How to Make an Indoor Club House

While there are materials that can be used to build an indoor clubhouse, this article will explain how to make a child's clubhouse using an appliance box as the foundation for an inexspensive, yet attractive accessory any child would love.

Things You'll Need

• A large appliance box (refrigerator box or stackable washer/dryer box)
• Paint
• Pencil
• Box cutter
• Accessories, such as curtains, pictures or wall hangings, child size furniture etc... (if desired)
• Wallpaper or wallpaper border, if desired

Instructions

1. Visit your local appliance or department store, and ask them if they have an empty appliance box on hand. If they don't have one right at that moment, ask if they would be willing to save one for you. Most stores are happy to give away these boxes, as it saves them the work of tearing them down, as well as the cost of disposing of them.

2. Gather the kids together, and get them to help plan the design of the clubhouse. Where will the windows go? How about the door? What color should the clubhouse be on the outside? How about the inside? Consider painting the box to match your child's room.

3. Use a pencil to draw the outline for the windows and the doors.

4. Cut out the windows and doors using the boxcutter. This step should be done only by an adult.

5. Take the box and the kids outside and start painting. Let them use either brushes or rollers. Teach children how to apply the paint, and show them how to make smooth, up-and-down strokes on the box. Using two coats of paint will help to strengthen the cardboard, ensuring that the clubhouse will stand up to your child's vigorous play.

6. Decorate the inside. Use paint, wallpaper or a combination of the two to create a special clubhouse that your child will love.

7. Take the clubhouse back inside, after the paint has dried. Place it in it's desired location, and put on the finishing touches. Hang curtains in the windows. Arrange pictures on the walls. A pair of child-sized chairs, a small table or knickknack shelf are a few ideas for completing the project.