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KIDS PLAYHOUSE RENOVATION: Tutorial

DIY: How I built, painted, and decorated my kids playhouse. Plus, all the things I learned along the way.





To say I was excited to tackle this playhouse renovation is an understatement! It took about two hours to assemble (with my husband)...then sat for two years screaming to be painted and decorated. Life is so busy with little ones, but I finally scooted it up the priority list and began my research and reno. I wanted to make sure I knew exactly what color scheme I was going with, then the best type of paint to use, and finally all the accessories to add (without it looking cluttered but still being interactive).


I still have so many ideas and can't wait to change it up each season. Follow along below to see my tips, tricks, and products used to help your playhouse dreams come true! Visit my instagram (@HomewithLP) for more fun DIY projects.




Step#1 - Picking out the paint color- to match or not to match? (Estimated time: 1hr)


Do you match the exterior of your house or not? Well, we have a brickhouse- I thought about adding faux sheet brick siding, but I knew the particle board wouldn't last without warping and brick veneer just seemed like too much of a hassle. Ultimately, I went with white for the siding, dark grey for the roof and door, and gold accessories/hardware. I was skeptical with the white getting dirty, but with the type of paint I chose (more on that below) I knew it wouldn't fade, and I could always hose it off. There's no right or wrong here- just have fun!


Things I learned:

  • I truly believe it's important to have a plan before you start painting. It will save you time, money, and headaches later.

  • Any color paint most certainly will get dirty if your house is exposed to the elements. During the middle of the playhouse reno, it rained for a week straight. I didn't have the turf down so mud splattered all over the bottom. I hosed off the areas that got dirty, used a little scrub brush and soap, and followed up with more water, and it came right off. Took me less than 10 minutes.

  • Build a base for your house to sit on or use turf/outdoor decking tiles to keep it cleaner, if that's important to you :)



Step #2 - Prep and paint like a pro (Estimated time: 2.5 hrs)


Since our house was already assembled- I made sure to prep the siding by sweeping off cobwebs, dirt, etc. I used a broom for the big parts and a dry paint brush for tiny crevices- you could also use a leaf blower! If you use a hose to rinse it off- make sure to give the house plenty of time to dry before applying paint. I put the house on a tarp to keep the patio paint-free.




After the house was prepped. I unscrewed all the accessories I wanted to spray paint and set them aside to paint later on. (i.e. sink, stove, window panes, planter boxes)


Since our playhouse is cedar, I found outdoor deck paint to be the best option. This will last longer than standard outdoor paint or spray paint. I bought a gallon for each color but only used 1/3 of the bucket.


It took me two hours to paint the exterior! I started with the white paint on the sides, then used painters tape and tapped off the areas that I didn't want the gray to touch. I applied two coats of paint (the second coat went on much faster than the first), and I could've done a third but opted to do touch ups instead. I decided not to paint the inside because I liked the exposed cedar.



Things I learned:

  • If your playhouse isn't assembled yet- I suggest painting all your pieces first; especially if you want the interior painted.

  • If you have a plastic playhouse, outdoor spray paint will be your best option- make sure you get spray paint specifically for plastic/metal/wood and use a primer first.

  • I spray painted all the accessories in a box (pic above). It made it easier for me to move them in and out of the garage at night, away from the kids, etc. You would be surprised how often I moved this box!

  • It was so nice to get some sun and listen to good music while the boys were gone- I hope you enjoy this part as much as I did.


House Paint

House: BEHR House & Fence, Wood Stain (SOLID COLOR)

Siding color: Pinto white

Roof/Door color: Slate

Plastic/Metal accessories: Shiny gold wood/metal/plastic spray paint & clear topcoat primer/sealer


Step #3 - Accessorizing


When it came time to accessorize, I had SO many ideas! I decided to start with the basics and then I'll add/subtract as the seasons change. I made a little broom closet in our kitchen into an "office" for my oldest when he was younger. I added a door bell and puck lights to keep him busy while I cooked/cleaned. He and my youngest love it so much, these were two features I knew had to be on their playhouse. Below you will find more information on the accessories I chose.


Doorbell: I spray painted the doorbell gold to match the rest of the accessories. I put painters tap over the button before I spray painted it and then removed it once dry. I attached the "chime box" on the inside of the house. The boys love that it really works!

Light above door: I wanted a "working" light so I spray painted a little light I found at home depot and added a puck light the boys could push on/off. I used two long screws to attach it. I am posting the puck light tutorial soon; I use it inside my house too.

Flag: I used a mailbox flag holder, spray painted it white and stuck it straight to the house- used a flag we already had. I plan on changing the flag out too.

Turf: I wanted to keep the house looking fresh and staying clean, so I found turf to help. There are a lot of other options for flooring: make a wooden deck, use foam mats or squares, mulch, slabs of stone, pea gravel, or use your existing floor.

Planters: Over the summer, I put fresh flowers in the pots and the boys loved (over)watering them. I have faux greenery from my basement pictured. I spray painted the planters black to match the window panes but I eventually want to build wooden planter boxes.

Sink/stove: I used shiny gold spray paint to give these accessories some pizazz.

Dinner bell: My mom (who gave us the house) gifted us the bell with it. I spray painted it gold to match the other accessories.

Door number: I bought a wood number from Michael's and spray painted it gold- I used 3m to attach it in case I want to remove it and add a wreath or something. You can also buy house numbers from amazon or any hardware store.

Garland/trellis: It took me a while to figure out a method for attaching the garland on the sides of the house. I am going to do a separate tutorial on this on my Instagram @homewithLP soon. Please message me with questions :)


Links to house and accessories:


House:

Doorbell:

Light:

Flag holder:

Turf:

Garland:


Tip #5 - Have fun!


This project certainly took me A LOT of time but (as cheesy as it sounds) the smiles on my kid's faces when it was all done made it worth it. I've already started decorating for fall/Halloween.


Follow me on Instagram: @homewithLP for DIY projects and more!





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