Back to the middle ages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box-bed
this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2026
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I live in a hovel and dislike my king…
Edit: You can get zippable lookalikes to go around your mattress on your bed for privacy, but if you’re not up to spending that much or won’t sleep in there a cheap standard tent is much cheaper.
If you do plan to sleep in there, warning about mattress size - a standard single/king single mattress is just a bit too large to fit in a 2 person tent.
A single or child sized mattress maaaybe if it could fit through the entrance. It would be a really tight squeeze. But I think mine is a king single and could be a touch too long, and I would risk tearing the tent getting it through the opening. So either get an airbed/mat that’s small enough or buy the tent size accordingly.
If you plan to sleep just one person and don’t have a lot of room you can buy single person tents which are often basically swags. There’s not much room and they could be claustrophobic but they will heat up fast with your body warmth and there should be enough room for phone in bed.
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pink-swag-43619511/
https://www.bigw.com.au/search?text=Single+person+tent&sort=price-asc
Ps. Air mattresses are also cold. Put them on the floor to let the air absorb the cold shock from that, then put like a yoga mat or folded blanket between you and the cold air. This is more comfortable than putting the mat under the air mattress.
If you have a sleeping bag, use it.
The more insulation between you and the ground (and between you and the air mattress) the better.
Technically one could use their existing bed and it's mattress as a base for the tent? It's still going to insulate you from the ground and will provide cushioning even if it's outside the tent.
Yeah, that’s a good idea also. Do whatever you can to stay warm with whatever you have.
Small electric heating pads, like for cramps or back pain work really well to warm up small areas like sleeping bags or tents. They are pretty light on energy use.
Hot water bottles too. You can even make a cuppa before bed and pour the rest into a hottie to keep you warm overnight.
Or fill up a thermos if you have one. Herbal tea or even just hot water should be fine to drink after brushing teeth for the night
I found Oodies to be excellent when I lived in a cold house with bad heating , even slept in it some nights
Yeah I sometimes overheat in my knockoff
Also, if you can have a pet, the warmth coming off their body can give you warmth and vice versa.
Yeah, the old saying ‘a three dog night’
A bit off-topic but you can help keep the inside of the house a bit warmer by sticking bubble wrap on windows.
Yes, I use tinfoil for hot weather. Bubble wrap and blankets over the window are also good insulation. This is a good one.
Weather stripping is also quite cheap and easy to put on windows and doors. (I’ve only done my doors)
And a rolled up towel or door snake under the door