Instructions on how to properly hang a canopy over a crib
In the first months of life, the child almost does not leave the cradle, as he sleeps most of the day. A canopy helps make the sleeping area cozy, comfortable and cute. The openwork canopy above the sleeping baby decorates the nursery, protects the baby from light and flying insects. Such a device can be purchased together with the bed, if necessary, it is easy to make it yourself. Let's see how to hang a lightweight canopy over a crib, make a do-it-yourself fabric hanger.
A little history
The canopy was invented in the East to protect against the sun. The rulers, when moving through the hot streets, hid behind folds of fabric, covering them from sight and hot rays. Later, lightweight materials were used to hang the beds to protect against insects. When arriving in Europe, the canopy changed its initial function somewhat.
They were still protected from insects, but dense fabrics kept the heat of a person in a confined space, in cold rooms they served as protection against penetrating drafts. In Russia, a canopy was made over children's cradles to hide babies from prying eyes, protect them from cold and insects.
Why do you need
Modern awnings have squandered most protective functions. Delicate, light, openwork fabrics on baby beds look more decorative, making the room especially soft and comfortable.
According to tradition, the canopy is believed to perform the following functions:
- protects the baby from light and drafts;
- prevents the penetration of insects;
- protects against dust and noise.
In modern housing, most problems are solved by other means. Tight-fitting plastic frames protect from drafts and dust, insects - mosquito nets on the windows, mosquito repellents. No one seriously puts a canopy over a crib these days to protect a baby from mosquitoes.
The canopy is a touching and soft way to create a cozy nest for the little one, where he will sleep softly in complete privacy, but will remain visible through a thin veil.
A curtain made of dense fabrics will create darkening during a day's sleep, separated from others, and will help create an individual comfort zone. A canopy helps many children get used to the regime, closed curtains interrupt communication with the outside world and teach them to fall asleep at a certain time.
Using a barrier for babies in cribs, one should not forget about the negative features of canopies:
- stale air inside the crib when using thick fabric, impaired circulation and ventilation;
- accumulation of dust on the material;
- a mobile child can get tangled in the fabric and overwhelm an unreliable structure.
In small children's canopies of any shape takes up space, makes the room overloaded.
Important: the canopy really holds and accumulates dirt. The fabric should be washed regularly so that the baby does not swallow dust with each movement of the fabric.
Location options
Crib canopies vary in shape, size and appearance. Their configuration depends on the place of attachment of the fabric and its decorative properties. There are several options for the location of canopies above beds.
Between
A canopy attached to a support in the middle of the long side of the bed is considered an option for boys. The fabric takes on the appearance of a pointed flat roof of a small house.
At the head of the bed
The location of the mount on the narrow part of the bed, on the side of the child's head, is considered an option for girls. If you fix the support in this way, the fabric covers only part of the bed and the upper part of the calf - the canopy looks like a large crown above the head of the princess.
along the perimeter
You can create the perfect canopy over the bed by positioning the fabric frame around the perimeter of the crib. The structure is fixed to the floor, to the ceiling or to the bed itself. The result is an isolated sleeping place with a ceiling - a small room the size of a bed. This option is used for children of any gender and for adult rooms and is called royal.
Mounting methods. Instructions
To make a canopy with your own hands, you need a backing and fabric for the canopy. The type of finished product depends on the method and location of the rack or frame attachment. The holder is of two types:
- Movable - moves with the bed, as it is fixed on it. Most cribs are made on wheels, parents, if necessary, change the position of the child in the room, move his bed to another place with the canopy.
- Stationary - fixed to the wall, to the ceiling. The awning cannot be used to move the bassinet.
Stationary and mobile versions of the mount have different attachment points.
On the side wall
Some crib models are sold with holes for attaching the canopies. Usually they are made in the middle of the long side. You just need to fix the rod by screwing it firmly with the screws. Then fix the loop (fabric support) by adjusting the height.
On the past
When attaching to a bylitz (back, fence), the bar is first fixed with special screws and the bracket is put in place. With the help of loops or Velcro, the fabric is suspended, after which the folds are straightened.
At the head of the nursery
Canopies at the headboard have a decorative character, it will not work to completely cover the baby with a fabric with such a fastening. The bar is screwed with fasteners, the bracket is placed at the desired height. It remains only to put on a decorative openwork fabric.
On the wall of the room itself
Decorative brackets made by designers and used for decoration are usually attached to the wall. They are made in the form of a crown, rectangular or oval. They are fixed on the chosen wall using dowels and screws. Before putting the fabric on the buttonhole, make sure that the structure is reliable. With this fastener, the fabric can completely hide the child.
On the floor
Floor constructions have a wide leg that reliably holds the loop with the fabric at the desired height.All elements are twisted and inserted into the floor base. If necessary, you can quickly change the installation location.
On the ceiling
It is important to choose the most convenient place for the cradle, because when you change the location, the ceiling will have to be drilled again. You cannot attach the bracket to the stretch ceiling. The bracket is fixed with self-tapping screws or screws to the ceiling. Then you need to collect the fabric on a loop and hang it on the attached ceiling hook or thread it on a special cornice, straighten the folds.
Designer decoration options
A canopy over a crib can become the main decoration of a children's room. Canvas, fabric supports are decorated with decorative elements.Waiting for the baby, parents often create real masterpieces by inventing their own solution or using ready-made templates.
Forged products
The base of the fixed supports can be made of forged products fixed to the ceiling or to the wall. These products are offered by the decoration departments of children's rooms and the workshops for the manufacture of custom forged parts.
The main difficulty is that the rack will be heavy, it must be combined with other elements of the decor of the room - furniture handles, curtain rods.
Wide stripes or loops
You can plant openwork or dense fabrics in wide strips or loops, making them the main decor of the canopy. Pink stripes for girls, blue for boys, gold or orange-yellow stripes will adorn any fabric.
eyelets
By choosing eyelets to secure the material, you can add an element of decoration and shine. Rhinestones, carvings, matte or shiny surfaces of rings will enliven the nursery.
Wavy braid
The corrugated tape completely hides the support and is convenient for homemade models made of material (thread, hoops) that does not have decorative effects. The sewn cords help create a lush canopy by gathering many small, evenly spaced pleats throughout the loop. This splendor and this uniformity are difficult to obtain by other means.
Ribbons
Colorful bright ribbons will decorate the girl's room. With their help, you can tie the fabric to the loop, securing it with a fluffy knot. To prevent the bow from accidentally unraveling during operation, the knot is sewn.
Rules and criteria for selecting fasteners
The main requirements for fasteners are reliability and ease of use. The baby's crib is often moved, bringing it closer to parents at night. At first, the baby often lives in an adult's room, and then is transferred to its own room. Movable brackets are more convenient, the canopy is not attached to one place, it moves with the bed.
It is important that the mobile structure is solid, holds the curtain well, the fasteners are regularly checked and tightened.
The size of the fabric is chosen so that it does not drag on the floor, does not get tangled in the wheels, but covers the baby under the mattress. For large children's rooms, you can choose fixed supports. Design lights on the ceiling or on the wall, a curtain associated with tulle or drapes will decorate the room. Such constructions are used even when the child comes out of infancy.
Making DIY Brackets
Ready-made awning holders cost from 500 rubles, they are sold with fasteners. Material - metal, durable plastic.Creative parents are able to make a bracket and sew a curtain with their own hands. It will brighten up the expectation of the baby, allow you to create an exclusive version, unlike common models.
Would need:
- pipe made of metal or polymeric material;
- loop for tying the fabric;
- curtain material - according to individual preferences;
- decorative elements - ribbons, hinges, eyelets.
To sew a curtain, you need a sewing machine, good thread and a pattern.
Reference: the canopy hangs more than a meter above the bed. Otherwise, leaning towards the baby is uncomfortable, the child's personal space is limited.
From the hoop
Ordinary embroidery hoops are used as fabric accessories. The larger the diameter, the better the fabric will cover the entire crib. This option is the simplest - the hoop is disconnected, one half is placed in the center of the sewn openwork fabric, fixed with the second part.
Then the structure is hung on the support. It is convenient to put fabric with a drawstring on the split hoop. Another option for a ready-made round rack can be a hoop (gymnastic hoop).
Homemade yarn circle
Using a stiff wire, the shape and size of the loop can be selected as desired. The wire is taken with a large section, dense so that the hanging fabric does not deform the structure. It is important to carefully seal the ends of the frame so that they do not tear the material and damage it when touched accidental.
metal tubing
The leg of the canopy is made of a pipe, having previously bent it and giving the shape of the letter G. The size of the horizontal bend is chosen so that the loop with the fabric hangs in the center of the cradle.The pipe is fixed with fasteners to the base of the cradle, preferably in 2 places, at a distance of 10-15 centimeters, so that the fasteners clearly fix the vertical position of the bar. A white plastic tube is lighter, more suitable for a delicate crib than metal.
When choosing the shape and fastening of canopies, they are guided by the peculiarities of the children's room, the need to move the crib around the apartment. If parents are not sure about the need for this device, it is better not to spoil the walls or the ceiling, but to use the mobile option - on the floor or attached to the crib. Openwork and delicate canopies create coziness in the nursery, give the room a special charm.