How to Make an Easy No-Sew DIY Kids Tent in Under 1 Hour

Make this easy DIY kids tent in under an hour using a sheet, dowels, and 1×2 boards. Kids will love it, and tweens and teens can help make their own tents, too!

You’ll also love this DIY twin house bed frame or the smaller crib-sized house frame bed – and take those bunk beds to the next level by turning them into a cottage playhouse.

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How to Make a DIY Kids Tent in Less than 60 Minutes

Hello again! It’s Thalita from The Learner Observer back with another of my super simple and fun projects to share with you all! Today I’m going to show you how to make a DIY kids’ tent in under an hour and using materials that you probably already have, or ones that are super easy to find. This A-frame play tent is a great substitute for a couch fort – all the magic, without the missing couch cushions!

This kids no sew teepee DIY tent is perfect for lounging indoors on a crib mattress or a pile of blankets, or take it outside to enjoy a fresh air fort with some added protection from the sun. I’ve seen some made with PVC pipes and sewn-from-scratch canopy – but I wanted to make this the fastest, easiest, and cheapest DIY kids tent for your play room!

Let’s get started with this easy tutorial! These DIY play tents are so quick and easy, they are perfect for last-minute Christmas gifts or you can make a bunch for a kids summer camp reading nook and hours of fun in this indoor tent.

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How to Make an Easy DIY Kids’ Tent

No-Sew Note: I prefer to not sew when given the opportunity, so I used Peel n Stick fabric fuse to make this whole project a no-sew DIY kids tent! If you are more comfortable sewing, it will be just as quick and easy to stitch and hem as need on the sewing machine.

Play Tent Materials Needed

• 3 dowels (I used 7/16″ or 3/4″ would work, too)
• 2 1x2x96″ pieces of wood cut in half (to make four 4′ pieces)
• 1 old bed sheet or canvas drop cloth
• Peel n Stick fabric fuse
• scissors
• a drill and a 7/16″ drill bit or spade bit
• small finishing nails
• 2 1×1″ nailing strips (like the ones I used here)
• Fabric trim or lace for decor and/or fabric paint.

How to Build a Kids Play Tent

Step 1: Cut and drill

Each of the 96″ (8-foot) boards needs cut in half, so you’ll have 4 – 48″ pieces. You can get the 1×2 pieces cut at the hardware store, so it’s one less step at home.

Make sure the edges aren’t too rough and sand as needed.

At about 1″ from the end, drill a hole in the middle middle of the wider side of the board (the 2″ side). If you are using a different size dowel than mine (7/16″), use the drill bit size to match.

Step 2: Prep your sheet or fabric

Before putting any of this together, you’ll want to get the fabric ready for your tent cover. When you finish this step, you’ll need a piece roughly 48″ x 96″ with a pocket (like a curtain rod pocket) along the top and bottom edges to fit the dowels.

I used a queen-sized sheet and cut it to approximately 48″ in length (to match the depth of the tent). A twin sheet would work as well.

Leave the width as is – meaning, cut from the top to the bottom of the sheet, not side to side. This is because there’s a handy dandy loop already made for you at the top of the sheet that you can use. Shortcut!

At the bottom of the cut sheet fabric piece, you’ll need to make a loop, or a pocket, to match. I did this by using the Peel n Stick Fabric Fuse all along the edge. I cut the sheets into thin strips, then wrapped the fabric around a dowel, leaving an inch on either end. You can see more of this in detail in the video!

Depending on your preferences and the fabric you used, you may also want to hem any raw edges of the fabric along the long side. Be sure to leave the end pockets open and accessible.

If you’re using a canvas drop cloth or another material, cut it to just larger than the finished 48″ x 96″ to leave material for the seam allowance. Keep the hemmed edges as much as you can to save on sewing/hem tape. Hem the sides, then double fold the edges to pin and sew a top stitch or use the hem tape to create the pockets to fit the dowels.

Step 3: Assemble

Now you’ll simply “build” the DIY kids tent by matching up the holes on two of your pieces of 1×2 and connecting the four pieces with the dowel rods through the holes. You may want someone to help you with this because the tent is very flimsy at this stage. 

Now that you have two triangles connected by one top dowel (the top of the tent), thread the dowels through the pockets and use those dowels to connect the bottom holes in the boards as well.

And just like that, you have a DIY kids tent!

I did add a nailing strip (leftover from my giant lighted Christmas stars) to the front and back of the tent for added durability because of where we have it set up. If this was outside or even on a rug, it wouldn’t be an issue, but on a smooth floor, it needed the extra bit to secure it. It’s just attached with a very small nail, so no damage is done and it’s easy to remove. As an alternative, you could use a piece of rope across the front or back of the tent to prevent the tent sides from spreading out farther than you want.

Now you’re all ready for adventure!

I added the black pom-pom trim to is for a little fun, and I did think about painting the front panel fabric, but it’s so nice and neutral, in a kid’s world in which primary colors rule, a little black and white feels nice and soothing sometimes!

Also, I think it’s safe to say the kids like it. I couldn’t get them both in there at the same time because, to tell the truth, it was like way past nap time already by the time I got these photos, but he does look happy!

This kids teepee is just the perfect size to fit a crib mattress or a camping pad, too, for added comfort.

Have you ever created a little nook like this for your kids? I can’t wait to try this one outside with the boys!!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions at all!

More Fun Kids Room DIYs

• Build a Twin House Bed
• Build a Playhouse Reading Nook to Fit a Crib Mattress
• DIY IKEA Hack Bunk Bed Playhouse
• How to Build a Princess Castle Loft Bed
• Make a DIY Camping Tent Bed Canopy for a Kids Room

How to Make an Easy DIY Kids’ Tent

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 dowels I used 7/16″ or 3/4″ would work, too
• 2 1x2x96" pieces of wood cut in half to make four 4′ pieces
• 1 old bed sheet or canvas drop cloth at least 48″ x 96″
• Peel n Stick fabric fuse or use your sewing machine instead
• scissors
• a drill and a 7/16″ drill bit or spade bit
• small finishing nails
• 2 1×1" nailing strips or lath boards
• Fabric trim or lace for decor and/or fabric paint optional

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Wood Pieces

• Cut the 1×2 boards in half so you have 4-48″ pieces. (Most hardware stores can do this for you.)
• Sand the cut ends as needed.
• At about 1″ from each board end, drill a hole in the middle middle of the wider side of the board (the 2″ side). If you are using a different size dowel than mine (7/16″), use the drill bit size to match.

Step 2: Prep the Tent Cover

• If you are using a twin or queen sheet, cut a piece 48″ wide by the length of the sheet. Cut the hemmed corner to open up the “pocket” on one side, then fold and sew (or use a thin strip of the adhesive hem tape) to create a pocket to fit the dowel on the opposite end.
• If you are using regular fabric or a canvas drop cloth, cut it to just larger than the finished 48″ x 96″ to leave material for the seam allowance (and side hems, if you want). Keep the hemmed edges as much as you can to save on sewing/hem tape. Double fold the edges to pin and sew a top stitch or use the hem tape to create the pockets to fit the dowels.
• Depending on your preferences and the fabric you used, you may also want to hem any raw edges of the fabric along the long side. Be sure to leave the end pockets open and accessible.

Step 3: Assemble

• To “build” the tent, grab a partner for an extra set of hands because the tent is pretty flimsy at this stage.
• Line up the holes on 2 of your 1×2 pieces and insert a dowel through both holes at one end.
• Spread the other ends of the 1×2 boards to form a triangle, and place one dowel in each of those end holes.
• Slide the dowels through the pockets of the fabric cover and stretch the fabric over the center pole.
• Match that dowel setup on the opposite end of the dowels with the other 2 boards to build the A-frame tent.

Step 4: Stabilize and Decorate

• I added a nailing strip (lattice wood piece) to the front and back of the tent to prevent the tent from sliding open and closed on our hard floor. A piece of rope would also prevent it from spreading too wide.
• I also added some pom-pom trim for fun, and I considered painting the fabric – use your creativity!

Step 5: Play

• Set up the tent, indoors or out, and let your child’s imagination create the adventure!

Video

Notes

No-Sew Note: I prefer to not sew when given the opportunity, so I used Peel n Stick fabric fuse to make this whole project a no-sew kids tent! If you are more comfortable sewing, it will be just as quick and easy to stitch and hem as need on the sewing machine.

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Published 13 May 2017 // Updated 29 June 2024

Thalita Murray

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Thalita is a mom of twins, teacher, and blogger over at The Learner Observer. She is a frugal DIY-er and avid lover of thrift store scores with a passion for making over spaces with pieces that are both meaningful and beautiful. Favourite colour? White. Favourite food? Ice Cream. Favourite Pastime? Instagram, where she shares an abundance of pictures of her twin boys along with her latest home reno and decorating adventures!

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