Hello my friends of the Omschool! Omschool is a mix-up of Omi (that's me!) which means grandma in Dutch, and homechool! I was a beta homeschool parent in the early 1990s. And now I'm proud to have Gen 2 homeschool grandkids. I was also a teacher for many years. So blog represents a collection of educational ideas put together over the years. On the second to last day of April Earth Month, I'm hauling some old articles I wrote on DIY activities to recycle, repurpose and reuse. I've been thinking a lot about forts and how important they are to kids. We made a cardboard forts a few days ago and today we're making forts in our bedrooms. And if you know me, you'll know these are going to be super cheap and so easy that kids can make them with a little supervision.
No Sew DIY Play Fort Pattern
You've seen those cute play forts that come attached to a bunk or loft bed. Bunk or loft beds are available for sale with a tent kind of thing that attaches to the top bunk to form a play fort. A pirate ship or princess castle are usual themes. These attached bed forts are usually very expensive and not real well made. You can easily create a super cool no sew DIY play fort /bedroom canopy for your kids' bunk or loft bed. You'll just need with four free or inexpensive supplies.two fabric shower curtains (available at Amazon, Walmart, Family Dollar, Walmart and Dollar General for $10 or less)
two sets of curtain rings (available from same merchants for a few bucks per package)
sharp fabric scissors
duct tape in coordinating color with shower curtain (optional to make windows)
✨ Omi's Pro Tip:If you're using duct tape to reinforce the windows, try a patterned tape (like polka dots or animal prints). It acts like a built-in "window frame" decoration and saves you a step in the decorating process!
Funny Omi memory
I'll get on with how to make it but first a little walk down memory lane, that may resonate. So we all have that friend who is an outrageously talented, crafty gal. We'll call her "Rose" (you know who you are, milady!) She's a sewing diva, a domestic goddess. She whips up a DIY play fort with her handy, dandy sewing machine. You don't even know where your machine is, let alone the fact that last time you used it you impaled the needle through your thumb and had to go to ER.
The envy of the neighborhood
Well, this friend made a play fort and it's the envy of the friend circle. It's got cute little windows, a door and probably a jacuzzi and full bar hidden somewhere in its realm. Her kids proudly display their cool new play areas. As your kids cast wistful sidelong glances at them and dirty looks at you. You stand by feeling like a pretty sorry mom who not only has no time, but also zero inclination to make a play fort for her kids' beds.
Be THAT mom and save your thumb
But don't worry, you're not a candidate for "lamest mom of the year". You don't have to be a seamstress. You don't even need to own a sewing machine to make this one. Just take those four supplies mentioned and you're in business. Why you can even get a double duty craft project for the kids out of it. And that's music to any homeschool parent's heart. BOGO household task done with kids occupied plus you get to be the cool mommy!
💡 Omi's Pro Tip:
When choosing your shower curtains, look for weighted hems. The little magnets or weights at the bottom help the "fort walls" stay straight and prevent them from flapping around when the kids are crawling in and out!
Super easy, quick, cheap, DIY
When choosing your shower curtains, look for weighted hems. The little magnets or weights at the bottom help the "fort walls" stay straight and prevent them from flapping around when the kids are crawling in and out!
As for the design, you can probably follow where I'm going with this shower curtain play fort. Hang the shower curtain from the top bunk or loft, using the curtain hooks. Metal bunk bed frames will have bars that the shower curtain hooks should accommodate. If not, get some of the expandable clip kind. We just bought them four for a dollar at Amazon for my husband's new homebrew room.
So easy the kids can make it
Hang the other shower curtain at the back of the bunk bed or loft. Push the bed up against the wall and voila your child has a private little snug that took minutes to make. Using shower curtain with hooks makes it easy for children to open and close the fort as they need to. Often the ready made bunk bed forts have zippers and snaps that break with continual use. Another value added feature. Plus, if you get the kind of shower curtains that are designed like window curtains, all the child has to do is step through.
Fancy it up if you wish
- To create windows in your fort, cut four square openings like a window frame. Reinforce the window edges with duct tape to prevent fraying.
- Have kids cut felt flowers and use glue dots to decorate the bottom.
- Make a tulle net canopy by putting a hook in the ceiling and hanging it. Or use the Command strip idea to avoid marking the ceiling.
- Label it with paint pens.
- Or use a plain shower curtain and let kids decorate with their paint pens. This will keep them busy for hours!
Make it stick
If you want to attach the curtain fort to the sides of the bed, simply stick small pieces of duct tape front and back, along the sides at even intervals. Cut slits through the tape layers to make no-sew buttonholes. Make about six or eight no-sew buttonholes. Using shoelaces, yarn braids, ribbon or any other material you wish, tie the curtain to the bunk bed or loft bed sides. Or even easier, use glue dots to add magnets along the edge. Personally, I just didn't and no one ever missed it.
For a "temporary" fort that doesn't leave marks, use extra-strength Command strips or adhesive Velcro dots to attach the curtain edges to the bed frame. Hang your canopy from one, as well. It’s a great hack for renters or for making the fort easy to take down on laundry day.
With this easy, inexpensive no-sew shower curtain bed fort or canopy, you just may be back in the running for cool mom of the year!
