Turn a Shed Into An Epic Outdoor DIY Playhouse

Playgrounds are great and all, but can your kids play on them in the rain? How about in the snow? Can they camp out overnight in a playground? For endless fun no matter the weather or time of day, look no further than your outdoor shed. Here’s how to turn your shed into an epic outdoor DIY playhouse that can be used 24/7, 365 days a year!

Identify potential hazards and make repairs
Most items stored in a shed aren’t kid-friendly, and of course those are the first things they’ll find. This is why it’s important to go through your shed with a fine tooth comb in search of runaway nails, chemical residue from spills, and anything else they could get hurt on before converting it into an outdoor playhouse. Even if your kids are responsible enough to bring potential dangers to your attention, their visiting friends may not be so careful.

Some things to keep an eye out for:

Splinters
Rotting floor boards
Nails and screws
Bee and wasp nests on the shed exterior
Rat poison
Rope lying around or hanging from ceiling
Snail poison
Slug pellets
Antifreeze, gas, and paint spills
Small sharp tools hiding behind furniture
Old extension cords or outlets

Clean up and give your shed a coat of paint

Now you can bring your little helpers in. Encourage your kids to dust window sills, sweep, and mop the floors. Even if their “help” ends up slowing down the process, it’ll be worth it. They’ll appreciate their outdoor playhouse even more if they’ve had a hand in creating it!

If you plan on painting your DIY playhouse, of course it may be better to take back over for this part depending on their age. Thoroughly clean, sand, and use a primer before rolling, brushing or spraying your shed with paint.

Or, if you’re working with one of our Maine-made sheds or camps with beautiful pine siding, you may not want to cover it up with paint!

Give it a theme

Has your kid been obsessed with dinosaurs for… way too long? Perhaps their interests shift so quickly it’s hard to keep track. Either way, giving your outdoor DIY playhouse a theme doesn’t have to be hard and can be switched up lickety-split.

Some ideas to inspire your outdoor playhouse theme:

Dress up room with a mirror and a catwalk
Garage playhouse for your car enthusiast
Grocery store with lots of play food
Teddy bear hospital/doctor’s office
Legoland (no more stepping on Leggos in the house)
Playhouse theater
An indoor construction site with a sandbox for rainy days
Zoo with cages for their stuffed animals
Play restaurant (maybe you can train them to take over dinner)
Castle for a prince or princess
Play dough ice cream shop
Art studio to contain messy paints and crayons
Cinema with TV or projector – perfect for sleepovers

Their new outdoor playhouse may be a castle one day, and a grocery store the next. No need to go overboard designing a theme. With a little imagination, you may be surprised by what they come up with!