Fugly to Zen: IKEA CIRKUSTÄLT TENT HACK

Transforming a play tent beacuse my house feels like a circus as it is!

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Yes, I am that parent! The parent that wants to take the whole fun of color out of all my children's things. But I do want my kids to have fun, but not at the sacrifice of my sanity. And an overuse of really annoying primary colors is enough to make my my eyes pop out of their sockets and my head want to explode. I just can't.

Besides, my house already feels like a circus, I don't need it to resemble one too! What I need is some zen in my life. So yes, my house is almost entirely white with mid-toned accents. A nice neutral background for all the mess to display itself on. I cannot imagine the thought of having every corner of the house feel like I'm being attacked by a f*cking rainbow. I know, that's sounds awful...who hates rainbows? Nobody - or just me I guess.

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and would do anything for them. But if this mama goes crazy then I'm no good to anyone. But really, when it comes down to it, I like pretty things without having to spend a fortune. I think everyone can relate to that.

So to accomplish style on a budget we've gone to the best place in the world...Ikea. For some reason, unfortunately, Ikea really loves their primary colors for kids. It's like they were designing their stuff for kids or something? I think their target audience should be the tired, overwhelmed moms - just sayin.

So with my Ikea tent in hand, we head home to find an extra top sheet hiding in the back of a cupboard somewhere. Cuz who uses top sheets? Perhaps those who like the feeling of being kidnapped and wrapped like a mummy. Geez, that's the stuff nightmares are made of.

Okay movin' on... so how did I do this?

Here’s a step-by-step guide full of confusing directions. If you complete such a transformation you deserve a pat on the back. It’s mommy brain - you get it!

IKEA CIRKUSTÄLT TENT HACK

STEP ONE

You need:

• sewing machine

• scissors

• pins, seam tape, thread

• fabric of choice or an extra top sheet you have lying around

• a dollar store garment bag - should you decide to put a window for air circulation (good idea if you want to have your child hide in there for long periods of time, or long enough for you to put your feet up and check your email...guilt free knowing they can breathe. Cuz all one really needs in this life is oxygen, coffee and chocolate. No espresso for little ones until they are three...lattés only people, babies need their milk.

STEP TWO

• Cut the existing Ikea tent up following all the seam lines.

• Cut the top pieces into pie shapes, cut off the doors and cut the long rectangle piece which is the whole side of the tent. Try to preserve the piping which holds the tent poles. You will just sew these long strips back onto your new fabric. Keep the bottom circle in tact with the wire ring sewn inside. You will simply reuse this piece for you bottom. Try to leave enough material along the outside of the circle to sew your new fabric to the edge of it.

• These pieces will form be your pattern.

STEP THREE

• Place your cut up Ikea tent pieces onto your new sheet or fabric and pin in place. While you can find some beautiful fabric, my top sheet was a whopping $12 investment from a Costco sheet set.

• Cut out the pieces. Cut a window in the top triangle and a slightly larger matching size with the garment bag.

STEP FOUR

• Place your new garment bag window over top of your cut out window. Use the seam tape to apply to the other side of the garment bag material and sew all three pieces together.

STEP FIVE

• Sew the tent top triangles together.

• Sew the side rectangle piece together with your new door pieces. I also added extra tie backs with Velcro so we could leave the doors open.

• Sew the roof of the tent to the sides of the tent.

STEP SIX

• Place the tent pole piping strips back onto the sides of the tent, matching where they should meet up with the tent pole holders on the bottom circle floor piece. Sew them in place.

STEP SEVEN

• Final step: attach the upper tent to the bottom floor circle. This can tricky as the wire is already in place. Turn the tent inside out, pin it all together and slowly and patiently sew.

HOORAY - COMPLETE!

If you are going to attempt this - I wish you luck. And if your final product resembles a tent, even in the least, then you deserve a huge pat on the back. Remember: Done is better than perfect!

Here we go mamas - eliminating one ugly kids toy at a time! It can be done people....slow head nod here....it can be done.

GOOD LUCK!