Sofas & Couches

There are many ways in which a sofa or blanket fort can be assembled, but we will begin with “The Classic.”

The Classic:

“The Classic” is the most basic of sofa forts, and can be constructed with a blanket, and either a loose back couch(a couch with removable back and seat cushions) or a chesterfield couch(a couch with removable seat cushions, and armrests at the same height as the backrest). These couch styles allow for fort walls to be constructed in the armrest area of the couch, either by using the arm itself as a wall, or propping the backrest cushions against the armrests. Armless couch styles, such as the slipper sofa, are an inadvisable choice for fort-making, as they offer no wall support.

This sofa fort style is ideal for a quickly constructed hide-and-seek getaway, or for reading uninterrupted by meddling little siblings.

Speaking of little siblings, one never knows when a nerf battle or pillow fight may break out, which is when the “Fort Cushington” model may come into play.

Fort Cushington:

The “Fort Cushington” is designed with defensibility in mind. It is also best executed with a couch that has removable back and seat cushions, but in this case, the firmness of the cushions are a much more important consideration. You never know when an attacker may leap upon the fort’s roof, and the cushions will need to hold up.

Helpful additions:

• Stuffed animals for additional defense and company
• A wood topped coffee table
• Snacks in case of siege

However, there are other blanket fort options for those more inclined towards luxury than battle-readiness. For this look, we turn to the “King Couch’s Castle” design.

King Couch's Castle:

This look, distinguished by two turret-shaped blanket towers, is a palatial play on the blanket fort. Easily constructed by attaching two brooms to two chairs, this fort does not require a couch, which allows it to be constructed within any room in the house.

Rooms this fort may be constructed in:

• Living room
• Family room
• Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Dining room
• Hallway
• Large bathroom
• Sunroom
• Entry hall
• Stair landing
• Back porch
• Front porch
• Game room
• Basement
• Parents' office (recommended)

For best results, utilize elegantly patterned blankets for the sofa fort walls. This may require use of the good curtains, or the nice throw blankets, but they are being sacrificed in the name of a greater cause. When connecting blankets during the construction of this fort, we recommend wrapping a rubber band around the two blanket corners you wish to connect, rather than tying the blanket corners together. Our patent-pending rubber band technique will take up much less area of the blankets than a basic square knot.

Returning to the sofa, the “Dreadship Blanket” design is a must for anyone looking to sail the high seas of the living room.

The Dreadship Blanket:

The central feature of this fort is the billowing sail, which will allow the Dreadship Blanket to both chase and escape other ships with speed and style. When purchasing a sofa for this design, it is important to consider where the mast will be placed. Ideally, there will be a crevasse between the seat and the back of the sofa into which the mast can be wedged. If there is not, the mast can be anchored with throw pillows.

Tall armrests and removable cushions are once again a helpful couch feature when constructing this fort. After all, a ship without sides is a ship that sinks. Ensure that the armrests are wide enough for a throw pillow to rest upon, thus anchoring the corner of the sail.

As for the sail itself, we recommend a light white sheet. After all, a heavy blanket won’t catch the wind, and its weight may bring down the mast with it.

We recommend this sofa fort for:

• Treasure hunting
• Swashbuckling
• Plank walking

Lastly, for the experienced sofa and blanket fort builder, “Sofatopia” is the pinnacle of in-home cushioning-based construction.

Sofatopia:

Spanning through kitchens, through dining rooms, through hallways and living rooms, “Sofatopia” is a feat to be recognized. This model is the deluxe of the deluxe, featuring kitchen-based hiding places, an in-fort TV viewing area, and the most sought after of fort features: a fort within a fort.

Best accomplished when the parents are away from home, this fort utilizes not one, but two sofas, as well as the entire blanket stock of the house. The sofas will ideally both have removable cushions, but a living room sofa with an arched back, such as a camelback sofa, will make it easier to attach a fitted sheet to the couch back when constructing the living room fort’s roof. The couch leading into the dining room will ideally be more lightweight, so it can easily be dragged into position. Look into smaller loveseats and settees for this piece.

This fort also requires:

• At least 3 chairs
• At least 12 pillows
• At least 18 blankets
• Rubber bands for the patent-pending rubber band blanket connection technique
• A chandelier

As you can see, “Sofatopia” can be yours with just a few easy steps!