From basic sheds with a few embellishments to miniature Colonial mansions with all the architectural details, you're bound to find a plan for a do-it-yourself playhouse project. Some of these projects are for dedicated and patient beginners with some carpentry skills, others specify that the projects are difficult. Include the lucky child or children who will be the new "homeowners" -- it's a great way to teach them some DIY basics, give them a feeling of accomplishment, and a chance for you and your crew to share a real experience and valuable time together. Plus, you'll be the coolest adult in the neighborhood.
Playhouse Plans from Family Fun
From Family Fun Magazine, this simple playhouse uses durable plastic lattice and pressure-treated lumber.Pros:
- Cost of materials under $300
- Entire playhouse can be built in 10 hours or less.
- Simple; not luxurious.
- Uses pressure-treated lumber.
- Could not be used as a guest house during the cold months, if that matters.
Playhouse Project from Black and Decker
© Copyright 2008, Black & Decker
Nice architectural details, including a door-window, covered porch and wooden skid foundation. Includes a detailed materials list, scale drawings, and instructions. At 5'x8', the Black and Decker playhouse is a good-sized play space for your children and their friends -- and adults, too.
Playhouse Plans from Popular Mechanics
This colonial-style playhouse can be used as a storage shed when your children outgrow it. Includes clear, detailed instructions with step-by-step photos. Also helpful is a "reader comments' section. Keep in mind that Popular Mechanics' readers are usually experienced and skilled do-it-yourselfers.Easy Playhouse from Lowes
While this looks like a basic playhouse, Lowe's mentions that you need advanced skills to tackle the project. With that cleared up, this playhouse will let you test your skills at framing, sheathing and roofing, which you could employ on big do-it-yourself projects in the future. Like many dual-purpose playhouses these days, the playhouse can be used as a handy shed when your children have ougrown it.Train Depot Playhouse from HGTV
A pint-sized structure for train-loving children that's a variation of the traditional playhouse. After all, not every child wants to "play house." Cute, fairly simple to construct. Enlist the help of your little conductor in the building process.American Gothic Playhouse
The Southern Pine Council generously provides five pages of plans for this unique playhouse. Think more of the Grant Wood masterpiece American Gothic with the stern-looking farmer and his wife on the plains, rather than medievel architecture, neoromanticism, and brooding teenage vampires.That cleared up, this playhouse is a charming and unique-looking structure that resembles a church. Interior space in the American Gothic is 35 square feet, with an additional 2-foot-wide front porch. While not a project for beginners, the instructions are easy-to-comprehend and seem to cover all bases.
Under-the-Deck Clubhouse from HGTV
This project is relatively simple, and shows how a clubhouse for three brothers was created beneath a second-floor deck. Its transformation includes a painted mural, a dry creek bed, tire swing and a climbing wall and a tadpole terrarium. Fun!Playhouse Plans From Australia's National Association of Forest Industries
Copyright Owner: Timber and Building Materials Association (NSW) Limited
Right off, the instructions use the metric system. It isn't difficult to convert to feet and inches with one of the many online calculators available. To guide you along on this project that looks to be of medium-level difficulty are Hardwood Harry and Softwood Sal, characters from Australia's timberland who provide Timber Tips and answer project-related questions. Once you convert your measurements, this site's instructions are clear, organized and accompanied by straightforward drawings.
