Kids love having their own space to play, and what better way to give them one than by building them a DIY playhouse? With some simple supplies and a little bit of your time, you can create the perfect spot for your kids to play in, at a fraction of the cost of buying a playhouse! Keep reading for some fun ideas!
So get ready to have some fun – Get started with these DIY playhouses below!
1. A DIY Modern Kid’s Play House
This sleek and modern playhouse idea from “Blanco Bungalow” is the perfect way to get your kids involved in the building process!
Made using plywood, 2x4s, a little paint and some elbow grease, this project is surprisingly easy and doable on a budget. Plus, your kids will love helping out and playing in their new playhouse when it’s done.
2. How to build a DIY Kid’s Playhouse
This how-to guide from “Good Diy Plans” is one of the best we found whilst researching for this article. It goes into detail about how to build a basic playhouse frame using simple supplies from your local hardware store.
This playhouse is also easy to add to, so the only limit to what you can do with these plans is your imagination! Add a mini picnic bench so your little ones can enjoy eating outdoors in the summer months, or a slide to add a whole new element of fun to the simple playhouse plans!
3. The Camper Playhouse Plans
This camper-designed playhouse is super good-looking! and will most definitely be one of a kind! Although the skill level is a little bit higher for this one than some of the others on this list due to the slightly more complex design, the result is so worth the learning curve!
Make this playhouse extra special by adding tables and chairs and a mini play kitchen, this project is sure to provide you and the little ones hours of fun throughout the building process and of course once it’s done!
4. DIY Luxury A-Frame Playhouse
To buy one of these luxury A-frame playhouses you would be looking at spending thousands! So building your personalized playhouse for your little ones is the best solution!
The building process for these is relatively simple as it is split down into four sections. and with the tall design, it would be super easy to add a swing to the side making for loads more fun! Be sure to paint in, your little ones’ favorite colors to add an extra personal touch you don’t get with shop-bought playhouses!
5. Amazing $500 Playhouse Under Staircase
An under-the-stairs play house is perfect if you live in a colder climate or don’t have as much outdoor space! This incredible playhouse featured on “The Gibby Home” was built by a couple for their daughter and only cost them $500 to complete!
It’s warm and dry and the perfect place for your little ones to let their imaginations run wild.
6. DIY Cardboard Playhouses
Cardboard playhouses are a brilliant idea! They don’t take long to make and the cost is very low, as a bonus, you can make use of old boxes from package delivery to make the perfect indoor play activity for your kids!
This idea is also great for little ones that are a bit too young for unsupervised outdoor play as there are no dangers of bumps and bangs from a hard wooden play house! Let your kids get creative with the decoration, give them some felt pens and let them design it inside and out in their way!
7. Easy Kids Indoor Playhouse
This playhouse idea from “Jen Woodhouse” is adorable and gives your kids an indoor play space outside the construction of this playhouse is simple and can be knocked up in a couple of days! It’s also big enough for you to sit in with your little ones meaning you can escape outside even on rainy days!
It comes complete with its very own window flower box so you have another teachable moment, showing them how to plant and look after flowers!
8. Pallet Playhouse
This beautiful playhouse made out of pallets is the perfect solution for anyone looking for an eco-friendly and low-cost option! It’s easy to build and with a little bit of creative flair, you can make it look amazing without spending a lot of money.
Be sure to check if the pallets you are using are safe and treated before you start construction!
9. All You Need are a Few Pallets
Here’s another option for upcycling pallets to create a lovely play area for your kids! This design is slightly more complex than the last one and features a raised platform, giving your little ones plenty of space to run around and play.
10. The DIY Upcycled Scrap & Pallet Wood Playhouse
This playhouse built entirely from scrap wood and a few pallets are perfect if you have a tight budget! It’s a great project to tackle if you are new to woodworking as it’s not too complex.
The best part about this playhouse is that it can be easily customized to make it perfect for your little ones.
11. Treehouse Playhouse
As kids we all dreamed of having a tree house, well now you can make that dream come true for your kids! And the best part? No tree is required! This amazing playhouse is built on a raised platform and could easily be adapted to feature a slide, swings, or a climbing wall!
It’s the perfect playground for your little ones and will keep them entertained for hours on end.
12. Scrap Fabric Teepee
Fabric teepees are inexpensive and easy to make! They can be used both indoors and outdoors and are sure to keep your kids entertained for hours! You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you like, adding fun features such as pom-poms, bunting, and fairy lights.
13. How to Build an Outdoor Playhouse for Kids
This outdoor playhouse from “Houseful of Handmade” is a simple design that has tons of super fun features! With a sandpit and a slide, this is truly the all-in-one outdoor playhouse your kids need!
Get your kids to help out with the decorating of their new playhouse and use it as a teachable moment, on how to safely use paint!
14. Build a Log Cabin Playhouse for Under $300
This one is super interesting, when we first saw this we thought surely you can’t build a cabin-style playhouse for less than $300, they start from $900 in the shops! But it is possible and this great tutorial from “Instructables” shows you how!
This cabin-style playhouse would be perfect for kids who love the great outdoors, it would make the perfect base camp for their next big backyard adventure!
15. How to Build A Wood Playhouse For Less Than $350
This playhouse is truly massive! And definitely wouldn’t be a good fit for a small garden but if you have the space, any little one would be over the moon with quite literally their very own house to play in!
It also is a great budget option coming in at less than $350 depending on what tools you already have, you can give your kids their dream play house without breaking the bank!
16. Modern Kids Treehouse
Another great tree house option apart from this one does require the trees! If you have the space and of course the trees for this one, your kids would be the envy of everyone in the neighborhood this is a true design of the tree house we all pictured as a kid!
17. The Playhouse Build
This simple and stunning playhouse, titled “The Playhouse Build” from “Cass Makes Home” will give your kids the perfect place to let their imagination run wild and their creativity flourish, with a raised platform and a slide this one is perfect for older kids.
It also looks really cute so is great if you like to keep a nice tidy garden!
18. Our Diy Playhouse Additions
Although this one may cost a little more to build, (still less than to buy) we think it’s worth it!
Featuring everything a great playhouse should have, including a slide! Your kids will never want to leave their new playhouse again! A great thing to add to this playhouse or any on this list would be a chalkboard, allowing your kids to get even more creative with their play times!
19. Wooden Teepee Playhouse
This simple wooden teepee playhouse from “Your Home Style” is perfect for kids who love the great outdoors! Made with all-natural materials, this playhouse is eco-friendly as well as super fun!
The best thing about this playhouse is that it doesn’t take up tons of space due to its tall design, so no matter the size of your garden your kids can enjoy hours of fun in their teepee playhouse!
20. Turn Your Old Swing Set into a Play Fort
We love this idea and it’s super simple to recreate, if you have an old swing set in your garden, then why not upcycle it into a play fort using just some rope and fabric?
This guide from “Small World Land” tells you everything you need to know to make this cool play fort from your old swing set!
21. Hobbit Playhouse
This playhouse is designed off the hobbit house seen in many movies and is unique!
It is made using simple plywood and tools and topped with artificial grass to give it some extra character! This one is a little harder to make mainly because of the rounded top and circle door, but if you follow the plans on “Instructables” anyone can have a go at it!
22. A-Frame Playhouse
We love A-frame design playhouses because they always look super cute and are easy to build. These are great if you have a little money to spend but you can easily find ways to make it a little more budget-friendly by replacing the boards with plywood sheets!
The instructions from “A Beautiful Mess” are easy to follow and they provide detailed tools and a material list all for free!
23. Indoor Playhouse Reveal
This playhouse is stunning and is designed for indoor use, perfect for a large bedroom or playroom! Although this playhouse looks amazing it’s surprisingly cheap and easy to make!
“All Things Heart & Home” has a great step-by-step guide on how to make this one as well as some handy tips, be sure to check it out!
24. Outdoor Hideaway Building Plans
The outdoor hideaway plans are perfect for parents that are new to DIY as they are simple to follow and the shape of the house is easy to recreate!
This one is perfect for building an outdoor space where your children can truly be themselves and let their imaginations run wild!
25. Pirate Ship Playhouse
Any child will be sure to love the last one on our list of playhouses, It’s a pirate ship! This one will require some woodworking skills as it’s quite large but the plans are great from Instructables so we urge anyone that wants a brilliant one-of-a-kind playhouse to give it a shot!
This pirate ship comes complete with a sail and ladder so just add pirate hats!
Conclusion
Playhouses are a brilliant way to let your kids explore the outdoor world and let them engage in imaginative play! Building your own play house has tons of advantages including the cost, the personalized feel and all the teachable moments you will get with the kids! We hope this article inspired you to get building and give your little ones the playhouse of their dreams!
