Playhouses for an apartment: what children will definitely like

Who among us did not dream as a child of our own house in which to hide, play with friends or just sleep? Children's desire to have their own little “hole” is often so great that they try to build a home on their own from any available materials. Bedspreads, old curtains, cardboard boxes, boards, pieces of plywood and even polystyrene foam are used. There are no limits to the imagination of young builders. The process of creating a children's house with your own hands is so exciting that children like it even more than playing in a ready-made building.

Children's house: purpose and benefits

A small house is a place for a child to retire, store things dear to his heart, and play with friends. The baby takes care of his home - he arranges furniture in it, decorates it, and wipes off the dust. Thanks to this, moral qualities are formed, a caring attitude towards things and responsibility are brought up, and the first work skills appear. Games with friends help socialization, development of imagination, thinking, memory, and speech.

Tree

If you are an ardent supporter of environmentally friendly materials, then you have no choice but to buy a ready-made solution. Moreover, such a structure will not always be a house.

By making a wooden house for children in an apartment, you will prepare good ground for the child to have his own corner and personal space. Such buildings are durable and reliable. The only thing is that they are not recommended for very young children due to the likelihood of injury. In addition, such surfaces require regular maintenance and cleaning from dust.

There are two types of wooden houses.

The first is a typical house. With doors and windows. It can be placed both outdoors and indoors, securely screwed to the walls. Of the minuses: such buildings are not mobile, and you must clearly understand that it will last not a year or two, but much longer. The second is more of a play area. There are different variations. For example, it could be a two-level bed with a sleeping area on top and a work/play area below. Or, conversely, leaving a sleeping place below, you can arrange a playground, a Swedish wall and a slide on top. But again, if there is free space in the apartment.

Buy or build yourself

There are a huge number of ready-made structures on sale. Bright and elegant plastic houses will be a wonderful decoration for any nursery. They will look no less colorful in the courtyard of a country house. Their advantages are easy assembly, low weight, and mobility. But such structures are not particularly solid and durable. Under the influence of precipitation and direct sunlight, products quickly lose their brightness and attractiveness and become unusable. Therefore, it is better to use them indoors on an ongoing basis. The main advantage of ready-made models is the minimum amount of time and effort spent.

At the same time, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of creating a house with your own hands. The joint process of creation brings children and parents together as much as possible, teaches mutual understanding and mutual assistance. The child receives basic construction knowledge, becomes familiar with the principles of operation of various tools, and learns to use some of them.

If you decide to give your children such a useful toy, it is better to choose a product made by yourself.

"Gender" issue

When purchasing a children's playhouse for a summer residence, it is necessary to take into account the interests and desires of the child. There are both universal models suitable for boys and girls, as well as options designed specifically for a child of a certain gender.

Boys most often choose models with additional accessories: a rope, a slide, steep stairs, and other gymnastic equipment and accessories. That is, you can get a whole gaming complex.

The shapes of the houses can be very different: a ship for pirates, a fortress for guards and shooters, a castle for wizards, or a country cottage with a garage and a “dry pool.”

Little ladies also take the issue of choosing a playhouse very seriously. Girls will love options in the form of a castle for princesses, sorceresses, favorite fairy-tale characters, carriages, and flowers.

To conduct story games, you can purchase products that are small copies of restaurants, educational institutions, supermarkets or hospitals.

However, some little girls are delighted with seemingly boyish children's designs. For example, parents often buy castle houses or ship houses for active girls. Be sure to consider your child’s opinion!

What materials to use for construction

There are plenty of options for what you can use to build a playhouse. The choice depends on:

• the place where it will be located - on the street or in the apartment;
• the age of the child - a cardboard house will be enough for kids, but older children need a stronger and more substantial home;
• financial capabilities of parents;
• their level of construction skills.

The most common materials:

• wooden beam;
• plywood, OSB, chipboard, fiberboard;
• polycarbonate;
• construction pallets;
• cardboard;
• textile.

A budget option

The simplest and most budget-friendly option for a house is a fabric one. All you need is rope, fabric and a few pegs. Pull the rope at a height of 1.5 meters, maybe a little lower.

The higher you stretch, the more fabric you need. Next, throw a square piece of fabric over it. You drive the pegs into the ground and tie the fabric to them.

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House dimensions

If the material has already been selected, it's time to decide on the dimensions. It should be comfortable for the child to enter the house and play in it. It is desirable that he can stand up to his full height. The more freedom there is indoors, the safer it is to play in it. Of course, in an apartment our options are limited. But on a personal plot, a spacious house of 2x2.5 m can easily be accommodated, in which several people can comfortably stay. In such a space you can freely arrange furniture and place large toys.

Decide on the model

First of all, you will need to decide what kind of house you want to make. Remember, the more complex the design, the more effort you will have to spend.

Before work, familiarize yourself in detail with the photographs of the children's house and drawings in order to understand how to carry out the work.

We are building a house on a summer cottage

Your own house, just like a real one, will certainly make your child happy. Moreover, on a summer cottage you can build a durable building that will last for more than one year. Construction will be an exciting adventure and will remain in your child’s memory for a lifetime. Let him decide for himself what it will be like - his first “own” home.

Architecture and design can be completely different. From a simple one-story building to a real palace, a pirate ship, a hut on chicken legs or a tree house. On your summer cottage you can build whatever your heart desires.

If you need temporary shelter, put up a tent or hut. For durable buildings, it is better to choose resistant materials - wooden beams, logs, panel structures, polycarbonate. It is the material that influences the choice of construction technology. To avoid possible mistakes, it is recommended to make a layout first.

From wooden beams

A house made of timber is an excellent choice for a durable capital construction. This design will last for many years and will delight more than one generation of children. But it is worth considering that wood is a flammable material. In addition, it is not very friendly with moisture. Bark beetles can settle in it and destroy the timber from the inside. However, all this can be easily avoided. It is enough to treat it with fire-resistant and antiseptic compounds and the house will be reliably protected from such threats. This procedure must be completed before construction work begins. Building a house from timber is a labor-intensive and long-term project. Construction of this kind requires strict adherence to technology.

Frame house made of OSB or plywood

The process can be significantly accelerated if you choose sheets of plywood or OSB as the main material. The house will not be as solid as the previous option, but its construction will not take much time.

At the first stage, a timber frame is constructed. First, the base is assembled - a shield, which is sheathed with OSB on the bottom and clapboard on top. Children often play on the floor, so care must be taken to ensure that they do not sit on a cold surface. A layer of insulation can be laid between the outer layer and the boards. Thick polystyrene foam 10 cm wide is suitable for this purpose. To prevent it from falling through, provide additional protection - pad the bottom with a board base. Next, a supporting structure is constructed for the walls and roof. The finished frame is sheathed with sheet material on the outside and inside. From the street side, both OSB and plywood will look great. Insulation and windproof material are attached from the inside, and then the walls and ceiling are covered with plywood.

Another version of a plywood house is a constructor made from panels with special fastenings - grippers. They are also called paws. The long walls of the house are equipped with them, and there are grooves on the front and back. The “feet” must be directed downward so that, when inserted into the holes, they can be lowered and securely fastened. Disassembly is carried out in the reverse order - the long wall is raised slightly and the fastening easily comes out of the groove. Such houses are good for a summer residence - in winter they can be stored indoors, wrapped in plastic wrap or in special bags.

Panel house

This construction option is optimal for a playhouse. It is assembled from pre-prepared shields. First of all, construct a shield for the base. The supporting frame is made of timber 75 and 100 mm long. Then the floor is laid on this structure. The next step is to assemble the porch frame. After this, the frames of the front and rear walls are made, and then the side walls. A box is mounted on the base. After this, the roof sheathing and ridge are done. Next, the walls of the house are sheathed with sheets of chipboard or plywood, leaving openings for windows and doors. If you do this from the inside and attach decorative strips to the outside, you can get a house in the German half-timbered style. The next stage is roofing. Roofing materials such as flexible tiles, corrugated sheets, colored slate, and waterproof plywood are ideal.

Polycarbonate house

A house with transparent walls and ceiling - what could be more unusual? A polycarbonate building will always be light, warm and cozy. This material has many advantages:

• is characterized by low cost;
• transmits light well;
• easy to install;
• protects from direct sunlight;
• plastic – allows you to create original compositions of rounded shapes.
• variety of colors;
• not afraid of moisture;
• does not support combustion;
• It retains heat well due to its structure - air-filled cells are located inside the sheet.

To create a transparent house, you need to make a frame from metal pipes, cover it with polycarbonate sheets, cut out windows and doors. It is better to do them on one side so that there are no drafts in the future.

Children's house made of pallets

Shipping pallets are often used to create designer furniture for loft or country style interiors. They can be used with exactly the same success when building a playhouse. What is useful at a construction site?

• pallets - at least 8 pieces;
• metal connecting plates – 8 pcs;
• metal corners;
• roofing materials – flexible tiles, euro slate;
• quick-drying paint;
• self-tapping screws;
• grinding attachment;
• sandpaper;
• drill or screwdriver.

It is better to grind, paint pallets and form window and door openings before starting work.

Description of building a house from pallets

1. We make the base - we connect two pallets using mounting plates.
2. We install walls - structures with removed central lintels and previously formed openings. We attach them to the base using metal corners.
3. We form the roof slopes from two pallets. We fasten them together and fasten them to the walls using metal plates.
4. We are laying the roof.
5. We lay the floor from pallet boards or other suitable material.
6. We form window and door frames and paint them.
7. We decorate the house from the inside and invite a little tenant.

Log playhouses

Any child will love his own log house. After all, it is so similar to fairy-tale houses and huts. They can be supplemented with a composition of a log well, a bench, or a sandbox. True, to create such a building you need to have special knowledge and skills. It is unlikely that an inexperienced builder will be able to correctly install a log house. This requires a real master.

But don’t despair - if you can’t install a real log house, you can always buy a plastic imitation. There are plenty of offers of various ready-made designs.

House on stilts with additional play areas

An alternative to a log structure can be a house on stilts. This is an intermediate stage between the baby doll version and the tree house. Children love to climb the steps into their “nest,” and for a “jet” descent, you can attach a real slide, install a fireman’s pole, or attach a rope. You can build a spacious two-story play complex with horizontal bars, swings and a sandbox. To erect such a structure, a flat area is not required. The main thing is to align the pillars well vertically and install the base for the floor and roof exactly horizontally.

The piles are installed to a depth of 20 cm and concreted. In regions with harsh winters, to the depth to which the soil freezes. It will not be possible to do without concrete. The pillars will very quickly become unusable.

Next, the piles are tied with timber, boards - logs - are laid on them, and plywood is laid on top. The walls are made of wooden frames covered with plywood sheets. They immediately leave openings for windows and doors. The finished panels are lifted onto the base and the frame is assembled.

If you work alone, it is better to sheathe the frames only on the outside, and do the interior finishing after the frames are brought to the site. This will make it easier to lift them.

The next stages are the formation of a ridge from beams, installation of transverse gables and laying of the roof.

The house on stilts is very reminiscent of a hut on chicken legs. By building it for your baby, you will give him a piece of a fairy tale.

Features of building a tree house

The tree house is an indispensable attribute of most American children's films. The guys love their shelters and are ready to be real good boys, as long as they are not banned from playing there. Can you think of a better place to listen to birdsong, watch the stars or just read in the fresh air? To build such a house, you need to choose the right tree. It should not be old, eaten away by parasites. Ideally, this is a tall plant with an even, strong trunk and spreading branches. Alternatively, the trunk can be forked. In order to avoid problems later, you need to find out whether the tree in your garden is a plant protected by the state, and whether it is necessary to obtain permission to carry out such work.

First of all, a platform is fixed to the tree - the base of the house. This process can be carried out in three different ways:

1. The beams supporting the platform are attached directly to the tree.
2. The base is suspended using ropes.
3. The platform is supported by support pillars dug into the ground.

Don't forget to consider your lifting options. It should be easy for children to climb into the house. In addition, the lift should be as safe as possible. There are the following options for staircase structures:

• rope;
• wooden extension;
• stationary marching.

The platform must be equipped with railings, and sawdust must be placed under the tree - they will soften the blow in case of a fall. The design of such a house can be anything - with walls and a roof, or simply in the form of an A-shaped tent.

From plywood

With your own hands at the dacha, you can make a children’s house from a material such as plywood, although many people underestimate it. But structures made from it can last a very long time, regardless of weather conditions.

Step-by-step instruction:

• Let's start with the basics. To do this, we connect boards 200 and 300 cm long into a rectangular structure.
• We attach a beam to the frame at a distance of 500 ml, this is the base of the floor, and we cover the upper part of the structure with strips to fix the insulation. Now we fill all the voids and cells with polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam.

We install the structure on a flat surface and cover it with boards 12 by 100 ml for rough finishing. On the floor, at a distance of 10 ml, we attach oriented strand boards with a thickness of 0.9 cm

It is important to maintain a distance between the sheets and the subfloor, otherwise the floor may become deformed due to weather changes. Now, according to the presented drawing, we assemble the walls. For this we use boards 50 by 100 ml

We fasten the racks at intervals of 10 cm, but in those places where there will be a door and windows, they should be double for greater strength. There is no need for additional support for the house, since plywood is used to cover the structure.

• Let's move on to the foundation, and since we are talking about a children's house, even old logs can be used to make it. But first, we treat them with protection against fungus, then we place them on top and nail the board. Using hardware we connect the foundation and frame.
• To arrange the roof in the central part of the house, we fix the ridge and get an even slope on both sides. Then we make blanks from the boards, attach them to the frame, and attach a cross beam between them.

• We sheathe the roof frame with thin boards and cover it with roofing material. Of all the options, it is better to give preference to soft tiles; this is a safer material.
• Now we cut out sheets of plywood to cover the house outside and inside. At this stage, you should be careful to ensure that the sheets are joined on the racks. For cladding we use self-tapping screws.

We prime the finished structure and begin painting. For interior work, you can use spray paint.

After painting, you need to install glass in the window openings, which we cut to size and fasten with wooden slats. To prevent drafts in the children's house, we use sealant when installing windows. We also treat the slats themselves with anti-fungal agents.

You can install a door in the house, but you shouldn’t make it too heavy, so we use one sheet of plywood. We secure the door with hinges. Finally, it is worth thinking about the interior arrangement of the house. There you can place a small table with chairs, a small crib, and hang several shelves.

Playhouses in the apartment: materials and solutions

A house in the garden of a private house is wonderful. But unfortunately, he will be able to please the children only in the warm season. In winter it will be cold, and climbing the icy steps is dangerous. This is only justified if the house is part of a slide. But not everyone has their own territory for equipping a children's playground. Therefore, the optimal solution would be to build it right in the apartment from lightweight materials at hand - fabric, cardboard, plastic. This structure is easy to install, disassemble, store and transport. Therefore, you can take it with you when you move.

Compact cardboard house

The easiest way to make a home out of cardboard is to cut out windows and a door in a large box from a refrigerator, washing machine or other large household appliances. The product is decorated, after which you can start playing. The other option is more complicated. The house diagram is drawn on sheets of corrugated cardboard, cut out and assembled using a construction stapler or glue. The surface of the cardboard building can be left in its original form, or it can be painted or covered with wallpaper. For interior walls, both monochromatic designs and options with patterns are suitable. When choosing a color and print, you need to take into account the gender of the child. External walls can be covered with wallpaper that imitates wood or brick, but this is not necessary. It all depends on the preferences of the little owner - perhaps he wants his house to resemble the castle of the snow queen, Nyusha's house or a palace from a candy country.

House made of fabric and PVC pipes

If you want to create a more substantial structure, assemble your house from ordinary water pipes. Using various adapters and splitters, they can be connected into a lightweight but durable structure. The advantage of this option is that the house can be easily disassembled. Just a few minutes and the structure is ready for transportation. Thanks to this, you can take it with you to nature, to the sea, to the country house and even on a visit. The pipes act as elements of the frame onto which the cover is stretched. It must be sewn to the size of the house, but with small increases to make it easier to stretch the fabric onto the structure. From the inside, fasteners should be provided to secure the fabric with Velcro or ties. Openings for windows and doors must be provided in the walls. It is desirable that, if necessary, the windows can be closed with thick film or fabric shutters with lacing, and the door can be closed with a zipper. This way you can protect your child from wind and cold.

Indian wigwam - an original structure

Wigwam is the home of a “real Indian”. But don’t think that it will only be appropriate in a boy’s bedroom. Girls will play in it with no less pleasure. This unusual and stylish solution will add a daring, exotic touch to the interior of any nursery. This is not just a refuge and a little corner of privacy. A wigwam can inspire you to play interesting games, read books about Indians, and watch movies. How exciting it is to jump around the apartment or shoot at a target, wearing a feather headdress and painting your face, and then relax in the shade of a tent on soft pillows.

There are quite a few ready-made wigwams on sale. But a “real” Indian must be able to build his own house. For this he will need:

• wooden sticks with a round or square cross-section – 6 pcs. The length of the beams is 2 m, thickness is 2-4 cm;
• rope or elastic band;
• drill;
• tent fabric;
• eyelets;
• lace.

Step-by-step instruction

1. Drill holes in the poles at a distance of 20-25 cm from the edge.
2. Tie the sticks together.
3. Place the frame on the floor and spread the supports so that there are even gaps. One of them is the future entrance, more needs to be done.
4. We cut out a tent in the shape of a half-sun.
5. We wrap the frame with fabric and mark places for sewing fasteners.
6. We process the edges of the product, sew on ribbons to secure the tent on the poles.
7. In the upper part along the edges we install eyelets and thread the lace.
8. We fix the tent to the frame.

You can decorate an improvised wigwam in a variety of ways - whatever you have the patience and imagination to do. Special paints and markers, stickers, jewelry, buttons, and appliques can be used. Inside it is worth sewing pockets for various small things. We lay a blanket and a couple of pillows on the floor and invite the future tenant. Of course, you can surprise him, but it will be much more useful if he himself takes an active part in the creation and arrangement of his “shelter”.

House under the dining table

The easiest and most affordable way to build a playhouse in an apartment is to simply cover the dining table with a blanket or sheet. But such a structure is only suitable for playing hide and seek. The result is a semi-dark space in which you can’t get by without a flashlight. How to make sure that light penetrates into the house? An excellent way out of this situation is a special cover, the top edge of which will exactly match the size of the tabletop. The fabric structure stretches over the table and limits the entire space under it. In the “walls” of the cover, you can provide several openings - windows, a door, and thus provide access to light and air flow. The floor in such a house can be a rug or a small mattress. The walls inside and out can be decorated with various applications, depicting paintings, decor, furniture, and sew small pockets for storing children's treasures. The doors in such a house are closed with zippers, buttons or ties. A useful tool for developing fine motor skills.

Additional accessories

To diversify the entertainment and expand the repertoire for children’s games, you can buy additional equipment - slides, slides, swings, tunnels and balls. Your child will definitely say “thank you” to you!

Game tunnels

This device can serve as a passage to a bouncy or fabric playhouse, or connect two play structures. In such tunnels, children happily crawl, hide, and visit each other if the device serves as a connection for two houses.

Tunnels come in different shapes and sizes. You can buy a regular “pipe”, as well as a caterpillar or train. Games in such devices help a child grow flexible, dexterous, physically resilient, and generally improve children's health.

Tunnels are sold both together with the children's home and separately. Is it worth purchasing them? This is up to parents to decide, who should focus on the interest of their children.

Balloons

Plastic balls are an excellent exercise machine and massager that allows you to expand the functionality of many familiar toys, including a children's playhouse.

If you have an inflatable or fabric house, try making it a “dry pool” by throwing a set of plastic balls into it.

Games in this design relieve increased tone, strengthen muscles and improve children's mood.

These balls are also used for other purposes. Invite your child to name the color of each ball and count how many balls you have placed in a row. In addition, the child will be able to practice accuracy by throwing balls into a basket or aiming at a specific target.

Children's bed

A home house is often combined with other household items. For example, an older child who is already cramped in a baby’s cradle can purchase a crib combined with a play area.

Such cribs differ in design solutions: some products have sleeping places on the first floor, while others, respectively, on the second. The beds are equipped with high sides, which are removed when the child grows up.

Typically, such cribs are made of wood or plywood. When purchasing, you need to pay attention to safety. Make sure that the products do not have sharp corners, roughness, chips and other defects that could injure the baby.

Low-quality products are characterized by poor painting and a pungent toxic odor. It is important to examine and even smell the crib with the house. This will save the family from purchasing a harmful design and wasting money.

How to furnish a house inside: finishing and furnishings

The interior decoration of the house is selected depending on:

• preferences of the little owner;
• dimensions of the building;
• type of construction.

It is best to paint the walls and floors in the house with waterproof paint or varnish, or you can leave them as is, simply treat them with an antiseptic.

The windows can be framed with small curtains, and a soft rug can be laid on the floor. Small pictures, posters, stickers will perfectly decorate the walls.

If in a small tent there is only room for a blanket and a couple of pillows, then in an outdoor wooden house you can install furniture - a dining set, a toy kitchen or a small crib. Miniature shelves and hooks will allow you to conveniently place outerwear and favorite crafts.

So that you can continue playing or reading in the evening, it is worth considering the lighting. Small LED sources or strip are best.

Tent+

A slightly advanced version of the tent will be houses with additional pipes and courtyards. This is a good combination that includes a playpen for the baby or a pipe to crawl on. It has no practical effectiveness, but many children like it. Especially if you fill it with balls. As you can see, installing a cheap children's playhouse for a child in an apartment will not be a particular problem. However, many parents prefer more durable options. After all, an initially made house can eventually turn into a whole room. But we will talk about such possibilities a little later.

Decorative design of the facade

There are many options for facade design. You can simply cover it with clapboard or wooden tiles, or you can paint it with your child, stick on plastic or wooden figures and flowers. The lighting design looks wonderful when a lot of lights come on in the evening, and the house looks like a fairy-tale palace. You can design the façade in a specific theme. For example, attach climbing holds to it, turn one of the walls into a sports equipment, or hang a lifebuoy, compass, ropes and other attributes of the life of a real “sea wolf.” The choice of design depends on your imagination and preferences.

Building a playhouse is a fun and not too complicated process. And your child will certainly like the result.

Construction of a fabric hut

Main advantages of the design:

• elementary construction;
• low cost;
• ease of transportation.

Children's house for a child
A hut made of fabric must have a frame. The basis can be wooden beams, aluminum or plastic supports. Often elements of old furniture are used for this. A children's textile house can be mounted on a rope base. “Attach” one of the sides to a tree or building.

Having decided on the frame, we begin to choose the main coating. The fabric is used depending on the purpose of the structure. If this is a home playhouse, it is better to use light, breathable materials. Linen or cotton will be a great solution. For an outdoor model, it is better to choose denser ones, perhaps resistant to moisture. If an awning or tarpaulin is used, it is necessary to provide for ventilation.

Large children's house

You can choose the fabric with a cheerful pattern or give your child the opportunity to participate in creating their own decor. The children's house can contain thematic coloring or be decorated to the taste of the young owner.

For the street version, it is necessary to provide, in addition to the frame, the presence of a base. Wooden flooring will be the best solution. You can make a platform out of plastic, but it is less environmentally friendly and will not allow the structure to “breathe.”

Children's house diagram

For kids, you can make a children's house with your own hands from foam rubber covered with fabric. In this case, large window and door openings should be left so that the baby does not feel hot and the air can circulate freely. Structural elements can be connected using Velcro or zippers. This option involves not only using a piece of fabric, but also cutting and sewing. You will first need to make a drawing and calculate the proportions. This is not difficult at all because the assembly principle is simple and does not require special skill.

Children's house with a slide

The Indian wigwam is the simplest and most interesting thematic construction option. Such a children's house will not leave any child indifferent. It’s easy to build it even just by studying the photo in detail. The lightness and mobility of such a hut allows you to easily move the structure as needed. When the playhouse loses its relevance, it is extremely easy to dismantle it and use the materials for other purposes.

Diagram for assembling a children's house