How to Build a Play House Out of a Large Box

Buying a playhouse for your kids can cost as much as a mortgage payment on your real house. A better way to create a pretend domicile for your children is to use a large cardboard box to make your own. Not only is the financial expense very low, but the project will allow you some construction bonding time together with your kids. You can make a pirate ship, castle, dress shop, animal hospital or even a haunted house for Halloween time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Utility knife
• Duct Tape
• Non-toxic, washable paints

How to Build a Playhouse out of a Large Box

1. Place the box on a hard surface like pavement. Set it on one end with the flaps bent out. Using the utility knife, cut the four flaps (used to close the box) off the end of the box. Flip the box over and cut only two flaps off. Keep two flaps across from each other attached to the box.

2. Construct the roof. Take two of the flaps that you cut off the end and attach them, with duct tape, to the end of the flaps still attached to the box. Doing so will make the attached flaps longer. Now you can bend the flaps up and connect them at the top to make a slanted roof.

3. Cut three slices in one side of the cardboard. Leave the hinged edge attached. It should bend in and out to create a door. If you wish, you can cut the door all the way out and just have an opening. Provide windows for the house by cutting small squares out of the side of the box.

Tips & Warnings

• If desired, decorate your house with pictures or paintings. For a more polished look, glue fabric to the outside of the house. The same methods can be used with a smaller box to make a doll house.
• Keep the knife away from the child at all times

References

• Cardboard Playhouse Plans and Instructions