When I first started tent living full time, it felt more like survival than an adventure. I’d wake up on a cold floor with a stiff back, surrounded by clutter and wishing for my warm bed back home.
But over time, I found small ways to make my tent feel less like just fabric walls and more like an actual cozy home.
Living in a tent doesn’t have to feel rough or temporary. Whether you’re doing canvas tent living for a season or permanent tent living as a lifestyle choice, these simple tips will help you turn your tent into a place you actually look forward to coming back to every day.
Choose the Right Tent Size
Your tent is your home, so picking the right size matters a lot. If it’s too small, you’ll feel cramped and frustrated. If it’s too big, it’s harder to keep warm.
A cabin tent or bell tent with standing room makes tent living feel way more comfortable, giving you space to move around freely.
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Invest in Quality Sleeping Gear
Sleeping well makes everything easier, trust me. Invest in a good sleeping pad or air mattress that won’t deflate in the middle of the night.
Combine it with a quality sleeping bag rated for your local temperatures. Living in a tent full time means you need sleep gear that keeps you warm and pain-free.
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Layer Your Bedding for Warmth
One sleeping bag isn’t always enough for canvas tent living, especially in colder months. I layer mine with fleece blankets and wool throws.
It feels like sleeping in a real bed with layers of comfort. This is one of my favorite tent living ideas to stay warm without using extra heaters or wasting energy.
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Add a Rug or Carpet
Placing a rug or small carpet on your tent floor makes a huge difference. It stops cold from seeping through and makes your tent feel like an actual living room tent.
Choose a soft rug that’s easy to shake out and clean. It feels homier and keeps your feet warm in the mornings.
Use Fairy Lights for Ambiance
Harsh lantern lights make your tent feel like a construction site. Swap them out or add fairy lights instead. String them along the roof or hang them near your sleeping area.
Fairy lights create a cozy camping tent vibe and make nights feel warm and magical instead of dark and depressing.
Incorporate Portable Furniture
Having at least one chair or foldable table changes your whole tent setup. It gives you a place to sit other than your bed and creates a sense of normal living room tent comfort.
Choose lightweight portable furniture so it’s easy to move around as you rearrange your tent space.
Create a Cozy Reading Nook
Everyone needs a little escape corner. Place a cushion, your sleeping bag, or even a camping chair in a tent corner with a small light and your favorite books.
This cozy reading nook makes your tent living feel calming and gives you something peaceful to do on rainy days when you can’t go outside.
Keep Your Tent Organized
Living in a tent means your stuff can turn into chaos real quick. Use packing cubes, baskets, or hanging organizers to keep things in place.
Keeping your tent organized makes everyday life smoother and stops you from feeling overwhelmed by clutter when you’re already living in a small space.
Use Natural Scents for Comfort
Tents can sometimes smell like damp canvas. Use natural scents like essential oil diffusers (battery-powered), fresh flowers, or hanging herb bundles to freshen the air.
Tent living feels way nicer when your space smells clean and calming instead of stale or muddy after days of camping in nature.
Personalize With Photos and Decor
Just because it’s a tent doesn’t mean it can’t look like home. Tape up photos of your family, pets, or adventures.
Add small decor like battery candles or a mini flag banner. These personal touches make permanent tent living feel special and remind you why you chose this lifestyle in the first place.
Set Up a Cooking Area
Eating cold food every day gets old fast. Set up a small cooking area outside or in your tent porch if it’s safe. Use a camping stove with a stable table and keep utensils organized in hanging baskets or bins. Cooking your own meals makes tent living full time feel way more normal and homely.
Create a Relaxation Zone
Your tent shouldn’t be just for sleeping. Set up a relaxation zone with cushions, yoga mats, or even your portable chair for reading, journaling, or stretching.
Living in a tent is easier when you have small routines like this to unwind and make it feel like a safe and comfortable space.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Tents get stuffy fast, especially with all your gear inside. Open vents during the day or keep windows partially unzipped when safe to do so.
Proper ventilation stops condensation buildup and keeps the air feeling fresh, which is so important for your health when living in a tent full time.
Use Insulation for Temperature Control
If you’re doing wall tent living in colder months, insulation will be your best friend. Use reflective blankets, extra rugs, or foam tiles on the floor to keep heat in.
This keeps your tent warmer at night and cooler during the day, making your bell tent living experience comfortable year-round.
Select Multi-Functional Gear
Your space is limited so make your gear work double duty. Use a foldable table as a prep station and work desk, or a bench with storage inside.
Multi-functional gear makes tent living easier and helps you keep your space organized without feeling overcrowded by single-purpose items.
Bring in Nature Elements
Add nature to your tent decor by bringing in pinecones, driftwood, or pretty rocks you find around camp. Use them as small decor pieces to connect your tent living room to the outdoors. It’s a simple way to make your tent feel more grounded and cozy without spending any money.
Use Storage Solutions
Proper storage is what keeps your tent livable. Use stackable bins, hanging shelves, or under-bed bags to organize your clothes, food, and gear.
This makes it easy to find things and keeps your living room tent feeling clean instead of chaotic when you’re living in a tent full time.
Establish a Tent Routine
Routines make tent living feel less overwhelming. Wake up at the same time, tidy your bed, open your windows, and prep your meals in order.
These small habits make tent living feel like an actual lifestyle rather than a temporary rough setup, helping your days feel calmer and more productive.
Choose the Right Campsite
Where you set up your tent matters as much as what’s inside it. Choose flat, shaded spots with good drainage in case it rains.
A good campsite makes your tent feel more stable, comfortable, and safe. Tent living becomes way easier when you’re not constantly fighting mud, heat, or uneven ground.
Embrace Minimalism and Simplicity
Tent living teaches you to let go of things you don’t need. Embrace minimalism by keeping only what serves you daily.
Simplicity makes your space easier to clean, organize, and live in comfortably. It also frees up your mind to enjoy the beauty and calm that comes with this slower way of living.
