How to build a blanket fort using simple items from around your house – including a video: how to make a fort 3 different ways. Grab some blankets and sheets, clothes pins, etc. and use these tips, tricks and fort ideas to make the best fort ever!
Something you very likely don’t know about me is that my husband and I build forts all the time. We have been doing this since we were dating, and used to designate every Friday night for blanket fort building. He even proposed to me in a blanket fort that he built on the roof of a building on the 4th of July! That was back in 2009.
After having kids, we took a break from our Fort Friday tradition because forts are not the safest thing for babies or toddlers. We did have a few backyard movie nights with our famous homemade blackberry ice cream during that phase. Now, our girls are old enough to safely play in a fort so we’ve been building them again and it’s been so fun!
Building a fort is a great pastime for rainy days, school breaks or just for weekends! If you’re looking for even more ideas for things to do, check out our family fun page.
Blanket Fort Expertise
Over the years, we have really figured out some tricks. Today we’re going share them all so that you can build a blanket fort you’re proud of! With these tips, you can make a fort that is bigger, better and more functional.
How to Build A Fort
We made a video to show three different kinds of forts you can make. Watch the video for some visual inspiration, then make sure to read the rest of our tips below!
Fort Ideas Video
Items to Use:
Remember, no two forts are alike and how you build it will depend on what you have around. Here’s a list of ideas for things you can use to build your fort.
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Couch Cushions
- Dining Room Chairs
- Tall table
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Fasteners:
- Clothes pins
- Clamps
- Clothes line
- Books (to hold blankets and sheets in place)
- Chip clips
- Rubber Bands
- Duct Tape
Enhance Your Fort
- Pillows
- Lights
- Breakfast Tray
- Air Mattress
- Sleeping Bags
Here is our loose tutorial for how to build a blanket fort:
- Re-arrange furniture so you have enough floor space for a fort.
- Be creative with your materials. Use what you’ve got around the house. Bring out the coat rack, use clamps, clothes pins, duct tape, etc.
- Use lightweight sheets for the top. The reasons for this are two-fold:
- The heavier the blankets are, the hotter the fort will get.
- Heavy blankets are more likely to weigh everything down. You do NOT want your awesome fort to cave in. It should be able to last at least through the weekend, right?
- String up a clothes line across the room. Tie it to curtain rods or door hinges, anything as long as it’s sturdy.
- Use clothes pins to hold sheets together.
- Pillows or books can be used as weights to hold fort walls in place.
- Use chairs and sides of sofas to drape blankets over.
- Clamps, chip clips or rubber bands are good for keeping sheets and blankets in place.
- This is a great activity for everyone in your family unless you have crawling babies or toddlers in the house. Don’t build one until they get older – babies who crawl or can pull theirselves up could get hurt.
- Another note – we tied clothes line to our light fixture, knowing that our light fixture is secure and sturdy.
- If you’re not an adult, do not do this at home without asking permission.
More Blanket Fort Ideas
- Make it comfy. I like to use the aforementioned heavy blankets on the floor of the fort. The more you use, the more like a mattress your floor becomes. I like to use two or three heavy quilts on the bottom and then create a sort of nest with lots of pillows.
- Face the TV and grab a movie. This is just personal preference, but it’s really fun to have a movie night inside your fort. You can either build your fort right up and around the TV or just create an opening in the general direction of it.
- Equip your fort with snacks. I recommend these Indoor S’mores Bars – perfect for your little blanket fort campout, or go with Aunt Val’s Caramel Popcorn which is also one of our favorite treats of all time.
- If you aren’t sure what to do once you have built your fort, what about a Harry Potter movie marathon, read a great book, or play some board games!
If you have fun making a fort we’d love for you to leave a positive comment and rating, they mean so much to us!
How to Build a Blanket Fort
Video
Equipment
- Household items
Materials
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Couch Cushions
- Chairs
Fasteners
- Clothes pins
- Clamps
- Clothes line
- Chip clips
- Rubber Bands
- Duct Tape
Extras
- Pillows
- Lights
- Bed Tray
- Air Mattress
- Sleeping Bags
Instructions
- Be creative with your materials. Use what you’ve got around the house. Bring out the coat rack, use clamps, clothes pins, duct tape, etc. Use lightweight sheets and blankets. Re-arrange furniture so you have enough floor space for a fort. Lay heavy blankets on the floor.
- String up a clothes line across the room. Tie it to curtain rods or door hinges, anything as long as it's sturdy. Use clothes pins to hold sheets together. Pillows or books can be used as weights to hold fort walls in place. Use chairs and sides of sofas to drape blankets over.
- Clamps, chip clips or rubber bands are good for keeping sheets and blankets in place on the back of chairs, couch cushions, etc. Face the TV and grab a movie. This is just personal preference, but it’s really fun to have a movie night inside your fort.
Notes
- If you’re not an adult, do not do this at home without asking permission.
- This is a great activity for everyone in your family unless you have crawling babies or toddlers in the house. Don’t build one until they get older – babies who crawl or can pull theirselves up could get hurt.
- Another note – we tied clothes line to our light fixture, knowing that our light fixture is secure and sturdy.
And if you make a fort using these tips, make sure to tag us on Instagram with your beautiful, cozy creations!
This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated with new photos, video and more detailed information.
Super cute and clever!
Thank you so much!
I don,t have the clothespins and stuff any other stuff that I could use couldn’t remember yeah what yeah what that would be hard yeah it says it says yeah that would be hard Jenny it worked
This is real good
I hate it. It is so small they said the best fort it is the worst 👎👎👎
Because you didn’t make it big enough great idea best tent I’ve ever made. You need to think more creative. My hardest part was finding something to put the string up on but I used the door hinges and my ceiling fan and couches worked great..
I dont like it because its too small.
How do u do this with a small room and small space and how do I do this it’s very hard!!
yeah that would be hard
I don,t have the clothespins and stuff any other stuff that I could use couldn’t remember yeah what yeah what that would be hard yeah it says it says yeah that would be hard Jenny it worked
it worked!
how do you do this ahhhhhh
Goodwill or any thrift store is a great place to aquire sheets for your fort. You won’t have to worry about giving up your sheets iat bedtime.
I have no idea how to do it because I got all the stuff that I need except for cloth line and a air bed and clamps Nd the other stuff for fasteners except for rubber bands
thanks i have a great idea
Thanks for this post!! Can’t wait to try it out!! But I REALLY want to make a teepee fort and idk if I can. Can you pls describe your instructions better??
-Kenzie
Hey I wanted to do the fan teepee fort but how exactly did you tie the knot?
Great job! Can’t wait to try them out.
Can you help me a little bit more cause me and my brother have a masion.
😊😊😇😇
I think that this is a great way to help you build a fort, but I don’t think the instructions help you clear enough. My sis and I are trying to build a TeePee 🎪, but we can’t seem to tie our heavy blankets to the light rope. Plus, we’re using yarn 🧶… sooooooooooooooooo……… Yeah. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks! 😘😘😘 -Abi
you were supposed to use light blankets
Hi again i dont understand it very much now all i whant to make is a hang out and those are tiny
What ig you dont have a celing fan
Great work me and my brother are inspired by your work
Thanks for the post, but I do want to warn you that you shouldn’t be tying anything to a ceiling fan. That is extremely dangerous.
Thank you for your concern!
Whoopsie! Does anybody have any ideas on what forts we should build? Thanks again!
Thanks for the inspiration. Now I will go make one with my best friend. This website is very helpful to people/kids like me who love making forts. Thanks again for the inspiration. Have a good day/night. ;)
This worked so well! Thanks Sara!