A pretty paved walk leads to this classic playhouse, made all the more endearing with sweet details such as turned porch railings, matching window boxes, and gabled dormers. Windows built into small-sized play spaces keep corners from feeling dark and unwelcoming. In this dainty structure, a window seat and an octagonal cutout in the roofline flood the interior with light. A deft combination of colors and materials create an unusually realistic playhouse. Part of the appeal? The fence and arbor, details picked up from the designs found in full-size cottage gardens. Children's need for play hasn't changed all that much from the past century, as the winning design of this playhouse, circa 1929, proves. Lacy trim, a miniature Dutch door, and a pseudo chimney and shutters supply plenty of kid-friendly charm. To help small structures fit into their surroundings, outfit playhouses with colors and details drawn from nearby buildings. Playhouses can employ as much, or as little, creativity as the builder desires.

This pint-sized version plays it fairly straightforward -- a small covered porch, a Dutch door -- but a few extras, like a curved archway and mini shutters, give it flair. Most structures like this playhouse employ shutters, window boxes, porch railings, and windows, or some combination of the four; this one has it all, dressed up with a pretty pastel-inspired paint scheme. To eliminate the need for a separate floor surface, this quirky playhouse was sited on a wooden "bridge" between two raised beds. Oh, The Places You'll Go! Part playhouse, part children's book fantasy, a treehouse gets dressed up with whimsical details. In place of a standard stairs or ladder, the design integrates an old tree trunk as a "first floor." Relying on detail and material can help playhouses resemble small-scale replicas of larger homes. This petite version showcases standout accents, including stucco and stonework on the corners and chimney. Pretty in Purple and Pink Landscaping and ornamentation should be integral design elements in a playhouse.

A stone edging outlines the approach to this pretty purple structure, and a profusion of pink blooms picks up on the color scheme. Pretty as a Picture An off-the-shelf playhouse design gets a customized touch with some painted flourishes. Vines and flowers dress up the roofline, and make-believe clouds flit through the door panels. Clever design strategies can help solve potential site problems for a playhouse. This setup has the structure's front door at the top of a small rise in the yard; Indoor Outdoor Ceiling Fans Lowesthe house was then elevated, with a slide out the back.Seat Covers For Volvo Trucks This square playhouse was built with straightforward 2x4 framing pieces and vinyl siding, but clever details dress it up. Christmas Lights For Gingerbread House

A weather vane caps a faux chimney, a vent maintains air circulation, and accents including a dinner bell, mailbox, and address numbers, offer real-life extras. Little House on the Farm Complete with its own fenced-in mini yard, a playhouse re-uses forms, materials, and colors from classically designed barns. Inside, soaring ceilings give way to a loft, and a rope out front calls playmates to "dinner." Use no-fuss materials, such as a tin roof, and simple construction methods and a playhouse leaves children's imaginations room to run wild. Skip the troublesome electrical wiring in favor of a solar- or battery-powered light, and install a mailbox for special deliveries. Plucked seemingly from the pages of a children's book, this pretty playhouse invites play with pops of color. Integrate a structure like this into a garden for even more outdoor impact; here, a vigorous climbing rose rambles over the roof. Style on the Sly A delicately detailed playhouse sits on what could be a difficult slope in a backyard corner.

A painted trellis covers the incline, and workable shutters shield the windows during inclement weather. Ready for a Welcome This playhouse ditched a front door in favor of a large porch overhang. Its simple interior includes open shelves for big-kid storage, as well as hooks well within kid height. Plant Where You Grow A quirky playhouse dresses up what could have been a boring backyard corner. Using color only at the roofline and for window framing keeps the focus on the simple design. To encourage pint-size gardeners, include extras such as a small potting shelf and a few plants and containers. Play Time, Not Work Time A few shrubs soften the landscape outside this traditionally styled playhouse. The simpler the materials and finishes, the easier the upkeep; here, a layer of mulch around the bushes and building eliminates the need for mowing.6 DIY Treehouses for Your Kids (Plus One That’s Just for You) Rediscover the good old days of playing pirates, super spies, and damsels in distress.

The imagination, motor-skills, and teamwork that’s developed when playing make-believe in a treehouse is really what childhood is all about. Reminisce with your long departed imaginary friends, and show your kids what having a tree-fort is all about — or maybe just build one for yourself. Makendo, a contributor to Instructables, built (and rebuilt) this classic take on a treehouse for his children. His very detailed how-to guide will tell you everything you need to know about constructing a treehouse and what to do to maintain the structure once the trees have grown too much. Ruth and husband Paul built an awesome treehouse for their five children. Making it up as she went along, Ruth’s take on tree fort structure is all about paying attention to and using the surrounding area. Her tutorial on her blog, Family Farm Experience, will show you all the details, down to decorating, how to hang a swing, and building a sandbox. Image Via: Family Farm Experience If you’re feeling over your head on the building side, you may want to try this simplistic version of a tree house.

Kristen Duke shared her family’s backyard treehouse and how she and her husband constructed it. Rather than relying on the support of trees for construction, the Duke’s opted to build around a tree, using rocks and concrete to hold down the structure. Image Via: Kristen Duke Photography Did you lose a tree to disease or storm and now have an ugly stump taking up a corner of your yard? Do what Alli did, and build a treehouse right on top! Hope over to her blog Made with Happy to see her design and the separate tutorials for the frame, floor, roof, and walls. Image Via: Made with Happy 5) Treehouse Fun (Or Exercise?) The Wellness Mama, Katie, knows the importance of her children’s physical development. She invented an amazing treehouse for them to use for fun without realizing they were exercising. The structure is strong enough for adults to play too! Be sure to check out the video of the whole treehouse at the end of her blog. 6) Playhouses are Cool, Too!

Tiny trees or no trees at all in your yard? Your kids can get the same imaginative wonder out of a grounded fort. Vintage Revivals creator Mandi built this adorable outdoor hideaway with her husband, Courtney. Jump over to her blog and see how they designed, built, and decorated the backyard staple. 7) This One’s for You Maybe you remember the simple pleasures of building forts and climbing trees; maybe you never had a clubhouse at all. It doesn’t mean you can’t have one now that you’re grown. Just ask these friends who built a lifesize tree house on an old campground — complete with electricity and two lofted bedrooms — in honor of a late parent. Childhood dreams coming true in adulthood! Image Via: The Lettered Cottage There is so much to think about when deciding whether or not to build a treehouse. Where would it go? How big can it be? Is my tree strong enough? All good questions — all good things to decide. One question you’ll never need to ask, though, is, “Will my kid like it?”