These creative playhouse concepts range from regal backyard castles to canvas tent cabins that are inspired by outdoor camping gear. While many grew up creating makeshift forts out of blankets and furniture, these play areas often had to be taken down in time for dinner. These creative playhouses range from DIY cardboard clubhouses to modular bed frames -- house-shaped to allow for a canvas roof or curtain canopy -- and are a more permanent solution.
Other examples include opulent castles and treehouses that are made with high quality materials. Though pricey, these particular examples bring fairytales to life and encourage kids to use their imagination while engaging in social play rather than looking at a screen. Other favorites include inflatable forts that can be deflated for easy storage and two-storey playhouses that are inspired by modern architecture.
15 Creative Playhouse Concepts
15
DIY Tent Bedding
This Terrific Teepee Bed Tutorial From Hello Bowser is Appropriate for Toddlers
14
Whimsical Outdoor Playhouses
This Playhouse for Kids Takes the Shape of a Giant Dollhouse
13
Opulent Kids Clubhouses
Lilliput Play Homes Puts a $20,000 Price Tag on Fun
12
Playful Geometric Domes
This DIY Cardboard Playhouse Provides Inexpensive Playtime for Children
11
Camp-Themed Playhouses
This Canvas Tent Doubles as an Outdoorsy Home Accessory for Kids
10
Futuristic Robot Treehouses
NASA Scientist Jim Martin Creates Elaborate Playhouse for His Children
9
Crafty Kid Campers
This DIY Cardboard Camper Playhouse Allows Children to Act Like Adults
8
Modular Nursery Furniture
This Multifunctional Furniture is Designed to Grow with Children
7
Inflatable Kids Forts
This Fort is Easy to Blow-Up, Machine Washable and Modular for Creativity
6
Shire-Inspired Playhouses
Etsy's Hobbit Holes Shop Creates Lodgings fit for Frodo
5
Whimsical Cardboard Forts
Kinfolk Magazine Had Kids Dream Up the Ultimate Cardboard Playhouse
4
Regal Backyard Castles
This Castle Playhouse is Ideal for Pampering Little Kings and Queens to Be
3
Two-Storey Playhouses
The SmartPlayhouse Kyoto Maxi is a Home Away From Home for Children
2
Whimsical Indoor Tents
The Naif Wonder Tent from Etsy's SGH Store Embraces Imagination
1
Monogrammed Playhouse Tents
Etsy's Tip Top Teepee Shop Creates Personalized Designs for Kids
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Solar Energy-Capturing Tents
The Jackery LightTent-AIR Has its Own Eco Energy System
Yacht-Inspired Camping Trailers
This Modern Travel Trailer Concept by Maria Prokosheva is Sleek
Balcony-Accented Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Bivouac' Tiny House is Well-Equipped
Balcony-Topped Tiny Houses
This Spacious Tiny Home Boasts a Guest Bedroom and a Cozy Balcony
Rustic Two-Level Tiny Homes
The 'Rodanthe' Tiny House from Modern Tiny Living is Family-Friendly
Tiny Home Kits
The Home Depot Getaway Pad Provides Extra Space Outside the Home
Japanese-Inspired Portable Tiny Homes
Baluchon Designs the Portable Bonzai Tiny Home
All-Pink Life-Size Dollhouses
Airbnb Listed the Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse for Barbie Movie
Fastidious Four-Season Tents
This Rapid-Pitching Tent Offers Consummate All-Weather Protection
Couple-Only Tiny Homes
Uncharted Tiny Homes The Limited Tiny House is Small But Mighty
Deck-Topped Tiny Homes
This Towable Tiny House Has a Rooftop Deck & Novel Bedroom Access
Rooftop Patio Tiny Homes
The Ticab House Tiny House N 2 Makes Use of All Available Space
Angular Artistic Tiny Homes
The Ibiza Tiny House Captures Mediterranean Style for Comfy Living
Diminutive Permanent Dwellings
This Unique Tiny Home is Designed For Year-Round Occupation
Inflatable Geodesic Adventure Tents
The Aerogogo Aerotent Series is Ready to Use in Minutes
Configurable Nomadic Tiny Houses
The 'PICNIC' House by Mauro Polondak Opens From All Sides
Comfort-Focused Luxury Dome Tents
The Spherescape Tent is Described as "An Innovative Masterpiece"
Expansive Dual-Loft Tiny Homes
This Design from MitchCraft Tiny Homes is Spaciously Designed
Generously Glazed Tiny Homes
This Vacation House Has An Ingenious Interior Layout
Multifunctional Tiny Cabin Designs
The Western Colorado Tiny House is Off-Grid-Ready
Pink-Hued Shipping Container Homes
These Pink Shipping Container Homes by Ishita Ganguly are Chic
Modern Multilevel Tiny Homes
The 'Castle Peak' Tiny Home Boasts a Lofted Living Room
Open-Concept Tiny Homes
The Aussie Tiny Houses Mooloolaba 8.4 Has Ample Storage Space
3D-Printed House Neighborhoods
EYRC and Mighty Buildings Develop the Suburbs of the Future
Compactly Cubical Camping Shelters
The 'Maverick' Offers Durable Dwelling Both On & Off the Grid
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Cube-Combining Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny Home Uses Modular Spaces to Enable Flexible Use
Elegant Treehouse Designs
Studio MEMM Has Developed a Beautiful Treehouse in Brazil
Displaced Persons House Designs
The Essential Homes Research Project Has a Bunker-Like Form
Luxuriously Artistic Homes
Child Studio Taps Mid-Sentury Modern Sensibilities & Art Deco Motifs
Inclusively Designed Treehouses
The Artistree House Has a Wheelchair-Accessible Main Floor
Durable Adventure-Ready Tents
The Space Acadia Brings the Comfort of Indoors to Outdoor Nature
Feline-Friendly Tiny Homes
This Luxurious Tiny Home Boasts a Number Of Cat-Centric Features
Luxury Spacious Towable Homes
MitchCraft Tiny Homes Designs the New Portable Lisa Tiny Home
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
DIY Pretzel Cabins
Snyder's Pretzel Cabins Put a Salty Spin on Gingerbread Houses
Flexible Plywood-Made Pet Houses
The TUTO Pet House by Serhii Hotvianskyi is Modern Yet Functional
Cedar Finished Portable Houses
Baluchon Designs the Chicorée on a Double-Axle Trailer
Modular Sexual Furniture Designs
Domhnall Nolan Designs the Play Pieces Capsule for Joyride
Glamorous Camping Experiences
Volodymyr Hahonin Designs the LULU Glamping Experience
Family-Friendly Camping Van Tents
The CloudCap Camper Van Rooftop Tent Offers Space for Two
Film-Inspired Whimsical Rental Homes
Airbnb Adds the Latest Addition to its Icons Program
Eco-Minded Modular Cabins
The DUB Modular Cabin Has a Cost-Effective Construction
Family-Friendly Concept Campers
The 'Habiton 2' Offers Comfort In Both Cities & the Great Outdoors
Secluded Polish Cabin Designs
The Boroteka Cabin from the Zarysy Studio is Enchanting
Furniture Waste-Made Toys
ÉCAL Students Redefine What a Sustainable Toy Is
Smart Glass-Topped Lookouts
These Picturesque Cabins Offer Stunning Views Of the Sky
Outdoor Entertaining Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes True North Retreat Has a Barbecue Area
Modern Compact A-Frame Houses
Linda Cedar Homes Boast Easy-to-Build and Affordable A-Frame Houses
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
Self-Assembling Rooftop Tents
The Cinch 'Air Cruiser' Has a Lightweight, Inflatable Design
Oversized Mobile Outdoor Gazebos
The Coleman Gazebo Event Shelter Offers Ample Covered Space
Family-Friendly Suspended Tents
The Tentsile Stingray Has Enough Space for Three Adults
Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts
i29 Creates the Câpsula Concept for Dutch Design Week
Tranquil Nature-Centric Cabin Designs
MAFCOhouse Designs the Cozy Nortehaus Retreat in Canada
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
High-End Cottage-Like Tiny Homes
The 'Burrow' Tiny House from Rewild Homes is Family-Friendly
Versatile Interior Compact Homes
The Elevate Tiny Home Transforms the Interiors with a Button
Sleek Utilitarian Tents
Snow Peak's Ivory Tent & Tarp Collection Offers a Minimalist Aesthetic
Consolidated Camping Shelters
The 'Space Acacia' System is Hyper-Durable and Waterproof
Wood-Filled Familial Tiny Homes
The Modern Tiny Living 'Ojai' Tiny House Has Space for Four
Building Block Tiny Houses
The LEGO Tiny House Was Designed by MOCbuilder on LEGO IDEAS
Fairytale-Inspired Bed Designs
The Circu Mr. Bunny Bed Shows Off a Playful Form and Function
Countryside-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Acorn Tiny Homes English Country House is Rustically Finished
Abstract Fantasy Home Exhibitions
Fort Makers Invite Six Creatives to Design Their Dream Home
Modular Cat Trees
The PETLIBRO INFINITY Cat Tree Supports Comfort, Relaxation & Play
Customizable Backyard Tiny Homes
My Little House 'Reatreat' is 13-Feet in Length
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Mockup-Inspired Garden Structures
New Affiliates & Samuel Stewart-Halevy Create Testbeds
Incredibly Modern Lakeside Houses
Stephenson Design Collective Converts an Old Boy Scout Camp
Geometric Structural Forest Homes
The C House by GetAway Projects has a Half-Hexagonal Shape
Modular Flat-Pack Cabins
Caspar Schols' Cabin Anna is Versatile and Cost-Affective
Plant-Covered Concrete Homes
Studio Symbiosis Designs the Villa KD45 in Delhi with a Terraced Roof
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Circus Tent-Inspired Holiday Homes
Cubo Design Architect Designs the Circus Home in Japan
Minimal Portable Tiny Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Unveils the Paddock Paradise Small Home
Contemporary Backyard Pavilions
AMDLD Circle Designs the Cosmo Pavilion for Ethimo
Bauhaus-Inspired Mobile Doghouses
Conran and Partners Design the New Bowowhaus Doghouse
Summertime Getaway Treehouses
The Columba Treehouse is a Family-Friendly Cabin in Portugal
Stunningly Whimsical Playgrounds
XISUI Design Draws Inspiration from Natural Forms Such as Caves
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Socializing-Centric Tiny Dwellings
The 'Buttercup' Tiny Home Lets You Have Guests Over
Playful-Focused Polish Homes
Znamy się Designs a New Home in Poland Inspired by Wooden Blocks
Shade-providing Forest Pavilions
DRAA Designs the Patagonian Shadow Cabin with Modern Accents
Glowing Tree-Surrounded Sheds
The 'Nightlight' Shed Glows After Dark for a Luminous Appearance
Sci Fi-Themed Glamping Retreats
The 'Outpost X' Retreats Boast An Ancient Yet Futuristic Aesthetic
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Fairy Tale-Inspired Puzzle Sets
LEGO Creates Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage
Modular Camping Furniture
'Owomo' Created a Line of Build-Your-Own Camping Panels
Nature-Inspired Indoor Playgrounds
Sarit Shani Hay Designs a New Playground in Tel Aviv
Fantastical Backyard Rental Homes
This Backyard Guest Home Has a Glasshouse Dining Room
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Cozy Cabin 3-Dimensional Puzzles
The A-Frame Cabin LEGO Set is in Works and is Set to Launch Soon
Farm-Inspired Guest Houses
Kaja Kühl Designs Two Guest Houses in Upstate New York
Captivating Modern Prefab Cabins
Lloyoll Prefabs Creates the SKALI BackCountry Cubiod
3D Toy Puzzle Castles
LEGO Creates the Disney Castle Kit to Celebrate its 100th Anniversary
Kid-Friendly Modular Sofas
The Figgy Play Couch is Launching in Durable, Family-Friendly Materials
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Discarded Toys-Created Homes
Wallmakers Designs the Toy Storey Home with Repurposed Toys
Solar Powered Luxe Treehouses
Fort Treehouse Co. Designs the Baltic Treehouse in Canada
Multipurpose Camping Shelters
The 'Nomad Cape' Serves As a Hammock, Groundsheet, Poncho & Shelter
Doll-Inspired Bedrooms
Inspired by the Barbie Movie, Emma Created a Bedroom for Ken
Economical Modular Wooden Homes
The Cake House Reinvents Housing in the Czech Republic
Contemporary Wooden Blue Cabins
Markéta Cajthamlová Designs the Wooden Cabin in the Mountains
Sandbox-Like Modular Storage Cabinets
Roee Magdassi Channels Childhood Whimsy for Poventura
Spacious Rooftop Personal Tents
Cinch and Wildland Designs the Off-Roader Air Cruiser
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
Repurposed Wooden Shoreside Homes
H2 Designs the Tree House by the Lake in Vietnam
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Contemporary A-Frame Cabins
Heliotrope Architects Creates the Buoy Bat A-Frame Cabin
Play-Inspiring Workshops
LEGO is Sharing a Free Workshop Series Featuring Renowned Creatives
Dream-Inspired Building Toys
Lego Dreamzzz Encourages Kids to Build with Their Imagination
DIY Project Metaverses
The Home Depot's Campaign on Roblox Inspires Kids to Build
Multifunctional Building Planks
'KEVA Planks' are Diverse Building Toys for All Ages
Living Plant DIY Chairs
Front/ Highlights Themes of Nature with the Green Hideaway Chair
Medieval-Themed Towable Micro Homes
Acorn Tiny Homes Designs the Purple Heart Manor
Elevated Treetop Modern Cabins
NAMO Architecture & i29 Architects Create the Buitenverblijf Nest
Community Hub Timber Pavilions
The Craft Not Carbon Pavilion Raises in London's Park
Desert-Inspired Campground Hotels
BIG and ICON Join Forces to Develop the El Cosmico Project
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Hidden Garden Timber Pavilions
Tikari Works Designs A Room Around a Tree in London
Wooden Structural Outdoor Bedes
Marco Lavit Designs the Hut Lounge Bed for Ethimo
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
Reversible Mid-High Bed Concepts
PUPUPULA Presents the Evolutional Big Eyes Bed Concept Design
Collapsible Outdoor Furniture Pieces
The Oru Camp Origami Outdoor Furniture is Efficient
Modular Tent Classroom Designs
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs a Series of Classrooms for Refugees
Eco-Friendly Miniature Homes
Berghaus' Dufour House is a Tiny Sustainable Home
Billboard-Transformed Tent Shelters
Wunderman Thompson Morocco Creates the Life-Saving Outdoors
Gabled Cedar Paneling Homes
Robert Gurney Architect Designs the Cotton Patch Hills House
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Generational-Lasting Dynamic Playgrounds
Mike Hewson Designs a New Public Playground with Boulders
Lantern-Like Tea House Pavilions
Grau Architects Designs the Tea House Pavilion by the Lake
Reconfiguring Dutch-Based Cabin Designs
Caspar Schols Created the New Modular Cabin Anna
Rustic Contemporary Bunkhouses
SHED Architecture & Design Unveil the Guemes Island Bunkhouse
Sleek Timber-Constructed Sheds
Fabric Designs the Nightlight Shed in Akaroa, New Zealand
Lantern-Topped Sleek Workshops
Cabinet Designs the Gardeners House in a Park in Geneva
Geometric Red-Brick Suburban Homes
OFIS Arhitekti Designs the Frame House in Ljubljana
Weatherized Visual Wooden Homes
Denizen Works Creates the Hundred Acre Wood House in Scotland