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How to build a kids outdoor tent

Renowayoflife
Becoming a Leader

Difficulty: Intermediate

 

A kids outdoor tent can be a fun retreat for them to play in or to spend a night camping in the backyard.

 

Here is a guide to building an Easter-themed glamping tent. You can customise the tent with your preferred decorations.

 

As this project involves power tools, please follow all safety guidelines provided by manufacturers and use the recommended protective gear. 

Let us know if you have any questions. We’d be happy to assist.

Video Tutorial

Steps

Step 1

Cut timber for the frame.

 

Secure one of the 2.4m Pine lengths to your worktable. Mark the middle of the length using a tape measure. Then use a set square to draw a line across the middle point.

 

Now use a jigsaw to cut along that line. Make sure to wear the required safety gear before cutting, including gloves and safety glasses.

 

Repeat this process for the second 2.4m Pine length. 

 

You should now have four 1.2m lengths.

 

1.0 Measure and cut 1.2m Pine lengths.png  1.1 Cutting Pine lengths with jigsaw.png

 

 

Step 2

Cut more Pine lengths to create the tent's sides and top rail.

 

Repeat the process mentioned in Step 1 to cut the two 3m Pine lengths in half. You should now have four 1.5m lengths. We will only be using three of these lengths in this project.

 

2.0 Measure and cut 1.5m Pine lengths.png  2.1 Close up of jigsaw cutting Pine lengths.png

 

Step 3

Pre-drill the timber frame.

 

Take the 1.2m Pine lengths from Step 1. Measure 100mm from one end and 25mm from the other. Mark these points. Use your set square to draw a line across both points. 

 

Now pre-drill a hole in the middle of the line using a 5mm drill bit. Do this on both ends of all four lengths.

 

3.0 Measure 100m.png  3.1 Using set square to measure pre-drill point.png  3.2 Pre-drill top of A-shaped frame (100mm from end).png  3.3 Pre-drill bottom of A-shaped frame (25mm from end).png

Step 4

Pre-drill the timber for the supporting sides and top rail.


Take the three 1.5m Pine lengths from Step 2. Use a tape measure to mark out the centre of each end.

 

Pre-drill a hole in the centre of each end using the 2.5mm drill bit. 

 

4.0 Pre-drill Pine lengths for tent's top and sides.png  4.1 Close up of pre-drilling.png

 

Step 5

Assemble the A-shaped frame.


Place two of your pre-drilled 1.2m Pine lengths together and insert a 65mm screw through the top hole. The top hole is the one that was drilled 100mm from the end in Step 3. 

 

Now take one of your pre-drilled 1.5m Pine lengths and line up one of the pre-drilled holes with the 65mm screw. Join the three lengths together using a drill. Do not overtighten the screws, especially if you want to close your tent for storage.

 

Now repeat this process for the two remaining pre-drilled 1.2m Pine lengths. Join them together with a screw and attach them to the other end of the 1.5m Pine length.


You should now have an A-shaped frame and a top support for your tent.

 

5.0 Insert screw through top hole.png  5.1 A-shaped frame screwed to top rail.png  5.2 Close up of A-shaped frame screwed to top rail.png  5.3 A-shaped frame screwed to support.png  5.4 A-shaped frame construction.png

 

Step 6

Build the bottom of the tent frame.


Lay the two remaining 1.5m Pine lengths between the feet of the A-shaped frame. Attach the lengths to the frame using a drill driver and 50mm screws.

 

You should now have a tent frame. 

 

6.0 Screw bottom support to A-shaped frame.png  6.1 Drill A-shaped frame to bottom support.png  6.2 Drilling supports to frame - Front.png  6.3 Drilling supports to frame - Side.png  6.4 Tent frames complete.png

 

Step 7

Attach hessian webbing.

 

Space the legs of the A-shaped frame to your desired width. My tent is 65cm wide. Now measure the width of your frame's top opening. Cut hessian webbing according to that width using scissors. 

 

Attach the cut webbing to the top of the frame using upholstery nails and hot glue. This will prevent the tent's legs from splaying further out. Don't forget to wear gloves when using the hot glue gun.

 

7.0  Measuring width of frame.png  7.1 Measuring top frame opening for support.png  7.2 Securing hessian.png

 

Step 8

Attach the tent cover.

 

Place your canvas drop sheet or any other preferred fabric over the tent frame. Ensure any excess is at the end. Excess fabric will be used to enclose the back of the tent.

 

Now fold over the edges of the fabric to create a hem. Use upholstery nails and a hammer to attach the edges to the tent frame. Make sure to pull the material tight as you fix it to the frame.

 

Any excess fabric on the ground can be wrapped around the lower frame and secured with upholstery nails.

 

8.0 Secure material to the bottom support.png  8.1 Fold over material to create a hem.png  8.3 Secure material to bottom supports.png  8.4 Secure material to bottom supports.png  8.2 Secure material to A-shaped frame.png

 

Step 9

Make a curtain for the back of the tent.

 

Fold the excess fabric at the back of the tent frame so it sits neatly. Trim the material using scissors to minimise any fraying. You can also hem the material.

 

Pull the excess fabric over the A-shaped frame to create a curtain for the back of the tent. Add stick-on Velcro so that the curtain can be opened and closed.

 

9.0 Fold excess material at back of tent.png  9.1 Excess material at back of tent.png  9.2 Sticking Velcro.png

 

Step 10

Decorate your tent.

 

There are many ways to decorate your tent. I used fairy lights and made personalised signs. You can also add any additional decorations to suit your theme. I have added Easter-themed accessories.

 

Have fun in your glamping tent.

 

10.0 Tent with fairy lights.png  10.1  Signs for tent.png  10.2 Finished tent 1.png  10.3 Finished tent 2.png  10.4 Finished tents 3.png

Materials

  • Two 42 x 19mm 2.4m DAR Pine Premium lengths
  • Two 42 x 19mm 3m DAR Pine Premium lengths
  • Two 6G x 65mm screws
  • Four 6G x 50mm screws
  • Upholstery nails
  • Hot glue
  • Hessian webbing 
  • Peel and stick Velcro
  • Canvas drop sheet or 2.5m of your preferred fabric.

Tools

  • Safety glasses
  • Gloves
  • Drill driver
  • Jigsaw
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Set square
  • 2.5mm drill bit
  • 5mm drill bit
  • Hot glue gun
  • Hammer
  • Scissors.

Images

1.0 Measure and cut 1.2m Pine lengths.png  1.1 Cutting Pine lengths with jigsaw.png  2.0 Measure and cut 1.5m Pine lengths.png  2.1 Close up of jigsaw cutting Pine lengths.png  3.0 Measure 100m.png  3.1 Using set square to measure pre-drill point.png  3.2 Pre-drill top of A-shaped frame (100mm from end).png  3.3 Pre-drill bottom of A-shaped frame (25mm from end).png  4.0 Pre-drill Pine lengths for tent's top and sides.png  4.1 Close up of pre-drilling.png  5.0 Insert screw through top hole.png  5.1 A-shaped frame screwed to top rail.png  5.2 Close up of A-shaped frame screwed to top rail.png  5.3 A-shaped frame screwed to support.png  5.4 A-shaped frame construction.png  6.0 Screw bottom support to A-shaped frame.png  6.1 Drill A-shaped frame to bottom support.png  6.2 Drilling supports to frame - Front.png  6.3 Drilling supports to frame - Side.png  6.4 Tent frames complete.png  7.0  Measuring width of frame.png  7.1 Measuring top frame opening for support.png  7.2 Securing hessian.png  8.0 Secure material to the bottom support.png  8.1 Fold over material to create a hem.png  8.2 Secure material to A-shaped frame.png  8.3 Secure material to bottom supports.png  8.4 Secure material to bottom supports.png  9.0 Fold excess material at back of tent.png  9.1 Excess material at back of tent.png  9.2 Sticking Velcro.png  10.0 Tent with fairy lights.png  10.1  Signs for tent.png  10.2 Finished tent 1.png  10.3 Finished tent 2.png  10.4 Finished tents 3.png

 

4 Replies
Jason
Community Manager
Community Manager

Fun project! Many thanks for sharing step-by-step instructions with the community @Renowayoflife. And great to have it nice and early, well before the school holidays to give people plenty of time to get the materials together.

 

We look forward to seeing other members making their own kids tents. 

 

Jason

 

Renowayoflife
Becoming a Leader

Thanks @Jason These tents were so much fun to make and ridiculously easy. The kids absolutely love them and we have already brought them out for a few pre easter sleep overs in the lounge.

mich1972
Kind of a Big Deal

They are gorgeous and look like heaps of fun for the kids 😃 @Renowayoflife 

Renowayoflife
Becoming a Leader

Thank you @mich1972 I'm so glad you think so. They were actually relatively easy to make and the kids love them. 🤗

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