Grandkids Playhouse

Karolyn M
by Karolyn M
Any ideas on decorating/painting this outdoor building? We bought it to use as our grandkids playhouse/club house. Will have to be gender neutral for ages 2 thru 9 I need some suggestions to get the creative juices flowing!!! HELP!!!
  50 answers
  • Karolyn M Karolyn M on Jul 05, 2013
    Were planning to do a lattice panel around the bottom to cover the underneath. Sooo....stenciled shutters? Red door? paint? porch railing? Help!!! I want it to look unique, but not too wild, what do you think????????????????
  • Bluee8491 Bluee8491 on Jul 05, 2013
    NO paint!..add some curtains...lattice,like you say on the porch.and railing ..maybe a window box or two.... I love it!!
  • KrysFL KrysFL on Jul 05, 2013
    I say paint the out a bright happy color like yellow. On the inside I would paint murals on the wall...
  • Lori J Lori J on Jul 05, 2013
    It's barnish--I would paint it red with white trim, add window boxes, maybe some cowboyish elements like horseshoes.
  • Michelle Charles Gagnon Michelle Charles Gagnon on Jul 07, 2013
    I like the natural wood look. i would paint the door red! The kids can make things to hang on the barn...like using cement mix poured into some forms and adding a hook before it drys...they can paint and hang. We have used sand toys and small plastic cake covers...used hot glue on the bottom of the cake covers to write their names...remember the name may be backward if you don't put it down right (mirror effect). If you want a country feel...horseshoes can be formed into letters and names. Tables, chairs and coat hooks can be made from them too...spray paint to color when done and they weather great outdoors when painted.
  • Valerie Valerie on Jul 07, 2013
    I like Lori's suggestion - red with white trim, and window boxes. But, if you want to go for something more conservative, why not paint it white with a red door and red trim? I would definitely put something around the bottom, and I also like the idea of porch railing. Whatever you decide to do with the playhouse, I would add masses of whimsical touches to the garden around it. Toad stools, all sorts of fun things, maybe even flowers planted in brightly colored recycled tyres. Have a look at some of the items featured by Melissa, Empress of Dirt for some imaginative ideas.
  • Rosemary Palmer Rosemary Palmer on Jul 07, 2013
    Leave wood = paint the front door a bright color, orange, yellow or turquoise. Add window boxes. Paint window trim another bright color. Add a cute sign at the top with a nickname for it, let the kids pick that. Maybe let them help with paint color choices.
  • Janice Davis Janice Davis on Jul 07, 2013
    I would like to find plans for this so I can build one in my yard, any suggestions where to find the blueprints?????
  • Carol Gould Carol Gould on Jul 07, 2013
    on the inside walls have each grandchild place their hand prints on the wall easily done. just have them place hands in paint (washable craft paint) and place on the wall, flatten hand and there you go. oh yea date them , so when they grown they'll come back and see their prints.
  • Sandi Saegert Sandi Saegert on Jul 07, 2013
    I would not paint the outside. Leave it natural - add some window boxes and maybe the lattice around the porch. Now it is were mine - this would be my mini hideout/craft room!
  • Barbara Barbara on Jul 07, 2013
    paint outside pink and purple with flower box under windows white rail around the porch with with lattice underpinning
  • Marian L Marian L on Jul 07, 2013
    window boxes, porch railing and painted.
  • Maryanne Brown Maryanne Brown on Jul 07, 2013
    Why don't you ask the grandchildren what they would like? You may not agree, but let them learn to negotiate and compromise! The learning experience could turn out to be something you had not even thought about, but one that will live with your young people much longer than their playhouse. Who knows.....you may even like their choices! And....if the children are old enough, they may even help to do some of the work. When they have a vested interest, they will appreciate your time and effort on their behalf much more than having you just offer what you "think" is right for them.
  • Carol Gould Carol Gould on Jul 07, 2013
    stain it! bright colored flower boxes, shutters and door. different colors but 3 colors you like together
  • Sharon roberts Sharon roberts on Jul 07, 2013
    I have one that has flower boxes in front. I found a big piece of dotted swiss material and made curtains for the windows. I have grapevine wreaths on both doors. When we had our garden show it got the most compliments.
  • Anne Everett-Jones Anne Everett-Jones on Jul 07, 2013
    I would leave it natural, like it is - on the inside cater to your needs but when they come have there interests or an armoire housing things they enjoy.... make it a create get away for all love it..... call it the Gallery where all can display their work. if you don't claim the space and make it your own the spiders etc will move in.... make it a place for memories!
  • Constance Constance on Jul 07, 2013
    Window boxes and lots of boxes of second hand silk flowers so the babies can "plant" what they like and change them out! Another fun thing would be to paint different signs to hang on chains from the porch ceiling using S hooks, like GENERAL STORE, SCHOOLHOUSE, FARMHOUSE, CAFE, etc. That way they could change the signs to match the play mood of the day.
  • Angela G Angela G on Jul 07, 2013
    I would paint all the trim & poles white. The rest of it a Barn Red color. Window boxes of various bright color flowers...think of a box of Crayola crayons.....red, white, yellow, blue, purple etc. The porch and steps a medium gray color to anchor it. Around the bottom a stone fence. The door I would change out to put in a dutch door & paint it red to match the house. I would also add shutters in either a black or a dark green color. Definitely would be kid friendly. Add a wind rooster for the top to give it even more charm. Love the house. I am sure the kids will enjoy it for years to come. Then when they grow up you can change it to a sitting room in Shabby Chic or French Vanilla design. There is so much you can do with this little house. Even a Garden house too. Have fun with it.
  • Tamara Tamara on Jul 07, 2013
    Stain it, seal it, no paint. Add white shutters, little window boxes and cover the planned lattice with little flowers/shrubs/something which won't deteriorate the wood but will add color. And, before adding the lattice, I'd put in a medium gauge, fine holed mesh or chicken wire type barrier to keep critters from taking up residence below.
  • Penny Kozy Penny Kozy on Jul 07, 2013
    paint it a light color or just clear and let kids paint it with hand pronts or foot prints or what ever they desire to make
  • Bonnie Kirschner Bonnie Kirschner on Jul 07, 2013
    It's a barn ... paint it red! That's what I said to my boss when he bought a building similar to this. They didn't paint it red, but "red washed" it ... similar to a white wash except using red paint. Then they dry brushed white paint on all of the trim.
  • Nicole S Nicole S on Jul 07, 2013
    I say ask the kids and let them paint it to make it their own and give them the power to claim it as theres Hand prints in paint foot prints in paint on the steps and their names in finger paints I think would be so cool but thats just me and what I would to for my kids. This could be a family airloom sp? use the front 4x4s for summer growth markers and your grandkids could even pick a spot for their childrens hand prints
  • Wendy M Wendy M on Jul 07, 2013
    I would keep the barn the same color it is (unless you don't mind keeping up with painting it as needed) and add solid shutters in white with the kids adding their hand prints on them.
  • Susan Wallace Susan Wallace on Jul 07, 2013
    Little girls love girly things, so I would paint it white with pink or light colored trim. how about appling a picket fence to the bottom of it with wood flowers popping out. A white railing and some of those fancy corner pieces at the top. some pretty flowered cut out shutters and of course flower boxes. depends on your child's personality though
  • I Play Outside The Box I Play Outside The Box on Jul 07, 2013
    I wouldn't paint this jewel at all...just add a few outside touches and curtains inside and it would be adorable!
  • Ellee Neilands Ellee Neilands on Jul 07, 2013
    how about replacing the door and doing a split door- use 4 1" x 2" strips of wood for mock shutters. Do a contrast paint on the trim. Maybe a tiny rail with pickets?
  • Nanci Burroughs Nanci Burroughs on Jul 07, 2013
    I would paint it half blue and half green, then add a painted picket fence around the lower half (over green grass) and add painted flowers and animals. Paint front around door with chalkboard paint so kids can leave messages for each other. Put child size chairs on front porch
  • I Play Outside The Box I Play Outside The Box on Jul 07, 2013
    I would paint a barn quilt to add to it above the door on the overhang.
  • Andrea Blackmer Andrea Blackmer on Jul 07, 2013
    leave it natural and paint the trim white and the door red. i'd put shutters or barn door shutters on there. yellow window boxes, a porch railing and put kid sized rocking chairs on it with a little side table,a wreath on the door, cute curtains made of drop cloth so that they are durable. a cute white kid sized wrought iron patio set would be cute for tea parties. plant flowers around the patio. i seen somewhere for plans for hinged table and chairs so that when not in use they could be folded up like a murphy bed everything latched up on the wall so when not in use there was plenty of floor space.
  • Geo196037 Geo196037 on Jul 07, 2013
    I would leave it natural color , Maybe put them a small mailbox out fron of it so different times they can leave mail and receive it. Put couple chairs on porch ,Have their handprints with paint and a year and each year after for them to look back on sunflowers growing around it and maybe bamboo t pee with beans and sunflowers growing on it . I have done this for my grandchildren and they loved it . We have treehouse but nothing like this playhouse but they love it and all that matters
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Jul 07, 2013
    Not that I suggesting green is your only answer but I thought that I'd share what I did to our grand daughters playhouse for an idea. I got my color idea and two tone designs from an issue of County Gardens Magazine. The have a garden building/tool shed in almost every issue. I liked that I could see an actual building completed before I committed to buying my paint. That worked well for me. I sent several views as the two green tones are a bit difficult to see in the sunlight.
  • Loretta C Loretta C on Jul 07, 2013
    seal the wood, put up railing on porch, add shutters, window boxes and a flag holder with an American flag.
  • Mar196052 Mar196052 on Jul 07, 2013
    Definitely paint this little house to match your real house. Looks fabulous!!!
  • Mary Poe Mary Poe on Jul 07, 2013
    I would paint it light grey with darker grey trim. Leaving it natural is good for a year or two but then it starts looking pretty cruddy unless you seal it every couple of years. I have had two buildings like that. One in direct sun and one in the shade and they both got black looking stain that had to be bleached and power washed every 2 years. If I ever have another one it will be painted with a good quality house paint!!
  • Catherine Baca Catherine Baca on Jul 07, 2013
    I don't know if the kids are boys/girls or both but if they like trains, this looks like a caboose to me. Painting it barn-red and decorate it with wooden wheel cut-outs on the sides, put some railing on the porch, etc. It could be so fun. Let us know what you decide!!! ;D
  • Jutta Wenz Jutta Wenz on Jul 07, 2013
    Just paint it like the "Villa Kunterbunt", the home of Pippi Longstocking http://www.stube.at/buchtipps/img/lindgren_07.jpg
  • Paula M Paula M on Jul 07, 2013
    Paint the house white, add little touches of wooden decor in edges of windows and other corners. And paint all the trims in pink. It would look like a sweet little victorian playhouse.
  • Dana Corby Dana Corby on Jul 07, 2013
    I would make it match the main house on the outside and put all the bright colors & fantasy art on the inside. The kids aren't going to be kids for long, and if it matches the house it will still look nice after they're gown, at which point you take it over for storage or as a potting shed.
  • Pamela Brandvold Pamela Brandvold on Jul 07, 2013
    Sea green if it does not clash with a main house or building. Add shutters, window boxes, etc. in perhaps in a red that enhances the sea green and warm white around windows and doors.
  • Irish53 Irish53 on Jul 07, 2013
    Yes I also would paint to match the main house. Their foot prints on the front porch leading the way to the front door. Working shutters to close the house to unwanted visitors. Window boxes to plant flowers for Mother's Day. Maybe ever some vegetables. Then lots of bright colors on the inside.
  • Karolyn M Karolyn M on Jul 07, 2013
    Thanks for all the suggestions. My project was featured as the question of the day with over 1000 likes and 370 comments so far. I've read each and every comment. Some of your ideas match mine exactly and have also found some new ideas I never would have thought of. THANKS!!!!
  • MIMI WHITE MIMI WHITE on Jul 08, 2013
    Paint it with your grandkids favorite color. Put some cool shelving inside and make the inside looks like a home, a fun place to be. Have hanging plants on each end, and window boxes and have your grandkids pick the flowers to plant. I would also have shutters by the windows, hang some cool curtains. The front porch need some railings and banister on the stairs. I would paint a welcome mat on the floor with flowers, bees, birds and butterfly and also paint the front door with bright color.
  • Whatever the result - they will always remember that their Grandma made this very special place just for them! Awesome! :-)
  • Sandy Moore Sandy Moore on Jul 08, 2013
    For my grand-children I would paint it white and then paint a carnival theme all around for a playhouse. For me as a garden house I would paint it white and then paint a flower garden all around with a blue sunny sky to help the flowers grow, and add my grandchildren playing in the flowers.
  • Marlene Olson Marlene Olson on Jul 08, 2013
    I would turn it into a "Western Town" themed building. Bandana print for curtains, stenciled horseshoes or cattle brands on the siding. A set of steer horns above the porch would be cute.
  • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Jul 08, 2013
    Where did you get it? Does it come unassembled? My 4 yr old has been asking for a clubhouse. I've been looking on Craigslist, but no luck so far. My older kids, who are now teenagers, had a plastic playskool house. But now that we live in FL, I think it would be too hot.
  • Dee Dee Dee Dee on Jul 08, 2013
    Barn red with white shutters and trim.
  • Patricia Brining Patricia Brining on Jul 10, 2013
    I would paint it white and do window boxes with flowers! I would put screens on all the windows outside so it would be cool. Do some chairs out front =little rockers . It looks like you can put a ladder up inside over the front door with a cushion for a reading napping space=make sure you put a window with a screen up there that opens for air! Inside do washable paint! Set down with the kids and get their ideas of designs and colors ! Have fun they grow up so fast!
  • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Jul 12, 2013
    Where can I get a non-plastic playhouse/ fort? Does anyone know?
  • Cindi Lakes Cindi Lakes on Jul 12, 2013
    I agree with what Marlene OlsonHayward, WII would turn it into a "Western Town" themed building. Bandana print for curtains, stenciled horseshoes or cattle brands on the siding. A set of steer horns above the porch would be cute.said Cowboy/girl dress up clothes, in side with a big rocking horse or stick ponies for everyone, you could paint the inside barn red, put a faux skin rug in a corner with some pillows made from old ones just covered with bandannas,some themed books in a bandanna lined basket for a cozy reading corner, and a small table to serve up some rootin tootin root beers!!