Playhouse Ideas

Playhouse Ideas

A few extra architectural features add grown-up style to this playhouse.

• Used in place of an overhanging roof, a trellis can shelter the front door and train a flowering plant for shade.
• Playhouses can be petite or full-height; the latter provides plenty of ceiling space for a get-away-from-it-all loft.
• Window boxes offer a low-key way to integrate plants into a playhouse; this one is painted the same color as the trim work for visual continuity.
• Wiring for electricity adds costs; instead, choose battery- or solar-operated lanterns to brighten a doorway.
• Define a landing with pavers. Bonus: It helps keep soil out of the playspace

Popular In Landscape Basics

Small Garden Ideas

No More Cookie Cutter Landscapes! How to Differentiate Your Yard

• Adorable Abode

  A few extra architectural features add grown-up style to this playhouse.

  • Used in place of an overhanging roof, a trellis can shelter the front door and train a flowering plant for shade.
  • Playhouses can be petite or full-height; the latter provides plenty of ceiling space for a get-away-from-it-all loft.
  • Window boxes offer a low-key way to integrate plants into a playhouse; this one is painted the same color as the trim work for visual continuity.
  • Wiring for electricity adds costs; instead, choose battery- or solar-operated lanterns to brighten a doorway.
  • Define a landing with pavers. Bonus: It helps keep soil out of the playspace

• Charming Cottage

  Delightful details dress up this playhouse.

  • A portal window up top brightens the interior of a playhouse.
  • The most charming playhouses replicate their charming, big-size homes. Here, the bay window does just that, with a three-side view from inside the playspace.
  • Architectural details, such as knobs on railing end pieces and curling brackets in the porch roof, add authenticity to playhouse design.
  • A different paving material under the playhouse offers two benefits: It separates the structure from the rest of the yard and elevates it above-grade.
  • A few planted elements, including window boxes and small containers, soften the edges of the small building.

• Attractive finishes captivate both young and old with this playhouse.

  • To simplify a playhouse's design, choose materials and a color palette that match the home's structures. Here, accent brick and gray stucco mirror details from the playhouse's larger version.
  • With the top open, a Dutch door offers an additional way to ensure air circulation through the small space of a playhouse.
  • If a playhouse will be used year-round, consider wiring for electricity to increase playtime hours.
  • If budget allows, screens on playhouse windows work wonders to maximize airflow and keep out critters and bugs.
  • Patterns and textures -- the repeating bricks in the corners, the roof, even the chimney -- are key in the appeal of this playhouse.

• Oh, the Places You'll Go

  A fanciful playhouse design offers plenty of space for childhood fun.

  • The playhouse's eccentricity extends to the walkway, part graduated wood path, part randomly mortared mosaic tiles.
  • The site of a playhouse depends on budget constraints, elements in the yard, and imagination. This playhouse takes advantage of an old tree trunk to loft a structure.
  • The details of a playhouse can reinforce the sense of childhood whimsy, such as the geometry of this siding and windows.
  • Another benefit of lofting a playhouse: More square footage for kids to play in, particularly if the first "floor" is finished.
  • Bright colors offer a way for a playhouse to blend into the yard or stand out. In the case, it's the latter, a barn-red hue on the second story makes a statement.

• Perfect Proportions

  The playhouse design offers classic appeal.

  • The more a playhouse is integrated into a landscape, the less jarring its inclusion. This one is nestled in as a natural part of the large flowerbed, with pavers delineating its border.
  • A sense of symmetry dominates, with dual sets of operable windows and porch railings.
  • Extras need not be useable, as in the case of this tiny -- non-functioning -- front porch.
  • A good spot for a playhouse: Backing up a playhouse to a fence offers a border for kids and a convenient way to shield a back facade.
  • Keep the plantings around a playhouse kid-hardy and colorful.

• Bewitching Barnyard

  This playhouse offers a visually arresting scene reminiscent of the bucolic countryside.

  • A playhouse can be used to define a kids' area, particularly if its border or fence, extends for a bit of paved, play-friendly yard
  • An elevated platform (here, a painted concrete pad) protects a playhouse from damage.
  • Details -- a weathervane, climbing rope, and "sheep welcome" sign -- add character.
  • If a playhouse includes a second floor, use a built-in ladder for easy access. Include a safety rail to prevent falls.
  • Perfect in its rural setting, this playhouse architecture is reminiscent of an old barn.

• Room with a View

  A playhouse receives a welcome lift.

  • Elevating a playhouse has two advantages: It stirs the imagination of little ones and protects the base of the building from decay.
  • An extra-tall railing defines a porch and adds a layer of safety.
  • A trellis or other freestanding structure helps define a play area or entrance to a play structure, as demonstrated here.
  • Restrained use of color -- here, around the trim work -- adds a welcome, but not overwhelming, pop.
  • Use plants to discreetly shield a playhouse from view and make it less obtrusive in the landscape

• Open for Play

  An endearing playhouse provides a garden with plenty of drawing power.

  • In tune with the design of its gardens, the architecture of a playhouse offers a sweet addition to the landscape.
  • Operable shutters and screens offer protection for the building's interior.
  • Most playhouses offer a single door or a charming Dutch door. This playhouse includes a screened door to allow kids to keep the front open without letting in bugs.
  • If a playhouse is integrated into the garden, its placement is important. Here, the playhouse serves as focal point at the end of the path.
  • A paved patio at the building's front offers a spot for a small table and chairs.

• A Home in the Woods

  A modest playhouse provides the key to a complicated yard.

  • How a playhouse is sited in the landscape can help to solve a thorny problem, such as a difficult-to-plant slope. Here, a little shed backs up to a shaded, steep section of the garden.
  • Latticework hides the open space beneath the playhouse. Another idea: Include operable sections in the latticework to store seasonal garden items.
  • If a playhouse includes a useable porch, it should be deep enough to hold a chair and a container or two.
  • A defined pathway to the playhouse comes courtesy of circular paving stones with a few shade-hardy plants lined on either side.
  • In place of screens, operable shutters offer shelter for the interior of a playhouse.

• From up Among the Boughs

  A treetop location offers an updated twist on the traditional tree house.

  • Before deciding to build a playhouse in the timbers of a tree, examine the branches to make sure it is structurally sound.
  • To minimize visual disruption, both the tree house and play area elements are in neutral browns and creams.
  • In place of a separate playscape, a slide, swing, and other features are integrated as part of the structure.
  • Supporting beams for the structure are timbers, to better visually integrate with the tree.
  • A super-sturdy (and tall) railing protects kids playing high in the playhouse.

Original article and pictures take images.meredith.com site