1. Build a raised tree deck<\/h3> ![\"Looking](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/5988771979_c675f0ec08_h-1024x687.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Nicolas Boullosa<\/a> \/ CC CC BY 2.0<\/span><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> You don\u2019t need to construct a majestic palace in the trees to enjoy the fun of a great treehouse. When it comes to DIY treehouses, a tree deck can be the easiest option.<\/p>
This tree deck idea will get you up off the ground and change your perspective without any walls or roofs blocking the view. You won\u2019t even mind if you can\u2019t see the forest through the trees.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $200, medium $2,000, high $8,000<\/p> 2. Pick a treehouse theme (castle? pirate ship?)<\/h3> ![\"Castle](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/rsz_1rsz_treehouse-castle-shutterstock.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> You might like the idea of a simple treehouse, but why not add some thematic flavor? Try creating a castle in the sky or a treetop pirate ship. Or maybe a mid-century modern or rustic treehouse theme would be better suited for your backyard.<\/p>
Once you\u2019ve picked a theme, get creative and go to town decorating your treehouse to match. Bonus points for nailing the smallest of details. (Maybe you\u2019d rather not give your children an option of walking the plank.)<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $800, medium $20,000, high: $60,000<\/p> 3. Install swings and slides<\/h3> ![\"Children's](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/playground-slide-children-s-playground-game-device-slip-kletterhaus-leisure-wood-adventure-playground.jpg\")
Photo credit: Pikist<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> While a treehouse for your kids is fun on its own, your younger guests will appreciate a little something extra. Hanging a swing or two invites more fun closer to ground level. Adding a slide turns your treehouse into a playhouse.<\/p>
Even the grown-ups will enjoy watching their kids having fun on their tree fort playset.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $90, medium $450, high $1,000<\/p> 4. Climb to your treehouse<\/h3> ![\"Child](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/climb-climbing-wall-boy-climber-628x1024.jpg\")
Photo credit: Pxfuel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Sometimes in life, the journey to the top can be as enjoyable as time spent at the peak. The same is true for treehouses. By adding a climbing wall or a rope ladder, the fun of a treehouse starts as soon as you leave the ground.<\/p>
Even a tiny treehouse using an A-frame design becomes a next-level play space. And your children get some exercise climbing to their treehouse.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $40, medium $350, high $900<\/p> 5. Add a unique door to your treehouse<\/h3> ![\"Ladder](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/512px-Mesa_Verde_National_Park_Spruce_Tree_House_Kiva_Interior_2_2006_09_12.jpg\")
Photo credit: Andreas F. Borchert<\/a> \/ CC by SA 3.0 DE<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Treehouses can sometimes feel like another world, so why not give yours an otherworldly door for an entrance? There are all kinds of fun door options like the classic trapdoor, the hip barn door, or the swinging saloon door.<\/p>
The little ones might enjoy a smaller or secret door for the kids’ room in larger treehouses.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $15, medium $100, high $350<\/p> 6. Take a fire pole or zipline to the ground<\/h3> ![\"Colorful](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/rsz_1rsz_1treehouse-firepole-shutterstock-682x1024.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Everyone knows that what goes up, must come down. With treehouses, a little creativity can make the going down part fun, too.<\/p>
Adding a fireman\u2019s pole or zipline makes getting from the treehouse to solid ground both an easy task and a thrilling ride. (Check your homeowner\u2019s insurance before installing this option, though.)<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $70, medium $180, high $700<\/p> 7. Install windows to let in natural light<\/h3> ![\"Treehouse](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/windows-nature-architecture-small-house.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Piqsel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In some cases, the enclosed nature of a treehouse hideaway is part of the draw. For other treehouses, soaking in the treetop views is half the fun.<\/p>
If yours is the latter, add windows that let you see beyond your own backyard. It doesn\u2019t hurt that the windows will let in some natural light as well.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $30, medium $90, high $250<\/p> 8. Shine lights on your treehouse<\/h3> ![\"Child's](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/child-playhouse-fun-night.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxfuel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Speaking of light, you\u2019ll need it if your treehouse will be hosting visitors after sundown.<\/p>
Wiring a treehouse for electricity might add another level of difficulty, but it will pay off during your evenings in the trees. If that doesn\u2019t work, you can always try an extension cord and string lights.<\/p>
If your house is busy with children, a treehouse with lights can be a quiet space to study or do homework.<\/p>
Cost: Low $20, medium $80, high $300<\/p>
9. Make your treehouse comfortable<\/h3> ![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pillows-decor.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Whether day or night, you\u2019ll want a comfortable place to sit when you\u2019re high up in your own treehouse. For those that aren\u2019t ready to vault a couch up into the trees, cushions, bean bags, or giant pillows are great alternatives for a comfy getaway.<\/p>
The right color palette will make it feel like a modern treehouse out of a magazine.<\/p>
Cost: Low $20, medium $100, high $400 (per pillow or bean bag chair)<\/p>
10. Go for a grander, multi-level treehouse<\/h3> ![\"Large](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Canopy_Cathedral_treehouse.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sydchrismom<\/a> \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure> For some, simply getting off the ground isn\u2019t high enough. One popular (albeit advanced) solution is to design a multi-level treehouse with varying heights.<\/p>
You might try a landing at a lower level on the way up to the main treehouse, a crow\u2019s nest or observation deck at the top, or a two-story treehouse for the vertically ambitious.<\/p>
Pro tip:<\/strong> You might need an architect\u2019s help to make this multi-floor dream treehouse a reality.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $1,000, medium $20,000, high $100,000<\/p> 11. Create a bridge between treehouses<\/h3> ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/bridge.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Treehouse near Cemmaes, Great Britain<\/a> \/ Derek Harper \/ CC SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> What\u2019s better than a treehouse in your backyard? Two treehouses in your backyard, connected by a bridge.<\/p>
Whether you choose a sturdy raised walkway or the more hair-raising rope bridge, simply walking from one treehouse to the other becomes an adventure when there\u2019s a bridge involved.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $200, medium $450, high $2,000<\/p> 12. Deliver lunch via a bucket-and-pulley dumbwaiter<\/h3> ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pulley-2655777_1280-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaperflare<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Once you’re up in the trees, you\u2019ll want to get your things up there, too. Depending on your method of getting up to your treehouse, that might prove to be cumbersome.<\/p>
Enter the dumbwaiter. This might be the best (and most fun) way to get your things from ground level to treehouse height.<\/p>
Simple and easy to install, a pulley-powered dumbwaiter is the perfect way to transport supplies to your aerial fortress.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $10, medium $100, high $2,500<\/p> 13. Support your treehouse with stilts<\/h3> ![\"Wooden](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/9672473_30025062e4_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: emdot<\/a> \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> If you don\u2019t have any trees in your backyard, or the ones you do have aren\u2019t suitable for a treehouse, don\u2019t fret. Anyone can create a \u201ctreehouse\u201d by using supportive stilts to raise things up a level.<\/p>
The use of stilts can even up things to even more creative treehouse designs since you won\u2019t be confined to twists and turns of tree trunks or branches.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $200, medium $2,000, high: $15,000<\/p> 14. Hide your treehouse amid the branches<\/h3> ![\"Treehouse](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/hunter-was-139962_1280-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixy<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Backyard treehouses always look cool to kids, but you might not be so convinced. If that\u2019s the case, consider incorporating plants and foliage to create a natural camouflage.<\/p>
With the right treetop landscaping, your treehouse can blend in with its surrounding like a chameleon in the amazon.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $0, medium $200, high $1,000<\/p> From Treehouse Ideas to Getting Started<\/h2>
Even if you don’t know how to build a treehouse yet, creating one may just be your best DIY project yet.<\/p>
But don’t get in over your head.<\/p>
You don\u2019t need to construct a majestic palace in the trees to enjoy the fun of a great treehouse. When it comes to DIY treehouses, a tree deck can be the easiest option.<\/p>
This tree deck idea will get you up off the ground and change your perspective without any walls or roofs blocking the view. You won\u2019t even mind if you can\u2019t see the forest through the trees.<\/p>
Cost:<\/strong> Low $200, medium $2,000, high $8,000<\/p> You might like the idea of a simple treehouse, but why not add some thematic flavor? Try creating a castle in the sky or a treetop pirate ship. Or maybe a mid-century modern or rustic treehouse theme would be better suited for your backyard.<\/p> Once you\u2019ve picked a theme, get creative and go to town decorating your treehouse to match. Bonus points for nailing the smallest of details. (Maybe you\u2019d rather not give your children an option of walking the plank.)<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $800, medium $20,000, high: $60,000<\/p> While a treehouse for your kids is fun on its own, your younger guests will appreciate a little something extra. Hanging a swing or two invites more fun closer to ground level. Adding a slide turns your treehouse into a playhouse.<\/p> Even the grown-ups will enjoy watching their kids having fun on their tree fort playset.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $90, medium $450, high $1,000<\/p> Sometimes in life, the journey to the top can be as enjoyable as time spent at the peak. The same is true for treehouses. By adding a climbing wall or a rope ladder, the fun of a treehouse starts as soon as you leave the ground.<\/p> Even a tiny treehouse using an A-frame design becomes a next-level play space. And your children get some exercise climbing to their treehouse.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $40, medium $350, high $900<\/p> Treehouses can sometimes feel like another world, so why not give yours an otherworldly door for an entrance? There are all kinds of fun door options like the classic trapdoor, the hip barn door, or the swinging saloon door.<\/p> The little ones might enjoy a smaller or secret door for the kids’ room in larger treehouses.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $15, medium $100, high $350<\/p> Everyone knows that what goes up, must come down. With treehouses, a little creativity can make the going down part fun, too.<\/p> Adding a fireman\u2019s pole or zipline makes getting from the treehouse to solid ground both an easy task and a thrilling ride. (Check your homeowner\u2019s insurance before installing this option, though.)<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $70, medium $180, high $700<\/p> In some cases, the enclosed nature of a treehouse hideaway is part of the draw. For other treehouses, soaking in the treetop views is half the fun.<\/p> If yours is the latter, add windows that let you see beyond your own backyard. It doesn\u2019t hurt that the windows will let in some natural light as well.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $30, medium $90, high $250<\/p> Speaking of light, you\u2019ll need it if your treehouse will be hosting visitors after sundown.<\/p> Wiring a treehouse for electricity might add another level of difficulty, but it will pay off during your evenings in the trees. If that doesn\u2019t work, you can always try an extension cord and string lights.<\/p> If your house is busy with children, a treehouse with lights can be a quiet space to study or do homework.<\/p> Cost: Low $20, medium $80, high $300<\/p> Whether day or night, you\u2019ll want a comfortable place to sit when you\u2019re high up in your own treehouse. For those that aren\u2019t ready to vault a couch up into the trees, cushions, bean bags, or giant pillows are great alternatives for a comfy getaway.<\/p> The right color palette will make it feel like a modern treehouse out of a magazine.<\/p> Cost: Low $20, medium $100, high $400 (per pillow or bean bag chair)<\/p> For some, simply getting off the ground isn\u2019t high enough. One popular (albeit advanced) solution is to design a multi-level treehouse with varying heights.<\/p> You might try a landing at a lower level on the way up to the main treehouse, a crow\u2019s nest or observation deck at the top, or a two-story treehouse for the vertically ambitious.<\/p> Pro tip:<\/strong> You might need an architect\u2019s help to make this multi-floor dream treehouse a reality.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $1,000, medium $20,000, high $100,000<\/p> What\u2019s better than a treehouse in your backyard? Two treehouses in your backyard, connected by a bridge.<\/p> Whether you choose a sturdy raised walkway or the more hair-raising rope bridge, simply walking from one treehouse to the other becomes an adventure when there\u2019s a bridge involved.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $200, medium $450, high $2,000<\/p> Once you’re up in the trees, you\u2019ll want to get your things up there, too. Depending on your method of getting up to your treehouse, that might prove to be cumbersome.<\/p> Enter the dumbwaiter. This might be the best (and most fun) way to get your things from ground level to treehouse height.<\/p> Simple and easy to install, a pulley-powered dumbwaiter is the perfect way to transport supplies to your aerial fortress.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $10, medium $100, high $2,500<\/p> If you don\u2019t have any trees in your backyard, or the ones you do have aren\u2019t suitable for a treehouse, don\u2019t fret. Anyone can create a \u201ctreehouse\u201d by using supportive stilts to raise things up a level.<\/p> The use of stilts can even up things to even more creative treehouse designs since you won\u2019t be confined to twists and turns of tree trunks or branches.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $200, medium $2,000, high: $15,000<\/p> Backyard treehouses always look cool to kids, but you might not be so convinced. If that\u2019s the case, consider incorporating plants and foliage to create a natural camouflage.<\/p> With the right treetop landscaping, your treehouse can blend in with its surrounding like a chameleon in the amazon.<\/p> Cost:<\/strong> Low $0, medium $200, high $1,000<\/p> Even if you don’t know how to build a treehouse yet, creating one may just be your best DIY project yet.<\/p> But don’t get in over your head.<\/p> 2. Pick a treehouse theme (castle? pirate ship?)<\/h3>
3. Install swings and slides<\/h3>
4. Climb to your treehouse<\/h3>
5. Add a unique door to your treehouse<\/h3>
6. Take a fire pole or zipline to the ground<\/h3>
7. Install windows to let in natural light<\/h3>
8. Shine lights on your treehouse<\/h3>
9. Make your treehouse comfortable<\/h3>
10. Go for a grander, multi-level treehouse<\/h3>
11. Create a bridge between treehouses<\/h3>
12. Deliver lunch via a bucket-and-pulley dumbwaiter<\/h3>
13. Support your treehouse with stilts<\/h3>
14. Hide your treehouse amid the branches<\/h3>
From Treehouse Ideas to Getting Started<\/h2>