Have you considered a traditional canopy bed?

Canopy beds can conjure up images as diverse as Arthurian knights and Victorian Gothic to Sleeping Beauty, whisking us back to simpler times when bedrooms were regarded as a retreat from the outside world.

Mark Krantis of Bed Warehouse readily admits that the canopy bed is not exactly in vogue right now. "But there are still a number of choices in canopy beds today, for both adults and children," he says.

The traditional canopy bed is similar to a four-poster, featuring posts at each corner, with an ornate or decorative fabric draped over the top to form a ceiling, or canopy. "You can make the canopy from any type of material or design you like, be it pleated curtains, mosquito netting or a curtain running around the extension," says Mark.

Kids' beds

Canopy beds for children are a little different, according to Mark. "These have the two tall posts at the head of the bed with a half-circle extension coming out over the child's head and material or netting hanging from it," he says. There are also wrought-iron four posters for children, which tend to be very brightly coloured.

Types of canopy bed

Adults also have a choice of modern four-posters that have a more contemporary square frame and employ cleaner, simpler lines. They usually have little to no detail on the footers or headboards and can feature sharp, geometric designs.

"The headboard and the footer are very square and they tend to be in darker colours such as chocolate brown," says Mark. "These work best with a box-pleated canopy bed, but you can get some interesting effects with different fabrics and strong colours. For example, using a bright red silk canopy that drops behind the bedhead can be quite dramatic."

Today, as people opt for simpler choices in bedroom furniture, canopy beds are great for those who want to make a statement. And they allow a certain amount of personalisation, too. "Some suppliers provide a package that includes the canopy, but it is simple to make your own," says Mark. "There's a great choice of fabrics out there."