Have you ever thought about building a tree house for a child? If so, you’re in the right place. According to the Cambridge English dictionary, “a tree house is a small building, structure, or shelter built among the branches of a tree.”
Tree houses have come to symbolize childhood, a special hideout away from the watchful eyes of adults. Involving your child in the construction of a DIY tree house will allow them to design a home of their own. In this article, you will learn about the various tree house plans and designs for kids. Let’s get started!
Here’s the list of 7 DIY treehouse plans:
- The Classic Tree House
- Pirate Hideout Tree House
- The Tree Fort
- The Ultimate Treehouse Plan
- Happy Tree House Playhouse
- The Lundgren Tree House
- The Simple Tree House
01. The Classic Tree House Plan
If you don’t have many trees in your yard, this classic tree cabin is a great option. You’ll need a tree with two or three adjacent branches. The support structure and floor of this tree house uses pressure-treated wood; an old fence can be recycled and used for the sides.
A camouflage-patterned tarp is used as a roof. These materials won’t make the tree house weather-proof, but it will stay dry and can be used in fall and spring, with summer being the ideal season for this tree cabin.
Some of the woodworking accessories you’ll need to build this tree house include: pressure-treated lumber, decking material, galvanized screws and washers, galvanized joist hangers, galvanized rafter ties, nails, deck screws, pulley for ¼” rope, and camouflage tarp.
You’ll also need hand and power tools, including a hammer, saw, level, square, tape measure, adjustable wrench, cordless drill, and jigsaw.
Find the full guide here: How to Build a Treehouse
Here is a list of the most essential power tools you need for your DIY woodworking projects: Woodworking Power Tools
02. DIY Pirate Hideout Tree House Plan
This tree house takes about 100 hours to build and will cost you around $1800. If your child is a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean, this is the tree cabin for you! The exterior of the tree house looks like a pirate’s ship.
The interior is spacious enough to fit an inflatable bed, making it great for camping.
Some of the woodworking material you’ll need to create this pirate hideout include plywood, a ladder, and treated wood fencing. You can decorate the interior with pirate materials, such as a ship wheel, lantern, and skull.
Find the full guide here: Pirate Hideout Treehouse
03. The Tree Fort
What kid wouldn’t want a fort high up in the trees? This tree house is based on a design found in Black and Decker’s The Complete Guide: Build Your Kids a Treehouse. This tree house doesn’t require branches; all you need is a sturdy tree trunk to get started.
To build this tree cabin, you will need knee braces, upper and lower beams, and galvanized lag screws and washers to construct the platform. Once the frame is secure, you will begin building the deck.
To make the deck, you will need premium pressure-treated boards; it will be necessary to cut a hole around the tree trunk.
The last step in building the tree fort is constructing the railing. Once the deck is laid, attach the posts and the railing to the tree house. The railing uses the same premium pressure treated boards used to construct the deck.
Find the full guide here: Village Custom Furniture
More projects you can do with your kids: DIY Playhouse
04. The Ultimate Treehouse Plan
Two large trees serve as the anchor for this treehouse building. This tree house plan is designed with posts used to make a triangular base with a concrete footing. The deck is constructed using plywood and secured with a sturdy nylon rope.
The tree house is a rectangular shape, 5 feet high in the front, with a 4 feet high slope in the back. The materials needed to construct the tree cabin include five 4x sheets of ½ plywood, twenty 8ft 2x4s, five squares of cedar shingles, deck crews, roofing nails, and a roll of roofing felt.
D cedar shingles are used to build the roof. You can also add windows to complete this tree house.
Find the full guide here: The Ultimate Tree House
05. DIY Happy Tree House Playhouse
If you don’t have a tree available for a tree house, don’t fret, there are plenty of alternatives. One alternative is the Happy Tree House Playhouse. This tree cabin will cost you about $300 to build.
The supplies you’ll need to build the base and frame of this tree house include: gold wood or deck screws, drill/screwdriver, hand saw, and a miter saw.
You’ll need several varieties of gold wood or deck screws and a jigsaw to construct the floor of this tree cabin.
For the stairs, you’ll need the following supplies: 2 – 2x6x8, miter saw, 3-inch gold wood/deck screws.
Once you’ve finished building the floor and the stairs, you’ll use a sealant to protect your wood. For this step, you’ll need a can of acorn brown semi-transparent waterproof sealant.
You’ll also need a paintbrush or stain brush and a container such as a bowl for applying the sealant.
After finishing the base, frame, floor, and stairs, you’ll move onto building the roof of the tree house. For this step, you’ll need 4 – 2x4x8, 3 – 2x4x6, 3 – 26-inch x 8 ft.
A polycarbonate corrugated roof panel in your preferred color, 2 – 36-inch horizontal foam closure strips, 1 – 6 ft – 2-inch white roof edge flashing, miter saw, drill, metal shears, 3-inch gold wood/deck screws.
The final step in building a tree house is adding the windows and walls. You’ll need the following material to add the finishing touches to this tree house: 3 – 4ft. x 8ft paneling, and 2 – 2.5″ x 1.5″ x 8ft. lumber.
To complete this step, you’ll use 2 – 2.5″ x 1.5″ x 6ft. lumber, 1 – 7.5″ fence picket – 6ft, one packet 15″ shims, four hinges, eye hook, one shower curtain, one package cup hooks, wood glue, miter saw, and a circular saw.
Find the full guide here: Made With Happy
Read on to know about the must-have hand tools for your DIY woodworking projects in this article.
06. The Lundgren Tree House
Your first task to build a tree house will be choosing the best tree for your creation. A tree with a slender defined trunk that extends into a limb with a canopy of branches is the ideal choice. Another option is using a tall tree with a single trunk. If you choose this option, the trunk should be positioned in the inside corner of the tree cabin, ensuring it will take up the least floor space.
To successfully build this tree house, you will need the following materials: treated posts of various sizes, newel posts, privacy fence, metal braces, lag screws, carriage bolts, screws, and nails.
You will also need the following tools: 14+ft aluminum ladder (for use during construction and later to control access to the tree cabin), hand saw, handheld power saw, reciprocating saw, two power drills, two sawhorses, and hammers.
This tree house is more advanced than the others, but if you follow the instructions carefully, the kids will be enjoying their very own tree house in no time.
Find the full guide here: The EZ Treehouse Plans
07. The Simple Free DIY Tree House Plan
Do you have scrap wood and branches lying around your yard? If so, you have the beginnings of a great yet simple tree house. The design of this clubhouse is a minimalist style your kids will love.
First, you will need to gather the following materials and tools: a power drill, level, 6-inch to 8-inch screws, or nails (more durable). You will need 3-inch screws to complete the frame.
The deck requires 2 – 6 foot 2″x6″ pieces, 2 -pieces used for filler of 2″x6″, 8 – 4′ pieces of lumber or 1″x6″, logs, circular saw or hand saw. Complete the interior of the tree house with whatever accessories your children prefer.
Once you’ve gathered all of the materials, you’re ready to begin constructing this simple tree house. The first step will be choosing a tree for your clubhouse. The best tree for this tree house has high branches; the trunk should be stable but not overly broad.
After you’ve chosen your tree, you’ll begin work on the tree house. The first step is attaching a foundation. The next step is inserting the cross braces. Once the cross braces are in place, you’ll lay the deck and install the staircase.
Finally, you will decorate the tree house with accessories of your choosing.
Find the full guide here: Apartment Therapy
Here are some more backyard DIY projects idea: DIY Backyard Woodworking Projects for Beginners
Final Thoughts on DIY Tree House Building Plans
With these 7 tree house plans and ideas, you’ll be well on your way to building your own DIY clubhouse for kids. These tree house plans range from easy to advanced.
Before beginning your tree house, it’s essential to ensure you have a tree sturdy enough to withstand construction. If you don’t have any trees available, you can choose a non-tree alternative.
With the right materials and tools, the final result will be a tree house your kids will enjoy for years to come. We wish you the best of luck on your tree house building journey.
