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    How To Build The Best Blanket Fort

    Home » Fun » How To Build The Best Blanket Fort

    Published: Mar 4, 2020 · Modified: Mar 27, 2024 by Sarah · This post may contain affiliate links · 43 Comments

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    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! 

    Teepee style blanket fort made with bedsheets and clothesline hung from a light fixture.

    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.

    Blanket fort in a living room made with bedsheets, clothes pins, and clothesline tied from door hinge to door hinge. Inside the fort are pink, blue and cream colored pillows.

    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

    *This post contains affiliate links. 

    Clamps, clothes pins and rope on a white background.

    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. 
    How to make a fort with clothes line or rope, clothes pins, and bed sheets.
    • 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.
    Canopy blanket fort living room tent made from white bed sheets, pillows, blankets and held up by clothes line, clothes pins and chairs.

    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! 

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    Canopy blanket fort living room tent made from white bed sheets, pillows, blankets and held up by clothes line, clothes pins and chairs.

    How to Build a Blanket Fort

    How to build a blanket fort using items from around your house. Grab some blankets and sheets, then use these tips and tricks to make the best blanket fort ever!
    4.54 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Active Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Makes: 1 fort
    Author: Pretty Providence
    Cost: $0

    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.
      Clamps, clothes pins and rope on a white background.
    • 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.
      clothes line strung up to make a blanket fort
    • 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.
      How to make a fort with clothes line or rope, clothes pins, and bed sheets.

    Notes

    TIPS:
    • 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.
    Did you make this?Mention @prettyprovidenceblog or tag #prettyprovidence!

    And if you make a fort using these tips, make sure to tag us on Instagram with your beautiful, cozy creations!

    Sarah

    This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated with new photos, video and more detailed information. 

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Korra

      May 13, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      Im sorry I dont have the room for it. But I still like the idea.

      Reply
    2. annette

      February 16, 2021 at 6:56 am

      Super cute and clever!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        February 17, 2021 at 12:25 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    3. Charlee

      February 15, 2021 at 4:14 pm

      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

      Reply
    4. hi

      February 11, 2021 at 4:43 am

      This is real good

      Reply
    5. coco

      January 24, 2021 at 7:40 am

      I hate it. It is so small they said the best fort it is the worst 👎👎👎

      Reply
      • Missmam

        February 12, 2021 at 12:53 pm

        3 stars
        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..

        Reply
      • Ruby

        March 19, 2021 at 3:29 pm

        I dont like it because its too small.

        Reply
      • Itachi uchiha

        April 29, 2021 at 1:14 pm

        yes it is

        Reply
    6. -Kailey

      November 13, 2020 at 6:02 pm

      How do u do this with a small room and small space and how do I do this it's very hard!!

      Reply
      • cool

        November 17, 2020 at 4:16 pm

        yeah that would be hard

        Reply
      • Charlee

        February 15, 2021 at 3:52 pm

        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

        Reply
    7. Juni

      November 05, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      it worked!

      Reply
    8. kitty123

      November 05, 2020 at 12:05 pm

      how do you do this ahhhhhh

      Reply
      • Vanshi

        August 23, 2021 at 8:05 pm

        It is impossible

        Reply
      • Vanshi

        August 23, 2021 at 8:05 pm

        Never try this it is terrible

        Reply
    9. Susan Rohrer

      October 31, 2020 at 1:48 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • MIA

        December 29, 2020 at 5:05 pm

        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

        Reply
    10. rosie

      October 14, 2020 at 8:06 am

      3 stars
      thanks i have a great idea

      Reply
    11. Kenzie

      June 27, 2020 at 4:28 pm

      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

      Reply
    12. Diamond

      May 24, 2020 at 2:39 am

      Hey I wanted to do the fan teepee fort but how exactly did you tie the knot?

      Reply
    13. Lucy

      May 15, 2020 at 10:19 am

      5 stars
      Great job! Can't wait to try them out.

      Reply
    14. Riley

      May 13, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      Can you help me a little bit more cause me and my brother have a masion.
      😊😊😇😇

      Reply
      • Abisunshine

        May 29, 2020 at 7:19 pm

        4 stars
        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

        Reply
        • helpful

          August 12, 2020 at 2:55 pm

          you were supposed to use light blankets

    15. Kieuoanh

      April 28, 2020 at 6:56 pm

      Hi again i dont understand it very much now all i whant to make is a hang out and those are tiny

      Reply
    16. Kieuoanh

      April 28, 2020 at 6:54 pm

      5 stars
      What ig you dont have a celing fan

      Reply
    17. Nikki

      April 19, 2020 at 4:10 am

      5 stars
      Great work me and my brother are inspired by your work

      Reply
    18. Concerned person

      March 16, 2020 at 11:32 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Sarah

        March 17, 2020 at 7:57 am

        Thank you for your concern!

        Reply
      • Abisunshine

        May 29, 2020 at 7:21 pm

        4 stars
        Whoopsie! Does anybody have any ideas on what forts we should build? Thanks again!

        Reply
    19. Aiden

      November 01, 2019 at 5:40 pm

      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. ;)

      Reply
    20. Lillian Potter

      October 07, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      This worked so well! Thanks Sara!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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