How to Build a Girls Play House

An elaborate construction is not necessary to build a playhouse that will inspire and fuel a little girl's imagination. Plywood sheets can be cut to form an octagon-shaped tower, which you can decorate to suit the personal tastes and interests of the child. A patio umbrella provides an adequate cover and eases the sometimes complicated task of building a roof from scratch.

Things You'll Need

• 4 sheets of 5/8-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• 16 door hinges
• Screws
• Decorative gate hinges
• Patio table umbrella
• Paint

Instructions

1. Cut the plywood sheets into eight wall panels with a circular saw. Each panel needs to measure approximately 2 feet by 5 1/2 feet.

2. Draw a symmetrical window shape approximately 20 inches tall and 12 inches wide onto the center of two wall panels. Carefully cut out the window shape with a circular saw and set aside the removed pieces for later use.

3. Draw a door on one wall panel. The door should begin approximately 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the panel. The dimensions of the door need to be 18 inches wide and 53 inches high to prevent the girl from outgrowing the playhouse too soon. Cut out the door with a circular saw and set aside the removed pieces.

4. Attach 16 door hinges to the wall panels with screws to create an octagon-shaped playhouse. Each edge of a wall panel should have two hinges attached to it near the top and bottom of the panel.

5. Cut the removed window and door pieces in half vertically with a circular saw. Attach these pieces to the window and door opening with decorative gate hinges to create a functional door and window shutters.

6. Place the patio umbrella on top of the playhouse. You may need to cut away part of the umbrella pole with a saw, so that the umbrella rests against the top edge of the playhouse walls.

7. Paint the playhouse with water-based latex paints in your desired colors.

References

• "Backyards for Kids;" Ziba Kashef; 2008