23 DIY Playhouse Ideas That Will Make Your Kids' Dreams Come True

This fun playhouse (complete with windmill slide!) got a makeover with durable striped Sunbrella fabric, while the wraparound bench and Adirondack chair are topped with equally stain-resistant—and cozy!—cushions and pillows. “I needed a material that could stand up to two kids and a very mischievous dog,” the homeowner says. Now that the “room” is realized, it’s time to focus on more pressing concerns: burgers or hot dogs?

Sunbrella “Direction Dew” floor pillow fabric; sunbrella.com. Sunbrella “Canvas” in Cornflower bench cushion fabric, Sunbrella “Dade Blue” striped pillow fabric, Sunbrella “Floral Cornflower” patterned pillow fabric, Sunbrella “Canopy Stripe” in Cornflower/White curtain panels, and Sunbrella “Canvas”
in Cornflower bean bag fabric; ballarddesigns.com. Chairish x The Muddy Dog cornhole boards; chairish.com.

DIY power couple Holly and Brad Lauritzen of Our Faux Farmhouse designed and built this playhouse for their kids and gave it all of the comforts of home. They use it year-round thanks to motion-detected air-conditioning (a must in Texas!), WiFi, TV, and a desk and reading area.

Up next: a fresh coat of paint to match the exterior of their newly painted home. Follow the transformation at @ourfauxfarmouse.

Mandy Roberson of Momma Society transformed a store-bought playhouse into a Palm Beach-inspired juice bar. She started with three coats of white paint (Ultra Pure White by Behr) and then added a piece of birch wood for the counter. She hot-glued striped fabric to two shelf brackets to create the awning.

Stylist, author, and TV host Emily Henderson enlisted the help of Lumpkin Custom Furniture to craft this spectacular castle playhouse. Emily added a slide, window box, and custom-made flags made with Sunbrella fabric.

Jenny Steffens Hobick of Everyday Occasions shares the full plans for this darling playhouse on her blog. She and her husband put it together in a weekend for about $600.

This fanciful A-frame playhouse by Elise Larson of A Beautiful Mess has just enough room for a play kitchen. It sits on a 6-foot-by-8-foot platform, which provides plenty of room for playing house. It also pairs perfectly with a mid-century playset. Find the complete DIY building plans on Elsie's blog.

Joni Lay of Lay Baby Lay enlisted the help of her dad to construct this two-story bunkhouse. They put it together using reclaimed wood and windows from Joni's great-great-grandparents' home. The playhouse has an arts-and-crafts station, desk, and bunk room. Find details (and photos of the incredible interior!) here.

Jennifer Maune of Maune Legacy won a custom-built playhouse from a school auction, and her kids really hit the jackpot. Jennifer started with these plans and added special details like columns on the front porch and fully functioning windows with screens. She had the builders raise the ceiling height to eight feet so the whole family can enjoy the space—no hunching required! Take a peek at Jennifer's decor inside the playhouse here.

Sarah Joy created this inventive indoor playhouse perfect for those days when it's too cold or rainy to play outside. Sarah took an awkward alcove (too small to be a closet) and gave it a fun face-lift, transforming it into a clubhouse for her kids.

Chelsey of Bright & Bold shares all of the details on her fun playhouse at Destination Nursery. Here, she decked it out for a (play)housewarming party!

Sherry and John Petersik of Young House Love agreed to leave this cedar playhouse unpainted to allow it to blend in to their wooded lot and match their brick home. They gave it solid footing by placing it on inexpensive pavers from The Home Depot.

Alicia from Thrifty and Chic put together this darling playhouse for her daughters. She started with these plans and then added her own custom touches like trim and corbels. The inside (complete with hand-stenciled floors and a chandelier!) is a must-see. The exterior and interior are painted in Swiss Coffee by Behr, while the sweet Dutch door and shutters are painted Shy Smile by Behr.

Arlynn Wiebe of August Lace hacked a premade playhouse with lots of custom touches, including plenty of white paint. She painted the door (Rio Sky by Behr), and added a gold number and door handle. The kid-size rocking chair is painted in the same blue paint.

Alli Ward of Made with Happy shares all of the how-to details of this affordable playhouse. (She estimates the cost at $300!) She even included a sitting area for grown-ups. The elevated playhouse also has a stage for impromptu performances. Alli used a shower curtain cut in half for the drapes—so they're both inexpensive and weather-resistant.

This sweet modern farmhouse-style playhouse by Beth Light of 1111 Light Lane takes inspiration from Joanna Gaines with its black, white, and green palette. This prefab cedar playhouse got a serious upgrade with paint and plenty of faux succulents to fill the planters. Check Beth's blog to see how she decks out the playhouse for every season.

This playhouse by Jen Woodhouse of The House of Wood stands out among the rest. She added custom details like transom windows, tongue-and-groove paneling, and playful circle cutouts. Jen built the playhouse for about $250—plus a big helping of elbow grease. She shares the complete plans on her blog.

Melissa Barling of Winter Daisy upgraded a prefab wooden playhouse with some white paint (Ultra White by Behr) and loads of creativity. The chalkboard signs and stools (with a fresh coat of pastel paint) transform it into a cafe, perfect for her little ones' make-believe.

Robin Gay of All Things Heart and Home and her husband converted a closet into a charming playhouse that her granddaughters have come to adore. Cedar shingles add to the "outdoor" feel, and the quaint front door is painted Rhino by Behr.

Halena Ernst of Haystack Mercantile dreamed up this custom playhouse using discarded wood salvaged from a neighbor's old fence. Not only does the design boast a Dutch door, but it also has a loft, secret door, and its very own patio complete with pint-size picnic table.

Click here for a tour of Halena's renovated farmhouse.

Anisa Darnell of Truth & Co. dreamed up this playhouse for her girls, and her husband, dad, and brother put it together for less than $1,000 using materials from The Home Depot. In lieu of paint, Anisa opted to use a white deck stain (Silk Lining by Behr) for the entire structure.