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Simple No-Sew Bunk Bed Tent

Modified: Nov 15, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links · 55 Comments

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Try this easy no-sew bunk bed tent trick next time your little one wants to use all your sheets and blankets to build a fort out of their bed.

One of my daughters is a burrower. Do you know a kid like this? She likes to pile up all her stuffed animals on her bed and sleep right in the middle of them.

If you're ever looking for her, you can bet she's hiding somewhere under a sheet tent in the den or behind our overstuffed chair reading a book with about 3 or 4 of her animals.

One simple trick to turn a messy sheet fort into a clean lined bunk bed tent.

A Cute but Messy Problem

She's also an engineer-in-the-making. If you're on Instagram with me, you may have seen the picture I posted recently of her invention that allows her to turn her light off and on from her bed. (When you're cuddled up with all your stuffies, the last thing you want to do is crawl out of bed, turn off the light, and then race the monsters back across the room to the bed!)

So I wasn't surprised when I came in the other morning to find this.

Before: bunk bed fort made out of sheets and blankets thrown over the bed

It may be a little hard to tell from the picture, but she raided the linen closet, draped sheets and sleeping bags from the top bunk, anchored them with rolls of yarn, and made herself a colorful little bunk bed tent.

Now, I respect a girl's right to the perfect little reading hideaway, but I just couldn't deal with a bed that looked like the villain from a luxury bedding horror movie. I mean, it looks like the swamp thing, with sheets instead of watery goo!

Plus, we have no more spare sheets now. I couldn't bear to tell her to take it down, so I had to come up with a more mommy-approved version of the tent. After a few failed attempts, I hit on an amazingly simple trick.

Simple No-Sew Bunk Bed Tent

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Bunk Bed Tent Solution

In trying to solve this dilemma, I sacrificed a couple of hours and a perfectly good bed sheet before I realized that all I would need is:

  • A twin-size flat sheet
  • 4-ply Jute string
  • Command "Fridge" Clips
  • The Perfect clip for building a bunk bed fort

I picked up two packages of the fridge clips from my local Hobby Lobby, otherwise known as "My Happy Place", and applied them upside down at about 12 inch intervals around the upper bed frame.

Hang clips upside down on top bunk frame

Then I simply cut the jute string to a little more than the length of the bed and tied a knot in each end. I folded the bed sheet in half lengthwise, and inserted the string along the fold.

Knotted string along folded edge of sheet to hang on bunk bed

Then I gently pushed the sheet and string into the clips.

Bunk bed tent: slide the sheet and string into the command strips

In case you're wondering why the string is necessary, I found that the sheet alone was too thin to be securely held by the clip. But once you put the string in the fold, it fills up that little loop at the top of the clip and is much harder to pull out.

Plus, tying a knot at the end keeps it from slipping out of each corner. You can probably use any kind of string that you have on hand, as long as it's small enough to fit in that loop, but not too small to pull through.

knotted string and command strips to hold sheets in place for bunk bed tent.

For the end of the bed, I used part of the other sheet that gave its life for an earlier, failed, prototype. You could probably use a pillowcase too, if that's handier.

The beauty of this method is that it can all be removed, with no trace! So if she ever outgrows her bunk bed tent, I can just take down the sheet. I can leave the clips up because they're almost invisible, but once we're really done with them, they'll pull right off cleanly, with no mess to clean up and no damage to the furniture.

Bunk bed tent lit from the inside with a lamp

I also relocated her lamp cord, just to clean things up a little bit. Doesn't it look pretty with her light on inside? (Be sure you're using an LED bulb if you want to have a light that close to fabric, such as bedsheets, so it doesn't overheat and become a fire hazard.)

I'm sure she won't mind if I make myself at home with a good book while she's at school! I'm off to play Goldilocks...

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Comments

  1. Sabrina Q. says

    March 16, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    Ingenious! I love it. Too bad my daughter doesn't have a bunk bed. I would do this for her. Thanks for sharing! Great before and after picture too.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:17 am

      Thanks Sabrina!

      Reply
  2. jacquiegum says

    March 16, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    Brilliant! I absolutely love it! I wish you'd been my mom 🙂 I used to get in trouble for raiding the linen closets and making tents...and she never offered me an alternative like this! Suppose it could work on a card table??? I used to tent the card table regularly:)

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:18 am

      Yes, I think the card table idea is a great one! We don't have one of those, but I bet my kids would love that too.

      Reply
  3. Ken Dowell says

    March 16, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    Very resourceful. My home is bunkless so I'm trying to think of how else this could be used. By the way, I'm enjoying my mustache tea towel.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:19 am

      I'm so glad to hear that Ken!

      Reply
  4. Susan Cooper says

    March 16, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    That is the net idea. I know a mom who would love this. I'm forwarding to her for her two girls. So cool!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:19 am

      Thanks for sharing it Susan!

      Reply
  5. Donna Janke says

    March 17, 2015 at 5:19 am

    Fantastic. My daughter would have loved this when she was little.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:20 am

      Thanks Donna! I know I would have loved this, so I figured I couldn't be the only one.

      Reply
  6. lenie5860 says

    March 17, 2015 at 5:50 am

    I have a grand-daughter who sounds just like your daughter. Her favourite quiet place is amongst her stuffed animals underneath her bed where the bed skirt gives her a cozy den. I'm going to pass this on to my daughter-in-law. So creative.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:21 am

      I used to love hanging out under my bed as a kid, and I'd forgotten all about that until you mentioned it. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Catarina Alexon says

    March 17, 2015 at 7:01 am

    How cute. Would have loved it when I was a kid. A bunk bed tent would have been so cool...

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:22 am

      Thanks Catarina. Tents are always cool when you're a kid!

      Reply
  8. Sandey says

    March 17, 2015 at 8:48 am

    You had me at "no sew". Then you had me again at "command hooks". You sweet talker, you! Great tutorial, Meredith! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:23 am

      Ha! Two of my favorite things! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Marquita Herald (@marquitaherald) says

    March 17, 2015 at 3:34 pm

    That is so clever and really cute! I don't have children, but my dog is a burrower and will push the blanks and sheets all together to make a tent in the middle of the bed and then tuck herself under it all. Maybe I can use your inspiration to create something for her using her doggie bed (the one she never sleeps in!). 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:24 am

      Thanks Marquita! I always think it's funny how much we spend on those adorable plush dog beds that never get used! 🙂

      Reply
  10. The Imp says

    March 17, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    I love this! Too bad my kids broke the bedframe!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:25 am

      Oh no! I guess you need a little more than command hooks to solve that problem!

      Reply
  11. Laurie S Hurley says

    March 17, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    My daughter in college has to share a room with 3 others - two sets of bunk beds. Will pass this on to her!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:26 am

      Thanks Laurie! You're never too old for bunk bed tents, especially when sharing a room with 3 other people!

      Reply
  12. Jeri Walker (@JeriWB) says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Oh how fun and your version is so much tidier! I used to make forts under the dining table a lot and another favorite of mine was to drape a blanket over the armrests of the love seat and sofa on either side of the door to my bedroom. I would spend hours in my blanket hideout.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 20, 2015 at 9:55 am

      Blanket hideouts are the best, aren't they? I think I'd still prefer to do my reading that way. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Erica says

    March 18, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Wow, I'm sure all little kids would want an awesome mom like you. I love your version of the bed tent. Very creative and very pretty!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 20, 2015 at 9:56 am

      Thanks Erica, although truth be told, I think my daughter is happier with the one she made!

      Reply
  14. Beth Niebuhr says

    March 19, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    I love it! My kids would have too but now that they're in their 40s, I doubt that they would. It's a great idea though.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 20, 2015 at 9:57 am

      Thanks Beth! You're never too old for a good blanket tent! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Tim says

    March 20, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    Very cute once again. For me though it would not have worked but then again I was a boy. Boxes, tree houses, and finding a happy spot under the house was what I looked forward to.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:02 am

      Yeah, I know it's kinda girly. 🙂 I have a friend with a little boy who's perfectly happy whenever she brings home a new cardboard box. It doesn't get much better than that!

      Reply
  16. William Rusho says

    March 20, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    I like this blog. I might utilize something similar to put up some netting in my bunk at my camp for the summer.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:03 am

      Thanks a great idea! I'd love it if you made something a little more useful and manly out of my girly bunk bed idea. 🙂

      Reply
  17. Pamela Chollet says

    March 20, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    I wish I knew how to make a bunk bed tent when I lived in the dorm as a college freshman. I would have loved the privacy. A voiceover colleague of mine used his son's bottom bunk to record his audition, he said it was just like being in a recording booth. But he put a blanket over his head. I'msending this link to my VO pals who have kids with bunk beds as a voiceover recording tip.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:04 am

      I know, me too! I was always on the bottom bunk because I didn't like the feeling of being up in the air. I would have loved this myself in college. That's a cool idea using it for a VO booth. I'm amazed at people's creativity!

      Reply
  18. Emily @ Table + Hearth says

    March 20, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    I was totally a burrowing child, tents, forts, pillow/toy piles, all of it. I would have loved this! Thanks for sharing it at On Display Thursday this week!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:05 am

      Thanks Emily! I always love On Display Thurdsay!

      Reply
  19. Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life says

    March 21, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    The before picture totally looks like our bunk beds! We need to try this! Thanks for sharing and linking up at the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:06 am

      I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one! I'd love to know how it turns out if you try it.

      Reply
  20. Kire says

    March 22, 2015 at 5:51 am

    Love it. Reminds me of my days as the "bottom bunker" when I was young. There are times that I wish my kids ages/genders were closer together so they could experience the joys and pains of bunk beds.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:07 am

      Yes, I think every child should experience bunk beds at some point in their life!

      Reply
  21. Anna Khan says

    March 23, 2015 at 4:04 am

    I simply love this trick. My daughter also pile up all animals cushions etc and sleep with them. I have to look for this clip to help her make a tent next time. Thank you for a great and easy share.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 23, 2015 at 10:08 am

      Thanks Anna! I hope you can find the clips - you might try amazon.com if you can't find them locally.

      Reply
  22. Kristen from The Road to Domestication says

    March 23, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    So simple and yet so effective! Love it! Thanks so much for taking the time to link up with us over at the #HomeMattersParty - we hope to see you again this Friday! Feel free to bring a friend 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 25, 2015 at 11:42 am

      Thanks Kristen! I'll definitely be there!

      Reply
  23. Bre @ Average But Inspired says

    March 24, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    GENIUS!!!! I am FOR SURE doing this for my son's bed. He will love it!!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 25, 2015 at 11:44 am

      Thanks Bre! I hope he loves it as much as my daughter does! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Barb @ A Life in Balance says

    March 27, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Thank you for contributing to Motivational Monday!

    Reply
  25. Mary-In the boondocks says

    August 23, 2015 at 6:34 am

    I used to do this too with my kids bed...so much fun. Now that they are older I have to try to make a bunk bed look more sophisticated (wish me luck)

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      August 27, 2015 at 10:50 am

      Thanks Mary! It's always a challenge to "grow up" a piece of kid's furniture or an older kid's room.

      Reply
  26. Michele says

    February 03, 2018 at 10:34 am

    Any problem with the clips coming loose when opening and closing the tent, does it slide well on the string?

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      February 09, 2018 at 9:24 am

      This one actually doesn't slide on the string. The rope is in there just to give the hooks something to grab onto. She doesn't open it by sliding it, but just by lifting the flap.

      Reply
  27. Natasha says

    March 30, 2020 at 2:54 pm

    Hi! I’m wondering if this method could be used to attach to a wall and ceiling? Would the clips work if they were attached to ceiling perhaps? My son has a mid/high sleeper and den below his bed but has been begging for a den on top for so long. So much so, we’ve temporarily moved his toys out from the den and put his mattress there until we can figure out how to ‘make a den up top’

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 31, 2020 at 11:38 am

      Hmm, that's a good question Natasha. I'm not sure if the command hooks would hold as well to the ceiling, since they would be pulled at a different angle than they're designed for. I would try it with one first, to see if it will hold the weight. Or maybe you could use plant hooks? Let me know if you find something that works!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The World's Worst Superhero - The Palette Muse says:
    March 20, 2015 at 9:51 am

    […] This falls under the category of “Don’t compare your outtakes to someone else’s highlight reel.” (I don’t know who said that, but I think it really applies to the world of blogging, where we put our best projects on display, and don’t tell you about how we snapped at our kids while we were trying to finish that project, or how we had to try it 3 different ways before getting it right, as I did with my last project, the No-Sew Bunk Bed Tent. […]

    Reply
  2. Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up #26 - My Joy-Filled Life says:
    March 23, 2015 at 7:01 am

    […] Simple No-Sew Bunk Bed Tent from The Palette […]

    Reply

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I'm Meredith, the designer, crafter, and DIY-er behind The Palette Muse. I love all things colorful and creative, and I love sharing them with you. Thanks for visiting today!

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