A spot under a desk A corner in a room—even better if it’s behind some furniture A large cupboard or cabinet A wardrobe
A large flashlight A battery-operated light A light-up toy Glow sticks
A pillow or cushion A folded blanket A folded sweater or sweatshirt A beanbag chair
Gummy fruit Nuts Candy Fruits that you like
If you like to draw, have a pad of paper, pencils, crayons, and markers. If you like to write, keep a journal and some pens or pencils. If you like to play games, keep a board game or a deck of cards near by. If you like to keep entertained, keep a radio, music player, laptop, or tablet in your closet. If you like to read, pick out some of your favorite books, and keep them inside your closet. You’ll need a flashlight too!
Pick a box that blends in, like a shoe box. No one will suspect anything! You can still have a hideout even if you don’t have a club!
You can let people come into your hideout if they ask nicely. You can tell them the password later.
Remember to clean up after yourself! Save noisy hobbies, like singing, for other places. If you make too much noise, people will know where you are!
Remember to leave the closet door open!
Do not close your closet door if you are inside. You may run out of air, or you may get stuck. Do not block your way out. If there is an emergency, you may not be able to get out in time. Do not leave electronics on if you are not inside. Things like lights and laptops get hot, and they can cause a fire in such a small space. Do not light candles, even if you are careful. You can get those fake, battery-operated candles, however.
You do not have to do everything in this section. Simply choose the ideas that appeal the most to you. Your child will appreciate anything that you do.
If you don’t have a closet, consider using a wardrobe or a cabinet instead. As long as your child can sit comfortably inside of it, you have the basis for a hideout!
Paint a mural. Give the closet a fresh coat of paint first, then paint some designs or scenes onto it. You can do this freehand, or you can use stencils. Give the closet an accent wall. Paint the side walls white or off-white, and the back wall your child’s favorite color. Paint the walls a lighter color, and the ceiling a darker color. This will make the closet appear bigger. You can extend the dark color by a few inches to make the closet appear even bigger. [1] X Research source Add some white trim if the walls are colored. This is a great way to anchor down your design, and add some variation to the closet.
If you are going with a desert, pirate, or ocean theme, consider putting down a light tan carpet to resemble sand. If you are going with an enchanted forest theme, consider putting down some green carpet or fake grass. If you are going with a winter wonderland theme, consider a light blue carpet or a light grey carpet. Avoid white, as this will be difficult to keep clean.
For a forest or jungle theme, you could hang floral or ivy garlands along the top of the walls. For a magical look, consider hanging some Christmas lights along the top of the walls. If the closet does not have an outlet nearby, use battery-operated lights. Make use of wall decals and wall stickers. These are great if your child’s interests change. Once your child gets bored of a certain theme, simply pull the old decals off, and apply new ones. [2] X Research source Use paper cutouts for something quick and easy. For example, if your child likes the ocean, you could always cut some fish shapes out of colorful construction paper, and then stitch it onto the walls using tape. Add some sensory or educational play for a young child. Felt boards with alphabets, numbers, and shapes are a great way to keep your child engaged while teaching him or her new things.
Paint the ceiling a dark color, then stick on some glow-in-the-dark stars. Paint the ceiling light blue, then add fluffy, white clouds. Paint the ceiling to resemble a forest or jungle canopy, complete with green leaves, branches, and colorful birds. You could even add a fairy or two! If the closet has a light in it, change the bulb and fixture to something the matches the theme. Suspend lightweight items from the ceiling using fishing line. Depending on the theme, you can use fake birds or butterflies (from the floral department of an arts and crafts store), model spaceships, fish cutouts, snowflakes, etc.
If your child likes to read, turn the closet into a reading nook. Add some shelves to one of the walls. [4] X Research source If your child likes to draw, mount some baskets, cubbies, or folders onto the wall. Store your child’s sketchbooks and coloring books in these. If your child likes to play with toys or do arts and crafts, add some baskets to keep the closet clean. You can use loose baskets, or you can use a plastic storage unit with drawers. Add some hooks. These are great if your child needs to use the closet to store some clothes, such as coats and hoodies. Your child can also use them to hang his or her backpack. [5] X Research source
Install a bench into the closet, one that goes from wall-to-wall. Add some cushions onto the bench, and baskets for your child’s toys or art supplies under it. [7] X Research source Take the door out, and install a curtain. This way, you won’t have to worry about your child accidentally looking him or herself inside the closet. Slip a curtain panel onto a suspension rod, then stick the rod near the top of the doorway. [8] X Research source If you are using the closet to store your child’s clothes, hang them towards the top; this way, they will be out of your child’s way when he or she sits down. [9] X Research source Add some lighting. If the closet doesn’t have a light fixture or outlet, get a battery-operated light instead. You can get free-standing desk lamps, and mini lights that you can mount onto walls or shelves.
