Want to have some bonding time with the kids? Ever reminisce about sofa forts with you buddies? Just combine the two!
Whether a rainy day, a snowy afternoon or just because it feels right, building a pillow fort can only improve your mood.
Follow these simple steps on how to build an epic pillow fort. It’ll be structurally sound, and more importantly, you’ll avoid causing distress to any of the non-fort-building members of your family.
Step One: Ask Permission
Note: If you’re alone in your fort building efforts, or the location where your fort is slated for construction contains only you, please skip to step two.
Always ask permission before building a pillow fort. As you follow this guide, your actions could impact your fellow housemates or family members.
Displaced bedding, obstructing movement, and the general giddiness and frivolity inherent to fort-building are all factors that could elicit a negative response from unwilling participants
Step Two: Recruit Labor
Note: If you intend to construct the fort on your own, Godspeed to you, and please skip to step three.
Building a fort can be labor-intense, so don’t be shy – ask around the house, and if you would be so bold, look beyond your household; call a friend, maybe two, send an email or a text. The more the merrier – it’s fort-building time!
Step Three: Find a Location
Seek out a location with a good base. Any couch is a solid option, but if you have a sectional sofa, we recommend one because of the number of cushions and potential crawl spaces or “rooms” you can create.
Secondary options include a bed, possibly a dining room or kitchen table to work off of. Though the latter of which might not give you and your fellow fort-builders the cozy vibe you’re undoubtedly seeking.
Considerations: Avoid entryways and exits or major thoroughfares. Think back to step one; it might be a good idea to consult with other members of the household before choosing a construction site.
Size: How large do you need your fort to be? Consider how many builders you have on your team. Ideally, each should be able to fit comfortably inside the fort.
Note: For a construction crew over 4, depending on size and stature, multiple forts might need construction.
Step Four: Choose Your Materials
For the roofing and siding components, you typically want to find blankets. To avoid unexpected collapses, and to enhance the soundness of your structure, the lighter the blanket, the better.
And don’t be afraid to mix it up with the colors and patterns – the funkier the better, as well.
Stabilizers: You’ll need to find some chairs. Regardless of the base, you selected in step three – couch, bed, or table – you’ll need chairs to anchor in the roofing (your blankets). DO NOT USE LAMPS AS STABILIZERS.
Avoid using any piece of furniture that has an electrical component as a stabilizer. If you are inclined to use such a component in the construction of the fort, rethink that inclination, go back to step one, and proceed from there.
Pillows: You will need to amass a generous portion of pillows – the comfier the better. The pillows will serve as added privacy, and act as a barrier for non-fort builders to gain access or to be privy to the goings-on or inner-workings of the fort.
Step Five – Construction
Attaching the roof and siding: These components are the essence of the pillow fort, providing the privacy, intimacy, and overall cozy vibe your typical fort-builder yearns for. Using the stabilizing structure from step four (typically a kitchen chair), you will want to attach the bedding (typically a sheet) onto a slot within the chair.
Knots: We suggest the use of loosely tied granny knots to ease deconstruction efforts. Make sure to tie the knots firm, but not too tight.
You don’t want to compromise the stability of your fort, but you don’t want to tear the sheets or make it hard to deconstruct later, either.
Identify your door, or doors: Designate an entryway into the fort; there may be two or even three or four depending on the size.
Assemble the pillows: Gather the assortment of pillows and other blankets you’ve compiled. Remember, in pillow fort-building, privacy is paramount. Use the pillows and other blankets to finish construction of the walls. Ensure there’s enough airflow to allow you and your fellow fort-builders to breathe.
Decorate the inside of the fort: Using the leftover pillows and blankets, outfit the interior of the fort with furnishings – comfort is optimal.
And enjoy the fort!
Step Six: Deconstruction
Think back to step one: a sure-fire way to never be allowed to engage in fort-building again is to forget or neglect to deconstruct the fort. Generally speaking, work backward. Carefully disassemble the pillow barriers and blankets within the fort. Delicately untie the sheets from your stabilizers (chairs).
Step Seven: Restock Your Materials
Always return the pillows, blankets, and chairs to the same place you retrieved them from. And look forward to your next pillow fort-building project!
Here are some other fun family activities to help your family bond.
