Building The Perfect Playhouse: Everything You Need to Know

If you had a playhouse when you were a kid, you'll probably have wonderful memories of outdoor fun.... hosting tea parties with your friends, playing shop with your siblings or climbing up the rope ladder into your very own tree house for the first time. These are memories that last a lifetime.

If you want to pass on the joy of such long lasting memories, then it's pretty simple to create an outdoor playhouse your kids will love. All you really need is a free weekend to plan, design, buy all the materials and create the design of their dreams. This article will help take the hassle out of building playhouses for kids and ensure you give your children a safe, fun and exciting hideout that they can enjoy for many years to come.

Choosing the right design

One of the best tips I've ever heard about how to build a playhouse is to get your kids involved. Any parent knows that kids quickly lose interest in their things. You'll be incredibly disappointed if you spend hours creating what you think will be their perfect house, only to find that they lose interest and don't use it after a week or two.

If you get them involved in the design and planning and really ask them want they'd like, they're more likely to feel some ownership of the final project and enjoy it even more. Also, give them the chance to help you build and paint it, which they'll find great fun.

Designs no longer have to resemble a house or be a basic timber construction. You'll now see castles, activity houses, pretty cottages and two storey buildings gracing the gardens of many families across the nation. Here are some more ideas on play house designs.

To top off the playhouse design this article has some great ideas on how to accessorise the outside of your kids outdoor playhouse.

DIY or a Kit?

Depending on your building skill and the amount of free time you have, you'll need to decide whether you're going to create the structure yourself using plans, or whether you're going to buy a prefabricated kit. You can buy some really great kits to suit a range of budgets and they take the hassle out of preparing, cutting and drilling your materials.

This guide to buying a play house kit will give you some top tips on how to pick up a bargain.

If you're really short on time and money, another option is to buy a ready-made plastic design the Little Tikes play house is part of a range designed to capture the imagination of any active toddler.

If you've decided you'd like to build the structure yourself, it's definitely worth investing in some good plans. You'll find literally thousands of different designs and styles out there, so before you make a purchase check out this article with top ten tips on choosing the right outdoor play-house plans to fit your family and home.

Building Basics

When constructing your play building, whether you're using a kit or plans, it's important you take time over choosing the location and building an adequate foundation. Kids outdoor playhouses can be a pretty large investment, particularly if you want them to last for more than a few years. So make sure you properly protect and treat your final design so that it withstands the weather and the wear and tear of being used by destructive kids! Here is a guide on how to build a playhouse that's more likely to withstand the test of time.

Any toy, structure or piece of equipment for kids needs to be designed and constructed with extra safety in mind. From protecting your little ones from falls to keeping them safe from splinters, exposed hardware or unnecessary accidents, it's absolutely vital that you put safety first and make sure your kids are secure alongside having fun. This article gives you a complete guide on safety features for outdoor wooden playhouses.

Bringing the fun inside

Finally, if you don't have a garden or backyard or simply want to give your kids a fun hideaway inside the home, one of the best ways to do this is to give them a playhouse bed. Sometimes called a loft bed, this structure basically incorporates a play area either underneath or above their sleeping space.

Once again, it's very easy to buy readymade kits that you simply need to construct and install. Or there are many companies who offer wonderful custom-made designs for a princess castle, country cottage or racing car around your child's bed. These articles give you everything you need to know about play house beds and loft beds.