Hang Lights And A Canopy In A Girl'S Bedroom

Hang lights and a canopy in a girl's room for a feminine look.

Hang a canopy and lights over a girl's bed to complement a fairy or princess theme, or to simply add a soft, feminine touch to the room. Choose colors or designs that work with the rest of the bedroom decor, such as a gauzy light purple fabric with a butterfly pattern if the rest of the room has purple butterflies. Be sure to secure the canopy and lights to avoid safety hazards.

Instructions

1. Paint three wooden dowels or pieces of lightweight pipe in a color of your choice--perhaps to match the canopy fabric, or else to match the wall paint. The three dowels or pipes should be cut the same size, approximately the length of the bed or slightly longer.

2. Screw one small ceiling hook in the ceiling above the center of the head and foot of the bed and at each corner of the bed. There should be three at the head of the bed and three at the foot of the bed. Use a measuring tape or laser light to line up the hooks evenly with the bed.

3. Tie fishing wire around each end of all three dowels or pipes. Knot the fishing wire a couple of inches in from the edge of the pipe or dowel so it doesn't slip out of the knots.

4. Run the other side of the fishing wire through one hook and tie it in a knot. Tie the other end of that dowel or pipe to the corresponding hook either at the foot or head of the bed. Use a measuring tape to hang both sides evenly. The center dowel should be hung a few inches higher than the two side dowels, which should be hung at the same height.

5. Cut the excess wire and discard.

6. Lay the strings of miniature lights across the dowels. Use a single strand at the head of the bed so you can plug the lights in without causing tripping hazards around the bed. Use LED lights, which burn cooler and pose less of a fire hazard.

7. Drape the material over all three dowels and the lights so it hangs on both sides of the bed. Spread out the material to make it even. Use panels or strips of material if you want a layered look or if you want to use different colors or patterns.

8. Use small clips to clip the fabric and light strings to the dowels to keep them in place.

Tags: fishing wire, three dowels, both sides, canopy lights, dowels pipes, measuring tape