An outdoor playhouse, or fort, is the dream of any child. If you’re looking to make your own DIY outdoor playhouse, here are some special touches and fun surprises the kids will love!
A DIY kids outdoor playhouse is such a fun treat for your kids. Here are some ideas to make it really special! Skylights, secret doors, hidden treasure, and lookouts… So many creative ideas your kids will love!
We participate in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This Christmas the kids (and parents) got an amazing surprise when Grandma and Grandpa took us out to the back garage. We opened the door to this amazing and adorable playhouse!
Best. Christmas present. Ever.
This isn’t the first playhouse my parents have created for our kids. Years ago, they updated my old playhouse, and it is incredible!
Outdoor Playhouse
This playhouse was built entirely at my parents’ house, and that is where the kids saw it for the first time on Christmas.
Just a couple weeks ago, we were finally able to disassemble it and transport it over to our house – even though there was still snow on the ground!
It all went really smoothly and it’s firmly settled in it new home in our “woods.” The kiddos call the small area of trees between our house and the road “the woods” and it completely cracks me up!
Fun Additions to any Playhouse
This playhouse is adorable! Since it was a surprise form Grandpa, so I can’t even try to give you plans to make it yourself…
However, there are some extra special touches that I have to share!
Anyone could make an outdoor playhouse amazing with any one of these easy DIY ideas! Your kids will go nuts!
Secret Door
Now, my kiddos wouldn’t be very happy with me if I shared the secret latch to their playhouse…
However, it’s a very fun part that makes it only accessible to them. Or to anyone who does some sleuthing… Either way, they feel pretty special to think they are the only ones who can get in.
The front of their playhouse has a door but no handle.
To make a secret door all you need is one of these gate latches, a string, and something to pull from the outside.
The kids will pull on the lever – wherever it is placed – and it will pull the string to raise the latch.
Lookouts / Peep Holes
If the back of your playhouse faces the street like our playhouse does… or if you just don’t have extra windows lying around…
These little lookouts are so adorable!
Cut a hole – maybe 6″ in diameter – and cover it with a small square of Plexiglas. Then, cut another piece of wood that is nearly 2x the size of the hole so you can screw it in above the hole. The kids can lift or close the piece of wood as needed to peek out.
You could place these anywhere.
One in the door is fantastic for seeing who is coming. You could also place them around the sides at varying heights for a lot of fun lookout spaces.
Fold up table
In small spaces like playhouse, every inch matters.
That’s why it’s so nice to have a little table for play that will also fold back for more space.
This playhouse has a gorgeous slab of wood with a live edge, but any piece of wood or material will do. Just attach it to the wall with a couple hinges, and add a removable leg.
The perfect way to make a small space super functional.
You can even make two bench seats that also fold back for lots of play space!
Doesn’t everyone dress as Jasmine with a tutu and snow boots when there is still snow on the ground? She cracks me up! I told her it was too cold, so she put that scarf around her neck!
Hidden Treasure
What is a special hideout without some hidden treasure?
When our kiddo told Grandpa his plans for a fort in “the woods” he explained very elaborate designs involving a trap door and a treasure chest.
Knowing my parents, I shouldn’t have been surprised that they remembered every word and included that in this playhouse.
The fort is built on a raised platform. When the table is folded down, it reveals a trap door, and inside is a treasure chest.
To keep it waterproof and still lightweight, there is a plastic bin that hangs under the floor. Inside that is a cute little treasure chest for all their special items.
Skylight
An extra special way to add more light to the playhouse without windows, is to add a skylight. This is pretty easy to do if you’re already using a metal roof.
Corrugated clear panels (like these) can be fitted in right with your metal panels.
They bring in so much light and your kiddos can study the sky, birds, and trees as they play.
If you’re lucky, like us, you can find roofing enough bits and pieces for this little project in the clearance area of your local building store. All the roofing for this project was saved or found at Menards for a fraction of the usual price.
In fact, all of the materials for this playhouse are salvaged from various projects. This whole gorgeous playhouse barely cost a thing besides labor and lots of love.
Check out the other playhouse with DIY kitchen and workbench!
Are you planning a playhouse for your kiddos?
Tell me all about it in the comments or shoot me an email – I’d love to hear it!
More Like This
