Girl's Canopy Beds vs. Daybeds

Deciding between purchasing a girl's canopy bed or a daybed is easy compared to the challenges you will face as a parent! As a mother to 7 kids (4 boys and 3 girls), I've had the pleasure of buying kid's furniture. I wish I had the benefit of knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each purchase. Unfortunately, I didn't have the benefit of the doing research on the internet. I had to learn everything the hard way, through trial and error.  This article is what I learned from my experience. You will know the good and the bad to be able to make an informed decision. There are several things you should take into consideration that you may not be aware of. Hopefully, this article will help you make the right choice.

Your Daughter's Personality is Important When Choosing a Bed

Hopefully, you will take into consideration the type of likes and interests your daughter has. My daughter was a real girly girl. You know the type, the girls that love to wear dresses, hats and gloves. She was the ultimate prissy little thing, so I knew that she would love a canopy bed. However, my oldest was the opposite. Their personalities were completely opposite. I knew that this was not the way to go with her.

Consider the Size of the Room When Choosing a Bed

When deciding on canopy or daybed, think about the size and height of the room. You should allow enough room for the canopy. You will also want to determine what side of the room you want to place it in. You don't want to block any natural sunlight. Remember, you can remove the canopy frame and use it as a regular bed whenever you want. It's a great way to change the look of a room.

The Expense Involved With a Canopy Bed

Canopy beds are really beautiful, but it brings an added expense.  Canopy bedding will cost you more.  You will need to buy the regular bedding plus the canopy dressing.  Just wanted to point out something that many people don't realize.

Will You Need More Beds in the Future?

Are you going to need your child to share her room with a sibling in a few years.  If you're planning on having a larger family, you may want to give this more thought.  Bunk beds may be a better route.  You can also consider captains beds and add a canopy netting at the head of the bed. 

It's been 13 years since I bought my daughter her canopy bed and it's still in perfect condition. Now that is due to the fact that she takes very good care of her personal belongings. She still as the same canopy frame and bed frame. The bed that I bought her is white. The paint hasn't chipped off and it's free of dents. I'd also like to add that the bed has not been moved much within that time (except for cleaning the room). This probably adds to the excellent condition the canopy bed is in.

She's a teenager now and though her tastes have changed, she still keeps the canopy on. She's a vegan and is what I call Woodstock retro. So, she has artificial flowers wrapped around the canopy. It looks like an indoor garden! She continues to make the canopy bed work for her by adding her style.

There's something I want to add.  I purchased a canopy bed for myself (of course it was queen size).  It's didn't last log after the birth of my last child.  He is a rambunctious little boy that later developed autism.  As a young child, he would try to climb the canopy railings.  He was successful once and that was when he bent it.  He managed to destroy the headboard and footboard.  I took it apart and got rid of it.  You may want to think about what I went through if you have young kids that like to climb.  They may destroy the bed, unintentionally.

 While my experience with the daybed was favorable, it wasn't so with the daybed.  The daybed I purchased only required a twin ,mattress.  The bed frame was pretty high, so adding a box spring was not an option.  I purchased the daybed at the same time I bought the canopy bed, so it's lasted 13 years.  However, within that time I've replaced the spring bed frame twice.  This is not the type of bed you should purchase if:

• If you know that several children will sit on the daybed at the same time, choose another style of bed.  The spring metal frame will bend.
• You don't want this type of bed if you have younger children that like to jump on the beds.  It will definitely bend the metal.
• If your child is big in build or overweight, you might want something sturdier. 

Although the bed is pretty when it's dressed, it not really a bed that can take a lot of use from a rough child.  It's more the type of bed you keep in a guest room.  Why?  Well, because it will not get daily use, with wear and tear.

If you're wondering, yes-I am going to replace the daybed soon.  I have to because the spring frame is bent again and I refuse to replace it.  I might as well buy something much sturdier.  She's in college now, so she will probably take this bed with her when she moves out...some day.