January 13, 2012

The 5-Minute, No-Sew Bottom Bunk Fort

I think most kids love making forts and clubhouses, but my youngest is obsessed with them.  At least a couple times a week, I go into her room and find a whole variety of sheets, towels and blankets draped over her bottom bunk to make her own private hide-out.  As part of her room re-do that I'm in the process of doing, I decided to give her something a little more "permanent" (although it's still easily switched out or removed completely)

Isn't this cool?



Look how it works.  The curtain can be all tucked away when not in use, but just slide it closed for your very own Bottom Bunk Fort (in our case, a very Pinkalicious Bottom Bunk Fort!)



Now I promised you that it would only take 5 minutes to make and you wouldn't have to sew or even cut anything.  I wasn't lying, check it out..

Here's what you need:  a twin flat sheet, curtain rings with clips, and a tension rod  (NOTE: You can usually find the curtain rings at Target, Walmart, etc. with the curtains and curtain hardware)


UPDATE:  I replaced the thin tension rod I originally used with a sturdier one (actually a shower curtain tension rod).  It still only took 5 minutes to make, but will withstand a little more kid wear and tear.  I just had to slide off one of the plastic end caps to put on the curtain rings.

Sturdier rod = no worry, kid play!

Here's what to do:

1.  Slide your curtain rings onto the tension rod ( I used two packages, so 14 clips).




2.  Mount your tension rod to the bunk bed.  





3.  Fold your twin, flat sheet in half lengthwise, then attach the clips on the fold.


4.  And that's it!  See, I told you it was fast and you wouldn't have to cut or sew anything!

 

My daughter LOVES it.  (I love that I will no longer be finding scotch-taped sheets and thumb-tacked towels forming ramshackle clubhouses).  We rarely use the flat sheets on the bed anyway, so this was the perfect use for them.  Plus, all I have to do is unclip the sheet to wash it or change it out for a different color.  

Sharing our super easy fort at:
Tip Junkie handmade projects

Posted by at

88 comments:

  1. Great idea! My daughter will love this! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

  4. I LOVE this! We just set up bunk beds for our boys to share and my husband goes through a lot of trouble to set up a fort for them! Thanks for the great idea!

    ReplyDelete

  5. This is a terrific idea and definitely easy to do. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

  6. This is awesome! My girls would love something like this! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

  8. Great idea!!! Pinning this!

    makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

  9. This is a GREAT idea! My husband and I built my daughter a loft bed and were going to close in the bottom with siding to make it look like a house. Since we are so busy with other home renovations and opening a bakery, we just havent gotten around to it. this is a GREAT solution...easy and inexpensive! Thanks for sharing! Pinning it!

    ReplyDelete

  10. Thanks everyone! She's really loving it. At some point, I may make her another curtain for it with cute little details like windows, flowers, etc., but for now, this totally works.

    ReplyDelete

  11. That's so fun! My husband is finishing up making my 6 y.o.'s loft bed. I was thinking of doing a curtain there for a fort too. Now I know that a tension rod could work. Kind of worried about my little one getting down from there in the middle of the night, though. We did make the steps extra deep.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Yes, like I noted, just go with a little bit wider tension rod than what I used. I'm going to switch mine out so it's a little sturdier.

      I know what you mean about your little one getting down, but I must say, mine adjusted really well and never had any problems. (Although I conked my head a few times myself ;) )

      Delete

  12. This is fabulous! My boys just got bunk beds last month...this would be so FUN for them. Thanks so much for sharing.
    {HUGS},
    kristi

    ReplyDelete

  13. My girls have bunkbeds and love forts too! How fun!

    ReplyDelete

  14. I adore this! I think it speaks to my lack of decorating skills that I'd never heard of curtain ring clips. Way cool!

    ReplyDelete

  15. WONDERFUL idea! There is nothing more fun than a fort! Especially when you can bring a flashlight in and read. (When my kids were younger we did a LOT of homeschool reading in forts.) :-) Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

  16. Excellent idea! trying to figure out how to make this work in the classroom...

    ReplyDelete

  17. I am so going to do this for my girls but i think i might just go to the $2 dollar shop and buy a shower curtain with the rings... and cut to the right length.....:)

    ReplyDelete

  18. Oh what a fantastic idea!!! I found you on Tip Junkie! I would like to invite you to share this post with our readers for Fun Stuff Fridays. http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/01/fun-stuff-fridays-7.html

    ReplyDelete

  19. This turned out so cute! We would love to have you come share this at our weekly link party every Saturday! -The Sisters
    http://www.sixsistersstuff.com

    ReplyDelete

  20. Seriously?! My girls have bunk beds & I so need to do this!!!!!

    Thanks for sharing on the Sunday Showcase - hope to see you this week.

    Bern

    ReplyDelete

  21. now where did you get those curtain rigs? I've never noticed them before & after showing these pics to my girls - we have to have one, haha!

    ReplyDelete

  22. This makes me wish my kids had bunk beds and shared a room! Our forts consist of blankets over the dining room table. So cute. Thanks for sharing at my party.

    ReplyDelete

  23. I think this craft is amazing

    ReplyDelete

  25. Where is your loft bed from? So cute!

    Jen
    www.upcyclededucation.com

    ReplyDelete

  26. too much fun! thanks for sharing it on Make it Monday! I've posted your link on the Brassy Apple FB wall and for our twitter followers! :)

    ReplyDelete

  27. what a great idea! It'd make for an awesome insta-fort! You should join me for Handmade 52! http://raisingoranges.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

  28. This is a super good idea! WE always used to tuck a heavy blanket under the mattress of the top bunk. Lol, somedays it stayed better than others. What an awesome way to make it more permanent for her.

    ReplyDelete

  29. Oh ya....my kiddo would love this. We have stuffed a blanket for the same purpose, but this would hold so much better. Stopping by from TGIF.

    ReplyDelete

  30. SO much fun! My kids would love something like this except we took the bunk beds apart last year! You must be a blast to live with! Thanks for linking up to my party!

    ReplyDelete

  31. Great Idea...any clue how I could make one on top as well??

    ReplyDelete

  32. crazycountrygirl,

    I know my oldest daughter would love one on the top as well. I've been thinking about it, but I'm not sure of a solution that would be simple like the bottom one. I was definitely considering mounting something on the ceiling, but I'm concerned about it being sturdy enough that it wouldn't pull down if the kids grabbed on it. I'll definitely post if I come up with something though.

    ReplyDelete

  33. I know IKEA has the tracks you can install on the ceiling that I have considered getting... I was just curious if you had a DIY ida :-) thanks anyway

    ReplyDelete

  34. I'm SO glad I found your blog!! My daughter refuses to sleep without her "fort" but it's so messy, I needed another solution. This is perfect!!!!! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

  35. Love this!!! My top bunk dweller is going to be quite jealous, though! :-)

    ReplyDelete

  36. OMG! i just spit out my coffee when I read "no more thumb tacks or tape"! LOL! My girls are forever using tape and thumbtacks, and even staples! on the ceiling to hang up their curtains (i.e., sheets). thanks for the great tip! now to figure out how to do this on the top bunk.

    ReplyDelete

  37. This is a great idea! Budget-friendly, and such a great way to keep the fort a little neater...my daughter is a fan of tape, too! Thanks for the great idea...I will be sharing with my readers, too...

    ReplyDelete

  38. I have 2 boys and they would love this. Such a great idea, thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

  39. This is a awesome idea! I really really want to do this but I am having trouble with finding a rod long enough. I measured our bunk beds and would need a rod about 84 in long. I found some curtain tension rods but the reviews said they were very flimsy for even the lightest curtain. I can't find any tension shower rods long enough that aren't super expensive. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. if you can email me at heidi62613@yahoo.com.

    ReplyDelete

  40. Hi Heidi,

    I'm so glad you liked this idea. My daughter loves hers. Unfortunately, I think our bunk bed set must be shorter than yours. I believe ours was around 70-71", because I was able to use this rod that I'd picked up on sale at Kohls http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/bathroom/showeraccessories/showerhardware/shower_rods/PRD~353766/Home+Classics+Shower+Curtain+Rod.jsp

    I'm trying to think what else might work in a longer length. I wonder if a rod that you would get for a closet might work? I know in my son's closet I had to get a new hanging rod. I did have to mount the two brackets on the wall, but the rod itself was adjustable. Once I had the rod adjusted to the size I needed, it just slid into the brackets. It was a few years ago, but I'm pretty sure I just picked it up at Home Depot. I wonder if they might have something longer like you need?

    I'm sorry our original idea isn't working out for you, but I hope you can find another kind of rod that would work.

    ReplyDelete

  41. i tried to use a standard tension shower curtain rod from Target in the longest length the had and it was still too short. :( Such a bummer.

    ReplyDelete

  42. I just found this tensiuon bar at amazonm now all I need are the clips and a twin sheet!


    www.amazon.com/InterDesign-Curtain-Tension-Brushed-Stainless/dp/B0052JOJC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333419658&sr=8-1

    ReplyDelete

  43. LOVE this! Pinning it then going to do it for my daughter! I was so worried I was going to have to sew something and have a hard time with it. All the other tutorials I Googled required so much more work!

    ReplyDelete

  44. Went to the store just after I pinned this and got the supplies. SUPER easy and my girls LOVE it! Spent a little more money than I wanted because of the sheets I bought but it was worth it! Used a block of wood to make up for the fact that the tension rod was a bit short. Used the pillow case to make a curtain for the short side of the bed. Wish I could post a before/after photo!

    ReplyDelete

  45. This is such a good idea! My son just got a loft bed, and I was searching for something to put underneath. I think we will use this idea, but with a more "manly" color. :)

    ReplyDelete

  46. I really amazed this idea. This is perfect for girls or change the theme and it could be perfect for kids beds.

    ReplyDelete

  47. This is exactly what my bunk bed was like as a kid! Well it was a lot less cute, but my fort was awesome. I loved it.

    ReplyDelete

  48. Simple and easy thanks for the pics!

    ReplyDelete

  49. Thank you so much after I spent hours in stores trying to come up with a much more complicated curtain system for my daughter's bunk. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

  50. Just came across your curtain idea! We just built this loft bed, and cannot WAIT to curtain it off! http://diyloftbed.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/we-made-a-loft-bed/

    ReplyDelete

  51. Ahhhh..... A solution to my fort builder's obsession!! She must be soul mates with your little one because I have to constantly clean up forts, and they're always some haphazard mixup of blankets as well. So glad I found your idea on pinterest! I will be doing this tomorrow!! <3. Thanks for The smart idea!

    ReplyDelete

  52. Saw this on Pinterest and instantly thought of an idea.
    I will be heading to college in the fall. I will have a loft bed.
    This would be absolutely perfect for the bottom part (where I'll have a futon) for some extra privacy.
    My only question is: What size sheets should I use?
    Obviously my college bed loft is quite a bit bigger than your daughters...
    According to the website, the inner dimensions of the bed loft are 81.75" long, 36.5" wide, and 60" tall. Is there any sized sheets that would work for that, or any other alternatives?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Marisa, Actually a twin sheet might still work. I folded the sheet I had in half before putting it on the hooks. The actual width of a twin sheet is close to 60". However, you could also go with a queen or full sized sheet if you want the double layer of fabric so it's not as easy to see through. If it's a little too long or a little too short just adjust where you have your fold so it's the right height, then attach it to the clips. Does that make sense?

      Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck in college! :)

      Delete

    2. Thanks for the tips! I will definitely have to try it out. I've seen a few different methods of similar things, but this one definitely seems the easiest. The majority of the others were curtains draped in the corners. While those looked very cute, they just don't seem very practical. This one seems simple and easy.
      I was also thinking, I could possibly cut the sheet in half. That way, I could always just open them up and tie them around the corner posts or tie them up on top or something. But then, if I did have company or just wanted some privacy, I could easily just close them back up.
      Thanks!

      Delete

    3. Oh, also:
      Does it have to be a thick shower curtain?
      I've been having a tough time finding a tension rod that will work for my 81.25" bed frame.
      I finally managed to find one, but it's an extremely thin curtain rod. Nowhere near as heavy duty as a shower rod.
      Do you think it will be okay?
      Obviously I'm not a little girl who will be using it as a fort where I might accidentally pull it down, but I'm still a little worried about it being too flimsy...

      Delete

    4. I think you do want to go with a thicker one. Even if you're not pulling on it, the weight of the fabric will make it sag in the middle and then come loose. Instead, you might want to look into an adjustable closet rod. Home Depot should have them. You do have to put two little brackets on either side to hold them in place, but they're easy to put in (and take out when you leave the dorm or apartment). I think they'll be a lot sturdier for you and allow you to pull the curtain open and closed (or tie it back) without having to worry as much about it falling down.

      Delete

  53. Sorry if I'm a bit late to the party but I have been looking for something like this for ages and have just stumbled upon this post. Will definitely try this with my daughter's midi bunk and a vintage sheet - thanks :)

    ReplyDelete

  54. Sorry if I'm a bit late to the party but I have been looking for something like this for ages and have just stumbled upon this post. Will definitely try this with my daughter's midi bunk and a vintage sheet - thanks :)

    ReplyDelete

  55. We just got a loft bed for our boys and I am trying to figure out a way to give each of them a little more privacy. This is a great idea!

    ReplyDelete

  56. People don’t appreciate the value in free. When I share some of my money saving tricks, I get a lot of “You get what you pay for.Tents Outdoors

    ReplyDelete

  58. Thanks. I have read many of your post, it really good and interesting.

    ReplyDelete

  59. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

  60. The Post seems to be good i really gather lot of information from the post thanks for sharing this awesome post.http://lanofurniture.co.uk

    ReplyDelete

  61. I am so much excited after reading your blog. Your blog is very much innovative and much helpful for any industry as well as for person.TecFly
    Cloud Computing
    Ganesha quotes

    ReplyDelete

  62. My little girls will love this idea so much....That is quite easy and convenient....Thanks !!!!

    ReplyDelete

  63. in this article you was share great idea.I've inspired by your post. Lex

    ReplyDelete

  67. What an idea! Share and care is the best way to spread any knowledge. I appreciate it. But stupid people always see a negative side in free way. That's why I monetized my The family tent blog.

    ReplyDelete

  68. Really helpfull article for people even this article helped me a lot and thanks for posting this article on your site and have a look at this
    Allgeektech
    Xiaomi redmi note 4 flash nougat 7.0
    Download paid apps free

    ReplyDelete

  70. I like campaigning and campaign cot help us to go any where freely so buy camping cot to sleep freely at anywhere while campaigning.

    ReplyDelete

  71. hi thanks for posting this amazing article i loved it and i think you will like xposed framework lollipop download For android device

    ReplyDelete

  72. Thank you for sharing the post. I really like this idea, gonna make one for my kid.
    lenny face generator

    ReplyDelete

  73. شركة نقل عفش
    اهم شركات مكافحة حشرات بالخبر كذلك معرض اهم شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام والخبر والجبيل والخبر والاحساء والقطيف كذلك شركة رش حشرات بالدمام ومكافحة الحشرات بالخبر
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بجدة الجوهرة من افضل شركات تنظيف الخزانات بجدة حيث ان تنظيف خزانات بجدة يحتاج الى مهارة فى كيفية غسيل وتنظيف الخزانات الكبيرة والصغيرة بجدة على ايدى متخصصين فى تنظيف الخزانات بجدة
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بجدة
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالدمام
    شركة نقل عفش واثاث

    ReplyDelete

  74. شركة نقل عفش بالرياض وجدة والدمام والخبر والجبيل اولقطيف والاحساء والرياض وجدة ومكة المدينة المنورة والخرج والطائف وخميس مشيط وبجدة افضل شركة نقل عفش بجدة نعرضها مجموعة الفا لنقل العفش بمكة والخرج والقصيم والطائف وتبوك وخميس مشيط ونجران وجيزان وبريدة والمدينة المنورة وينبع افضل شركات نقل الاثاث بالجبيل والطائف وخميس مشيط وبريدة وعنيزو وابها ونجران المدينة وينبع تبوك والقصيم الخرج حفر الباطن والظهران
    شركة نقل عفش بجدة
    شركة نقل عفش بالمدينة المنورة
    شركة نقل اثاث بالرياض
    شركة نقل عفش بالدمام
    شركة نقل عفش بالطائف

    ReplyDelete

  76. Faux leather comes in a variety of colors and this is one of the biggest advantages of using these beds. Faux leather is meant for giving you the feel and look of genuine leather and it does so quite flawlessly if you look at it from a distance. These beds can add a dash of style to your bedroom.castle bed, princess house bed

    ReplyDelete

  77. Your article is very good and useful, thank you very much for this content.: usefull site

    ReplyDelete

  78. Just found this article this afternoon. Went to the store right away to get the rings (already had the flat sheet and shower curtain rod). Genius! :) Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete

  79. bandar togel

    I really like this article
    Hopefully remain the best

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...