There is something about a den that turns an ordinary afternoon into an adventure. A couple of chairs and an old sheet become a castle, a cave, a spaceship or a secret club headquarters, and suddenly everyone wants to be inside it, including the grown-ups.
Den building is also sneaky learning. Children work out how to make things stand up, share out jobs, solve problems when the roof sags and negotiate who gets the best cushion. This guide covers indoor blanket forts, simple garden and park dens, the all-important den rules, and plenty of ideas for what to do once you are tucked up inside.
Fort Knocks: gathering your den kit
Before anyone starts dragging the sofa about, do a quick hunt round the house for den supplies. Light fabrics work far better than heavy ones: a single flat sheet stays up where a duvet will slump straight down. Mix big pieces for the roof with smaller ones for doors and windows.
- Flat sheets, light blankets, throws and big towels
- Clothes pegs, bulldog clips or hair clips to join fabric together
- Dining chairs, a clothes horse, the sofa or a table to make the frame
- Sofa cushions and pillows for walls and floors
- Heavy books or bags of rice to weigh down edges
- String or an old skipping rope for a ridge line
- A torch or two (never candles)
Turn chairs so their backs face inwards; the sheet drapes over the backs and the seats become handy shelves.
The bare bones: building a frame that stays up
Most den collapses happen because the roof is too wide. Keep the gap between supports about the length of a child's arm and add a middle support if it needs to be bigger. Peg the sheet to the chair backs first, then pull it tight across before you weigh down the far edge.
There are four classic shapes to try. The chair den uses two or more chairs with a sheet across the top. The sofa lean-to drapes a sheet from the back of the sofa down to the floor, held with books. The table cave is the easiest of all: a tablecloth or sheet thrown over the dining table with one side pinned up as a door. The ridge tent ties string between two heavy pieces of furniture with a sheet hung over it like a tent.
If the roof sags, a broom handle or long cardboard tube laid across the middle works like a tent pole.
Into the woods: dens in the garden or park
Outdoor dens feel properly wild. In a garden, a washing line makes a ready-made ridge: hang an old sheet or tarpaulin over it and peg or weigh down the corners with stones. Garden canes pushed into soft ground and tied together at the top make a quick teepee frame for fabric.
In woods and parks, look for a strong fallen branch to rest against a tree stump or low fork, then lean smaller sticks along both sides. Fill the gaps with fallen leaves and bracken. Only use wood that is already on the ground, never snap living branches, and take your den apart before you leave so the next family finds the woods as you did.
Den rules, OK?
Every serious den needs rules, and children love writing them. Agree a few together and pin them by the door. They can be silly ("no grumpy faces", "knock three times") or useful ("shoes off", "everyone helps tidy up").
A den name, a password and a membership card are a lovely add-on. Fold a scrap of card, draw a logo and write each member's name inside. Little brothers and sisters can be made honorary members to keep the peace.
Make "leave the den when you're asked" one of the rules; it saves a lot of fuss at bedtime.
Once you're in-tent: things to do inside a den
A finished den is the perfect place for quiet, cosy play. Torchlight reading is the obvious winner, but you can also hold a den picnic, tell a story that each person adds a sentence to, play cards or a board game, make shadow puppets on the roof, or simply lie inside and listen to the rain. For older children, a den can become an office, a shop, a vet's surgery or a detective agency for the afternoon.
Ideas to try
Classic Chair Fort
The no-fuss living room den that takes ten minutes to build and hours to leave.
You'll need: 2 to 4 dining chairs, flat sheets, clothes pegs, cushions, heavy books
- Place the chairs in a square with their backs facing inwards.
- Drape a sheet over the chair backs and peg it in place.
- Weigh down loose edges with books.
- Hang a smaller sheet as a door.
- Fill the floor with cushions and climb in.
Table Cave Hideout
Turn the dining table into a dark, secret cave in seconds.
You'll need: a table, a large sheet or tablecloth, pegs, a torch
- Push the chairs in or move them away.
- Throw the sheet over the table so it reaches the floor.
- Peg up one side to make a door.
- Add a blanket and a torch inside.
- Take turns choosing what the cave is today.
Washing Line Tent
A breezy garden den using the washing line as a ready-made frame.
You'll need: washing line, old sheet or tarpaulin, pegs, stones or logs
- Lower the washing line to about shoulder height if you can.
- Hang the sheet over the line so it falls evenly on both sides.
- Pull the sides out and weigh the corners with stones.
- Peg the sheet to the line so it doesn't slide.
- Lay an old blanket inside for a floor.
Woodland Stick Shelter
Build a proper lean-to shelter from fallen branches on a woodland walk.
You'll need: fallen sticks and branches, fallen leaves, gloves
- Find a long, sturdy fallen branch and rest one end on a stump or low fork.
- Lean shorter sticks along both sides like ribs.
- Pile fallen leaves over the sticks to fill the gaps.
- Test it by sitting inside on a dry day.
- Take it apart and scatter the sticks before you leave.
🧑 Grown-up help needed
Den Password and Sign
Give your den a name, a secret password and a proper sign for the door.
You'll need: card or paper, pens or crayons, sellotape
- Decide on a name for your den together.
- Choose a password and a secret knock.
- Write the name and three den rules on the card.
- Decorate the sign and tape it by the entrance.
Torchlight Shadow Show
Make rabbits, birds and monsters dance across the den roof.
You'll need: a torch, a pale sheet roof, card and sellotape (optional)
- Close the curtains so the room is dim.
- Shine the torch at the den roof from below.
- Make shapes with your hands between the torch and the sheet.
- Cut simple shapes from card and tape them to pencils for puppets.
- Put on a short show with a beginning, middle and end.
Den Picnic
Eat a simple snack in your hideaway for an afternoon that feels like a holiday.
You'll need: a tea towel or small blanket, snacks, cups of water, a tray
- Help a grown-up make a few simple snacks.
- Carry everything in on a tray.
- Spread the tea towel as a picnic rug.
- Eat, chat and take turns telling a story.
- Shake out crumbs and tidy up together.
🧑 Grown-up help needed
🧑 The grown-up bit
Keep fabric well away from lamps, heaters and radiators, and use torches rather than candles or fairy lights plugged in under blankets. Check that chairs and furniture can't tip, don't let children stand on dens, and keep string and cord away from necks for little ones. Outdoors, stick to fallen wood, check the ground for nettles, brambles and dog mess, and wash hands after handling sticks and soil. For den picnics, check for food allergies and keep under-5s sitting down while they eat.
Questions parents ask
How do I stop the den collapsing every five minutes?
Use light sheets rather than heavy blankets, keep supports close together and add a middle pole such as a broom handle. Pegging fabric to chair backs and weighing edges with books makes a big difference.
Can my children sleep in their den?
An indoor den can make a fun sleepover spot if it is low, stable and well away from heaters and lamps. Make sure nothing heavy is resting on top and that little ones can get out easily.
We don't have a garden. Can we still build outdoor dens?
Yes. Many woods and country parks welcome den building with fallen wood. Check any signs on site, use only what's already on the ground and take the den down before you go.