How to Use Aircraft Wire to Hang a Canopy
Bed canopies have a very long history. They were first introduced in the 13th century. The canopy was suspended from the ceiling with cables that attached to the beams above. Curtains, forming walls, hung from the canopy and allowed the bed's occupants privacy. It was the precursor of the chamber with actual walls. Over time, the bed canopy became less practical and more a statement of fashion. In modern times, the bed canopy can fulfill both functions: that of creating a private space as well as a statement of fashion. You need not possess the Great Bed of Ware, a four poster bed said to have measured 11 feet in length and width, but even a small area of a studio apartment or a plain old bed in need of prettying-up will look better with a canopy. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Laser level
- Aircraft cable
- Cable cutter
- Drill
- 2 turnbuckles
- Wire rope clips
- Threaded hooks
- Wall anchors (optional)
- Curtain
Instructions
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1
Decide where you wish to position your canopy. As the canopy will hang from an airplane cable stretched across the room, you need to determine the points where the cable will attach. If your room has high ceilings, suspend the cable across the room, centered above the bed. If your apartment is a studio apartment, choose an area that you would like to designate as a bedroom area, then center the cable above this point.
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2
Make a mark on one wall where you will attach one end of the cable. Measure up the other wall and make a mark where you will attach the other end. If you wish to be even more exact, use a laser level to establish the points exactly. For greater security, attach the cable to studs rather than drywall.
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3
Drill holes at the marked points and insert the threaded hooks. If necessary, use wall anchors as well to secure the hooks.
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4
Tie a loop at one end of the aircraft wire. Secure the end with a wire rope clip. The clip will help prevent the loop from undoing as you stretch and apply tension to the aircraft wire.
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5
Open the turnbuckle and attach it to the other hook. Stretch the wire across the room to the turnbuckle and thread the wire through it.
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6
Remove the turnbuckle from the hook. Cut the wire, leaving 6 inches in excess, using a cable cutter.
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7
Reattach the turnbuckle to the hook and draw the wire as tightly as you can manage. Attach the end with the wire rope clip. Trim the end of the wire.
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8
Drape the curtain over the aircraft wire so that it hangs evenly over the bed with the ends hanging down over each side of the bed. If you are seeking privacy, opaque curtains would work well. If you are seeking romance as well as a delineation of space, then a sheer curtain will work.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment by hanging three aircraft cables, one higher than the others and two lower and level with each other. The canopy will form a more defined triangle as it hangs over the bed. Or, stretch two cables across the room at the same level, parallel to each other. When the curtain stretches across the cables and hangs down, it will resemble the older-style canopies with a "wall" on either side of your bed.
