Caves are comfortable spaces designed with both relaxation and recreation in mind. Kids love to make caves out of blankets and chairs, or build them outdoors with logs. If your house has an additional free space or niche, you can add furniture to make a cave, which will be a place for everyone to relax.
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Method 1 of 3: Making an Indoor Kids Cave
Step 1. Clean a convenient place
Once the cave is built, it will probably become a favorite hangout spot for the next few days or weeks. A children's bedroom is an ideal location, but you can also use a corner of the living room or an unused space. Remove all valuable and perishable items from the area you choose, to guard against the wild "cave dwellers".
Some homes have secret children's areas under the stairs. This area is perfect for building caves
Step 2. Assemble the structure
You can build a cave using a bunk bed, a table, the back of a sofa, or a few benches. Use two or three pieces of heavy furniture to make sure you can make room in between.
- Light objects such as lamps or plastic chairs will fall off when covered with a blanket, so don't use these.
- To ensure the structure fits tall adults or children, tie a broom to the back of the furniture you are using.
- Turn the chair over to face outward and make your cave more spacious.
Step 3. Spread the sheets over the structure
Keep the furniture tight so the sheets are tight and you get more space and a more solid arrangement. Some tight-fitting sheets will stick firmly on their own, but you'll usually need to secure them with clothespins or tape at each corner and along the sides. A passionate play session will almost always tug at the sheets and take them off, but these caves are easy to fix so you don't have to worry about them.
- A pile of heavy books or a few piles of stuff is sometimes necessary, but avoid using them if you're making a cave for younger children. These piles will break easily and injure them.
- For a more permanent cave, ask an agile adult to hang hooks on the ceiling and hang sheets from there.
Step 4. Expand your cave (optional)
If the cave feels too small, add chairs and sheets, or set up a tent to expand it easily. Adding sheets will result in a sturdier ceiling, but you'll need large clamps or other equipment to keep your cave stable.
Step 5. Create the entrance
Lift the sheets to one side so people can climb in. Use two small blankets at the entrance so people can push them and crawl in.
Step 6. Fill the inside of the cave
Add pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and toys! To make a real castle, add a toy and snack box, a small television, or a mini fridge. Then go in and relax for thirty seconds before starting the pillow fight.
Method 2 of 3: Making a Children's Cave Outdoors
Step 1. Visit a forest or garden with a dry flat surface
If there are no gardens or forests in your area, ask your parents to take you on a trip to a national park. If the forest is near a highway, stream, or other potential source of danger, make sure everyone knows how to stay safe.
If the weather is rainy or foggy, bring some tarpaulin to use as a dry floor and rain barrier
Step 2. Look for a prominent structure
A living tree with a Y-shaped opening near the ground is an ideal building for a cave, as you can use the Y-shaped branch as a ceiling. You can also use rocks and other natural structures, but avoid caves or inlets that appear to have once been inhabited by animals.
- Don't use dead trees because the branches can break and destroy your cave.
- Bushes and thick plants can be a home for fleas, which can cause various diseases. Check the wildlife warnings issued by the park service in your area so you understand which plants are safe to use.
Step 3. Gather materials
Look for fallen branches that are not broken and are still strong, but not too heavy so as not to cause injury if they fall on someone. If you don't have a lot of twigs like this, tie a few small twigs together or prepare a bamboo pole, light chair, or other object from the house.
Never break a living branch. Interact respectfully with the forest. Don't destroy the environment
Step 4. Create the cave structure
Sturdy tree branches or slanted trees can provide a strong framework for your cave, but there are other techniques you can also use:
- Sturdy twigs can be clipped into piles of rock at a certain angle, but must be firmly placed before you can continue building the cave.
- Three sticks can be attached to each other to form a triangle. You have to experiment a bit. Add the other branches one by one to make the cave circular.
- If strong rope or twine is available, lean the twigs against each other to form a tent, lay another twig on it, and tie them all together according to their length. You may need several people to do this.
- If a tarp is available, tie each corner to a tree to make a ceiling. To prevent the accumulation of water when it rains, place a small rock in the center of the tarpaulin from below, tie it, then attach a long rope and support this center by attaching the rope to a tall tree branch.
Step 5. Complete the cave
Building a cave is a fun outdoor activity for children to do. Some children simply lean a few twigs on a frame to make a hiding place, while others prefer to arrange these branches in new and creative shapes. Ropes are important if your building requires stronger support. However, over time, a cave builder can make a cave using only the natural materials around it.
Step 6. Decorate the cave
To create a camouflage or waterproof cave, cover both surfaces with leaves and twigs. Sweep your cave floor to make it more comfortable. You can also create a garden outside the cave by planting pine cones or colored leaves, and surrounding them with a hedge of twigs or stacked rocks.
Method 3 of 3: Making a Family Cave
Step 1. Choose a location
If you don't have free space, you can rearrange the living or dining room to divide it in two. A tall bookshelf or a sofa with a high backrest can make a part of the room a cave.
Step 2. Prepare the space
Fix, clean, or redecorate when this space is empty. Does your space need new flooring or paint to make it attractive and comfortable? Do it now.
Step 3. Determine the purpose of the cave
Think about the activities you or your family do in the cave so you can make it as comfortable as possible. Here are some activities you should consider when designing your cave:
- Relaxing relaxing activities, such as reading, sewing, or other hobbies.
- Group activities, such as playing or watching movies or sports.
- Activities that use a desk, such as using a desk computer, creating art projects, or making things.
Step 4. Select the focal point of your design
This point can be anything from a pool table to a writing desk, depending on the primary use of your room. As you arrange other pieces of furniture, keep them pointed at this focal point. This will make your cave comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
In smaller caves with no room for large furniture, arrange them around large windows, fireplaces, rugs, or paintings
Step 5. Install a comfortable chair
You can use a standard chair or sofa, but don't forget beanbag chairs, floor cushions, rocking chairs, or overpass chairs. Make sure there is enough sitting room for everyone of different heights.
If your cave is in a basement, hut, or other area where temperature and humidity levels are more difficult to control, use wooden patio furniture so you can minimize the risk of exposure to mold and other damage
Step 6. Add lighting
You can use dim and low lights if you want to create a lounge-like atmosphere. On the other hand, if you want to read or do craft in a cave, you will need appropriate lighting.
Step 7. Add extra requirements
If you want, you can add a small refrigerator, television or computer, or a foosball table. If extra space is available, consider installing a sound system, exercise equipment, or creating a dedicated area for playing musical instruments, weaving, or other hobbies that require space.
Step 8. Add storage space in it
If your family is going to listen to music, watch DVDs, play games, do crafts, or read books, you will need storage space. You can use existing cabinets or add space in the form of bookshelves, media shelves, cabinets, and so on.
Step 9. Decorate
After you have installed all the furniture, decorate the rest of the cave rooms to your liking. Add mats and sofa cushions, hang posters, or place decorative items on shelves.
