I already have the bed. What I am doing is making a canopy that will technically not actually be physically connected to my bed, but will be around it. I'm going to buy a bunch of half inch plumbing tubes and connectors-ethe various connectors, ones that turn 90 degrees, 4 way connectors etc to make the frame just how I like it.

Then I will buy a bunch of fabric to cover the ugly plumbing tubes. I will start with 1 color/pattern for the whole thing... but I'll make it so it has velcro dots so I can easily remove the cloth covering from all the tubes so I can quickly and easily change to a different color/pattern when I get the urge to redecorate and I quickly have a whole new look to my canopy bed

I also plan on having it so that I can actually pull a big sheet over almost like a curtain or shower curtain to enclose the bed. Especially since when I'm sleeping, I like to block out ALL light, and this will help.

Not asking for help (unless anybody has idea inputs that I may use as I build this canopy frame that I want to use). Just thought I'd share this interesting project.

Are you talking about PVC? I wouldn't have thought 1/2-inch would be strong enough to support that much weight without bending. I'm also confused about what shape you're making this frame. I would have assumed it to be a cube, but that would require 8 3-way connectors - not "L"s or 4-ways. Are you going to put feet on this thing, or is it just going to rest on the floor? I also don't get where you're going with the velcro dots.

I'm interested to hear how it works out. Have you considered getting one of those hanging canopy kits instead of building a frame from scratch?

I think PVC IS the right term. (I'm don't know squat about construction, auto and stuff so I often use technical terms like "thingy" and "doojabber" (ask my friends... we jokingly always refer to FM transmitters as "doojabbers" now))

Oh, the reason I'm needing L connectors and other shapes is because it won't be a simple cube. It'll have 1 rod that goes across the front on which the curtain can slide, then an additional rod across that will have a draping bit of fabric that comes down in half ovals like:

\__/\__/

and it will stay still. See, I'm covering all the ugly piping with cloth... but to make it so I can easily REMOVE the cloth and put cloth of a different color or pattern on super easily by making it so the cloth strips wrap around the pipes and velcro to each other.

I might EVEN get crazy and have TWO curtains that I can pull shut to enclose the bed... a fabric that is mostly see through, and then a 2nd that is thicker and blocks light. So I'll need either 2 or 3 seperate pipes going across, longways, on the side facing out into my room. Which will require some funny looking pipework, lol. But that'll all be covered by fabric.

Maybe I'm wrong... but I think I've only seen "canopy" kits that basically hang from the ceiling, have a circle at the top (which is smaller than the bed itself), and drape down over the bed going outwards like some sort of mosquito net... blah, totally not what I'm wanting.

Half inch pipes ARE rather flimsy... but I THINK it'll be strong enough for what I'm using. The reason I chose half inch is because any bigger and shower curtain things (the hooks that hold the curtains and go on the rod) won't fit on pipes larger than that. If it winds up not supporting well enough, I'll get thicker pipes and will have to rig up my own custom curtain holding hooks that will fit on the thicker pipes... but I hope that won't be necessary.

Fortunately these pipes are like dirt cheap! Less than $2 for a LOONG pipe. So another reason for me doing this myself is that I'm having fun being creative, making it rather different than boring ready-made canopy beds, will be proud of the end result (I hope) and it'll be rather cheap. Although all the cloth required might get a little pricey... ah well...

EDIT: And the reason I would WANT to remove and replace the cloth is if I feel like redecorating it with a new theme... Halloween themes at Halloween time, etc. The first one I do will probably be tiger print. Or plain white.

I really don't think the 1/2-inch PVC is going to hold all that fabric. And even if it does, it's going to bow like crazy. If you're determined to try, definitely make sure you don't buy the cheapest conduit because it will definitely be too thin. Get the thickest one you can find (although I'm still not convinced it'll work).

If you have an Ikea near you, it would be a WHOLE lot easier to install a kvartal system.
pinterest.com . . . (this ain't it, but it's close)
They're very easy to assemble, and they're cheap too. Although you're right - you're going to spend a small fortune on fabric. Any ideas what you're going to get?

Sitting here thinking about it... I think you're right about the bowing. I actually held one of the long half inch pipes up in the store and was thinking that I'd be using a length short enough that the bowing wouldn't be a huge issue..... but now I'm thinking I'd rather use better materials the first time rather than have to remake the whole frame. I'll have to go back to the hardware store and play with thicknesses of pipes to figure out the best. Hopefully an inch will be good, or not too much more than an inch.

Sucks... because I already bought a bunch of connector pieces and have been sitting here kind of building it without the long pipes yet... I was just figuring out exactly how it'll work, and was going to get the actual pipes last. So now I have these half inch connector pieces... dunno if I can return them, but all the pieces combined only cost me about $5 so no biggie.

I MIGHT get *actual* shower curtains for the main part, such as the tiger print one here www.amazon.com . . . then get plain black fabric to wrap the pipes in, and use plain white for the half ovals which will come down about a foot from the top. That shower curtain is 100% cotton (not plastic) so it'll be good for $30, then since only 1 side of my bed will be visible from the bedroom (my room is kinda narrow and I have a wall on 3 sides of my bed, I'll get solid white for the other 3 internal sides. I COULD just not have fabric on those sides at all... except that I have a window on 1 of those walls and would like to be able to cover the window. So I might only do those 2 sides then.

I kinda like the canopy you linked... but I'll enjoy making mine more since it'll have separate bars for the sliding curtain part, and the draping half circle part that stays still, and the 3rd bar if I decide I might want to make it so I have a somewhat see-through curtain. I imagine if I had all red fabric... or even white... having a somewhat see through curtain option would be romantic at times (if I had a date over...). While other days when I'm alone, I'd want to also pull the thicker curtain shut to block all light.

You should be able to return those connectors.

That shower curtain is only 4'x6'. $15/yard is a lot for a cotton print. Plus, I don't see how that could possibly be big enough. I think it's going to look like a crib liner. You'd almost be able to see over the top of them if you sat up. And canopy panels are generally floor-length, right? I don't think I've ever seen them shorter than 6 or 7 feet. You're talking about getting a full-sized shower curtain, no?

I still can't really see your vision entirely, sounds like a lot of pipes and fabric all bunched up, but thought I would mention that you can buy drapery rods and connectors. They wouldn't need to be wrapped up in fabric and they would obviously be strong enough to hold curtains. Of course it would be a lot more expensive. Creative idea but all I see is $$$

Panic, thanks for the link and the IKEA suggestion. I totally want to do that in the new house I'm moving to next week. It's really pretty.

Awwww man... all I checked was the width--84 inches long, I actually measured THAT... and that was the perfect length for my bed. What's up with that shower curtain being so short? Is that meant for a midget shower?? (No offense intended to any little people that may be here). Ug... now I feel a little sick... I would have to get 2 of those to be tall enough... so $60 for that one side of the bed...

blech... my fun is being deflated. I may still do this though, and see what the price is like for special print fabric at Joanne's sometime.

EDIT: I don't understand that odd size of that one I linked to before... but I'm seeing some reasonably priced full size shower curtains in other print designs for about $20... the others tend to be 70x70 or 72x72 inches. So I'll have to keep hunting for a print I like.