How can I glamp up my normal tent?

[attheendoftheday]

I've always been a more utilitarian sort of camper, but as the years go by I find myself longing for a bell tent and all associated glampy bits and pieces. Now, an actual bell tent is out of our budget right now, particularly as we have a perfectly functional family tent already (a vango icarus 600 ). So what little things can I do to make my camping experience a bit more glampy and wonderful?

I've already invested in some pop up laundry baskets for better storage, in the hope we can keep the tent looking nicer. We have some new SIMs for everyone, and I prefer taking duvets and pillows to sleep under, so should be comfy at night.

What else can I do? Will I be laughed off the campsite if I put fairy lights around the door? I yearn for some bunting, but I can't see where I would put it.

Thanks.

The fairy lights might be excusable as handy when trying to find the tent in the dark. And you could tie bunting to trees around your tent.

But I'm afraid if I were your neighbour on a site, I'd be sniggering at you.

I can see your point, a few years ago I'd have sniggered at me too. But since having dd2 I just keep thinking how lovely it would be. And I don't mind a few sniggers, it would almost be like providing entertainment for the campsite, like a service to others.

Ignore the sniggerers. Way before we got glampy we camped with friends who wound a huge string of fairy lights round their tent and awning and we never thought it silly. It was just a brilliant way to light up the tent and added a party feel to our group camp.

Now of course I would add bunting round the guy ropes, a flag pole with a windsock (practical as easier to find the tent!), colourful picnic rugs as carpet, cushions, and a tea light chandelier if you have somewhwere to hang it (with battery tea lights of course) - shirazplease posted this link: www.thewhitecompany.com/sale/home-and-fragrance/tiered-hanging-tealight-holders/?awc=4802_1372236580_fc17e145e747d132c01cd0f9cba7aa9c&CM_MMC=Affiliates--AWIN--Autumn2012-_-text&ProGrpCode=AW12 yesterday and I immediately snapped one up.

There must be more - will think on.

Proper link: www.thewhitecompany.com/sale/home-and-fragrance/tiered-hanging-tealight-holders/?awc=4802_1372236580_fc17e145e747d132c01cd0f9cba7aa9c&CM_MMC=Affiliates--AWIN--Autumn2012-_-text&ProGrpCode=AW12

Thank you MummyPig. Some brilliant ideas, and that chandelier is gorgeous! Just the sort of thing I need (once I work out if I'll hit my head on it).

I definitely need a new picnic blanket as a carpet. We already have a beautiful picnic blanket, but I definitely need both an indoor and outdoor one. Off to google while neglecting the children

On a side note, does anyone know where I can get battery tealights that flicker? I know they exist!

tealight

I've got these. Seem to be good and give off a fair amount of light

They look great, have ordered some. Thank you.

Happy to oblige

I'd add a note of caution about that white co chandalier, if you're thinking of hanging it inside your tent I think it'll be too tall

Yeah, I thought of that. Which is a shame because it's exactly the sort of beautiful thing that I hanker after. We're camping next week, so I'm going to check exactly how much space there is and shop accordingly. Perhaps I can get a flatter chandelier.

The white co chandelier is on chains. Possibly shorten it?

I think I'll measure the space when the tent goes up this weekend and see. The White Co usefully put the chandelier's measurements up so I should be able to see if it's possible.

Yikes - i have just bought the White Company chandelier for the pole in our bell tent. Is it going to be too long? Shiraz, is it ok in your bell tent?

I have just (belatedly) looked at the dimensions - 80cm between tiers - really? That makes the whole thing 1.6m - it doesn't look that long in the photos. Could be going back sadly.

You can get some beautiful melamine tea sets now. Very necessary.

Those measurements look wrong, if the bottom tier is 45cm, it isn't 80cm between tiers, more like 80 cm top to bottom.

That makes a lot more sense MM. Phew!

helloo, sorry, missed the question re head bumping.

It is low, but we have storage on one side of pole and bed on the other so head bumping not an issue. Although when storage not there I have head bumped, but not in a painful way, more a 'doh' way

I will find a pic and add to profile

Ok, now I have: a tent carpet, pretty picnic blanket, some colourful blankets, laundry baskets for storage, battery tea lights and little holders, solar fairy lights, a portable fire bowl and a pin wheel for dd1.

What else? Nice tea set is a fantastic idea, thanks NumTum. Any ideas where I can get such a thing? Google is just bringing up dolls tea sets. Also, has anyone found any nice camping-friendly wine glasses?

Last question - can anyone recommend me a table? Just a little one to put drinks on or play cards on. There are a few on amazon, but they look ugly. Maybe I will get a pretty table cloth to go over our cool box instead.

table cloth works well, and v poncey practical. I ordered some red polka vinyl off ebay. And it stashes away in the table when it's folded up, thus taking up zero space.

Another thing I have is a luvverly wicker picnic basket. I'd lusted after one for YEARS and finally got one for my birthday a couple of years back. It's bulky, but use it to transport plates etc as well as dry food.

Wow, attheendoftheday - you have moved fast. I am impressed. I can't be much help with pretty tables (ours are very utilitarian) but for wine glasses, I would recommend scouting supermarkets. Tesco/ASDA/Sainsburys often have good deals on plastic picnic wine glasses which look quite nice - that is where I got our flowery monster-sized ones from anyway.

As for pretty tablecloths and other such fripperies, I have indulged in this: www.amazon.co.uk/Handmade-Glamping-Charlotte-Liddle-Hopping/dp/1908862742 and intend to start work on some of the projects just as soon as I learn how to sew/knit/crochet (and in the meantime just take the book with me to drool over while camping).

I found I had a surprising number of poncey bits and pieces around the house I could take, when I put my mind to it! Plus so many places deliver really quickly. We're camping next week, so I wanted as many beautiful itmes as I could get together before then.

I am slightly at the poncey-ness of it all, but I am also in seventh heaven. We camp a lot, so at least it'll get used. Dp is a bit but let's me get on with it (and is delighted by the fire bowl which I found languishing in our loft).

Red spotty tablecloth sounds lush - I actually want one for our dining room, but worried others will judge my Cath Kidston-esq taste. Think I will have a hunt for some scrap fabric I can use and buy something proper for our next trip.

The book looks heavenly. I would never get round to making things (already have lots of craft projects on the go) but it's on my birthday list so I can drool over it.

I found this attheendoftheday: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-GAYDON-MELAMINE-RETRO-TEA-SET-/171060244864

Not very pretty unfortunately (unlike some of the dolls tea sets ), but proper vintage, and melamine. So some glampy cred to be had there.

Thanks MummyPig. I shall debate whether retro-cred compensates for lack of prettiness!