bed styles, none have the visual impact of the classic canopy bed. ‘They have an instinctive ability to change how a room feels,’ confirms Peter Tindall, director of Cornish Beds. ‘Four-posters create a sense of height, calm and quiet theatre in the bedroom – they frame the space, lift the eye and invite you to slow down. It’s this feeling of elevation and considered living that continues to captivate; a bedroom that feels not just beautiful, but genuinely restorative.’
House of Hackney
And, as we predicted in our bedroom trends forecast, they’re set to experience a huge resurgence in 2026 – thanks largely to the combined revival of maximalism and cottage interiors. It’s bucolic charm with a splash of personality: chintzy prints, woollen blankets, antique knickknacks, higgledy-piggledy furniture and, of course, a voluptuous canopy bed.
‘Bed canopies have been a staple of English interiors for centuries, originally designed to create a warm, enveloping retreat,’ notes Becci Craig, lead designer at Sanderson. ‘Today, they’re making a strong comeback in both traditional and modern spaces, bringing opulence and statement grandeur to a room – instantly transforming a plain space into a talking point.’
And, as the official sanctuary of the home, surely we can afford to be a little more indulgent with our choice of bedroom furnishings?
Colefax & Fowler (c) Beth Evans, courtesy of Cornish Beds
Expert Tips: How To Style A Canopy Bed
Decide On A Style
The most common – and likely the most familiar – setup for a canopy bed is when ‘a bed is framed by posts and then draped in a fabric either above or around it’, explains Caroline Aston, UK interior design and trade sales executive at House of Hackney. This is the grand, fairytale look most of us associate with the term ‘canopy bed’ – think richly decorated drapes, a sturdy frame and a spatial command of the bedroom. It’s all too easy to picture yourself sinking into one of these beds, says Caroline: ‘There’s a romantic soft feel which offers privacy and cosiness.’
But for those who cannot afford the four-poster, there are other options – namely, corona drapes and half-testers. Corona drapes (or a crown canopy) are a bit grander in design, consisting of a circular fixture mounted above the bed, from which fabric cascades down and forms a ‘crown’. Half-testers, meanwhile, squashes down the four-poster bed so that the canopy extends only over the head of the bed – leaving the bottom half open to the rest of the room.
You can even get crafty with your canopy, thanks to some clever curtain pole fixtures. Fixing them to either end of the bed lets you drape a swathe of fabric overhead down the length of the bed, while placing a longer curtain pole down the centre can help achieve a tent-like effect.
House of Hackney
Remember The Space
Styles aside, you also need to factor how the bed and canopy will fit inside the room. ‘Be careful to not fit a bed too big into a space too small,’ warns Caroline. If you’re worried about the bed still dwarfing the room though, she recommends isolating the canopy to one area of the frame. ‘If taking the fabric around all four corners is too much, keep it to the head of the bed – it will ensure you keep the drama without looking oppressive in the space.’
The height of the canopy is especially important to consider – too low and it might look squashed, too high and it might not fit at all. The general guide is to match the height of any windows in the room, unless they sit particularly low.
Pick A Fabric
Next, you’ll want to think about the canopy itself. ‘Canopy beds can offer a luxurious, hotel-like feel to a room creating an intimate environment,’ highlights Caroline, adding that your choice of fabric can impact the overall feel of the space. ‘Soft, sheer fabrics can create a light and airy atmosphere, while heavier velvets offer a rich and decadent look.’
Lean Into Prints
As for styling, don’t be afraid to go big and bold. ‘We are loving printed fabrics for canopy beds – it’s an opportunity to really have some fun,’ emphasises Caroline. ‘Don’t be afraid to go bold with colour or print; you can create a real statement within a room. It’s also a beautiful way to use print in an unexpected way.’
Curate Your Palette
The introduction of extra fabric, however, should be done with consideration of the room as a whole. ‘If you are using print elsewhere, keep it simple and use calming plain fabric,’ advises Caroline. While pattern-maxxing might be on the cards for hardcore maximalists, it’s best to avoid making the space feel overwhelming. (After all, this is where you’ll be sleeping at the end of the day.) ‘Try and keep the room clutter-free, allowing for the canopy bed to be the real star.’
Interiors Inspiration: Canopy Beds
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
