If you have a limited number of bulbs and and a fixed space to fill, rather than spacing them evenly at 5 per sq ft over the whole area, I'd place them in clumps at a greater density but with space between the clumps. Otherwise I think it would look like a bulb farm rather than a flower bed. But that's just my opinion. I'd also put something else in, e.g Myosotis, wallflowers or whatever if changing the bed out later or perennials for a permanent bed, rather than a monoculture which would be over in a short period.

I agree with floral. That would create a wonderful look.

The trouble with sparse planting of tulips is that it looks like sparse planting.