Canopy Beds for Boys, Not Just for Girls

In medieval times, castles would drape heavy curtains over the beds to retain warmth in the winter, and keep out drafts. In the springtime and summer, the heavier curtains would be replaced with thin, lighter, netted canopies to deter bugs and pests. When you think about how canopy beds came into being, they don't sound very girlie at all.

Later on, the rich began sleeping under canopies, simply because the canopy bed was seen as being associated with wealth. It didn't seem to matter that at this point there were other devices in place (such as screen windows, air conditioning, central heating, etc.) that took care of the issues that canopies had once resolved.

For this reason alone, a canopy bed could make your son feel like the wealthiest little boy in the neighborhood. They make a great car bed, too!

When most people think of canopy beds, they imagine sheen, frilly, billowy fabrics - but that's not the only kind of canopy that there is - the canopies for kids beds can be made from wrought iron or wood, too.

Here are some popular boys' theme bed ideas, and ways that canopies can be incorporated into them:

To create a tree house theme bed, you could use a wooden slat platform for the lower canopy, which would create a "cave" inside the trunk of the "tree." A canopy that branches out over the upper level can add to the ambiance and appear to be jungle foliage.

To make a race car bed, the roof of the car could be made from a canopy of sheet metal (or it could be made like a convertible), or the canopy could be the form of a garage's ceiling and the race car bed is parked inside of it. Another good idea is to use a canopy made from canvas - then the race car theme bed for your little boy has its own carport.

A canopy made out of canvas would go great with a seafaring theme bed like a tanker ship, aircraft carrier, ocean liner, pirate ship, or a sailboat.

A wild west theme boys bedroom will help your little boy imagine he's a pioneer out on the open trail. You can use a canopy as the canvas to a covered wagon theme bed - he'll imagine he's on an important expedition into the western frontier.

A netted canopy could be used for mosquito netting in a jungle safari theme bed. Your little boy will imagine he's on an adventure in a tropical rain forest.

Lastly, with a themed canopy bed such as a car bed, you can help your little boy feel like the best racer on the circuit.