- Treehouses need a sturdy tree with branches that will support a platform. Better yet, combine tree support with sturdy deck posts for safety.
- A simple "house" built on a platform can be double fun, providing play space under the structure and a private clubhouse accessed by a ladder.
- A popular backyard clubhouse style is a living teepee. The supports are formed with bamboo poles or garden stakes. Morning glories, pole beans or other fast-growing climbing vines provide the walls and roof.
- A picnic table or patio set can easily become a temporary clubhouse. Just cover it with a large sheet that falls to the ground on all sides. For more permanent fun, build a framework using PVC pipes or 1x1 stakes, and cover with a custom-made vinyl or cloth "house."
- A used packing crate or appliance box can become a kid's clubhouse with very little effort. Cut doors and windows with a utility knife, decorate the outside with paint or self-adhesive paper and voila! Instant clubhouse.
- Kids don't need much in the way of furnishing to make a clubhouse fun. Sofa cushions provide seating, an old tablecloth becomes a floor and a sturdy cardboard box can be transformed into a table.
