Ever hide under the covers with a flashlight to read when you were a kid? Or build a “secret” fort in the middle of a crowded room? You were searching for privacy an essential ingredient for learning and growing, we need time alone to process our thoughts!
Privacy can’t be found in the paint department or in the fabric store, it is something you have to plan carefully in the design of any space. As adults physical and audible privacy are two of the most important factors in any bedroom design: so why shouldn’t the same be true for our children, especially when they may have to share that bedroom?
In a girl’s bedrooms we can add a canopy over the bed, and everyone will oooh and aaah over how cute it is, while it is doing the very important job of giving your daughter the ability to create privacy in her sleeping area. Add a reading light she can control herself and ding, ding, ding – you have a winner! 
Simpleform.net
Boy’s rooms can be a little tougher. I have used partial bookcases between beds with reading lights on each side which can work well but younger children want to be able to completely shut themselves off. I decided a more gender neutral canopy inspired by a teepee could be just the answer for young boys.
The Design
A teepee is primarily comprised of canvas, poles and rope. I wasn’t going to be using the poles because I wanted to emulate a canopy but canvas and rope were the perfect starting place for my design. You have probably seen hundred of hula hoop play tents on Pinterest but hula hoops are made of plastic and can be bent if children tug or pull too hard on the fabric. Do you really want to tell your children to be careful while they play in their own special tent? So I decided I would nix the hula hoop and start with a sturdy wood embroidery hoop – the kind you can find everywhere in thrift stores when they still built them strong! Since hardly anyone embroiders anymore I found one for $2.95 at Goodwill. I added a large drop cloth and other trimmings and the whole project was completed in under 2 hours! Enjoy this one, it is a simple DIY project that can play an important role in the peace of your home.
The Materials
- 1 Large heavy duty embroidery hoop (mine is oval but round works too)
- 1 9′ x 12′ canvas drop cloth (with no plastic backing, you don’t want your child sleeping surrounded by plastic)
- 4′ of brass chain
- One sturdy ceiling mounted hook
- Brass grommets (choose the package that has the tool for installing them – on the left in this photo)
- 1/2″ rope (I bought a whole role so I could add some decorative accents, like on the pillow)
- Paint for optional decoration
The Process
- Watch the video first, these instructions are meant to help you remember the order or answer any additional questions
- Put the 12′ side of the drop cloth through the embroidery hoop – spread out the fabric evenly before tightening down the screw to secure it in place
- Install grommets on the front of the canvas. I installed 4 pairs about 9″ apart starting about 6″ below the embroidery hoop
- Drill three holes through your embroidery hoop and fabric to attach the chain to the hoop
- Attach your chain, I use two pliers to pull open one link of the chain feed it through the hole and the fabric ad then use the pliers to pinch the chain back together again – it will NEVER be a perfect oval again
- Mount a hook in your ceiling: I strongly recommend hanging the hook from a joist Watch How to Hang a Hook in your ceiling – from wikiHow
- Hang your tee pee from the hook and arrange the folds over the headboard, light, etc. (Put a LED light bulb in your reading light so there is no fire hazard)
- Optional: decorate your teepee in anyway you like! Stripes are very traditional, your child might do some research on teepee designs and choose his own symbols which you can help him paint. I used a gender neutral vine and leaf decor. I free handed on some brown vines. Then I cut small leaf patterns from pieces of canvas(it absorbs the paint better than paper) and spray painted on leaves in two colors of green
Watch the video if you are confused about any part of this process, or comment and I will respond!
The Outcome
I tucked a floor standing reading light and a small rope and wood side table into the tent and added a stack of books. Your child can retreat when needed – out of my 5 children some needed to retreat more than others – but it is important for him to know he has a space available just for him. You need to help reinforce that no other child can play in this area he should not have to defend his special spot. The reading light not only makes the space more functional but it gives him immediate control if he is scared in the night or ready to go to sleep. Even if you don’t make this exact tent, think carefully about the spaces you have provided for your children. Is there enough room to dream, imagine, wonder?
The Budget
$2.95 – Large oval embroidery hoop (If you buy a new one make it VERY heavy duty and bring a 50% off coupon they are $$$)
$20.98 - 9′ x 12′ canvas drop cloth
$3.92 – 4′ of brass chain (available on rolls in the rope and chain section or in packages in the lighting section of your hardware store)
$10.99 - Brass grommets (choose the package that has the tool for installing them)
$5.79 - 1/2″ rope (I bought a whole role so I could add some decorative accents, like on the pillow)
$5.88 - 1 Heavy duty ceiling mounted hook
$0.00 – I used two left over cans of spray paint, one bright green and one a very grayed out green and some brown acrylic paint for the vines
TOTAL: $50.51 
This project was Week 5: we will be adding a new video to our YES Spaces DIY page every Thursday for the next 47 weeks! And based on your input we will have directions and when needed measurements and plans here every week as well. So be sure to subscribe here and over on YouTube so you don’t miss anything! I am currently cooking up all the projects and simultaneously pulling together our MESS to YES makeover schedule for the year so if you have projects or spaces you are struggling with and would like some inspiration let me know and I will try to tackle as many as I can here this year. 
If you want a stylish, family-friendly home contact YES Spaces today! I would love to talk to you about your family and your space! Visit our YES Spaces DIY channel to see videos of other family friendly projects! Connect with us on Facebook for the “How To” behind some of today’s most popular design ideas! View our Pinterest Boards for my curated design inspiration! Watch our MESS to YES Home Makeover!
