Cedar Playhouse: A Birthday Gift That Became Their Little Escape

We finally gave in to the blogger trend: the kids have a playhouse. It arrived as a joint birthday gift from my mom in the spring. Our 7-year-old and 3-year-old each agreed on one thing — they wanted a small outdoor house of their own. “No grown-ups allowed” was actually part of the request.

My mom found a cute cedar playhouse that was the right price and included little flower pot holders. We sent her the link, celebrated a string of excited emojis, and got back a message: “It’s going to be delivered in seven days, and it says you have to assemble it. Hope it’s not too complicated!”

Assembly turned out to be straightforward but time-consuming — plan on a couple of hours. Every piece arrived pre-cut, pre-drilled, and labeled, so the process felt a lot like putting together premium flat-pack furniture. My main tip is to lay out all parts first so the labels are visible; searching through the box for “L2” wastes time and patience.

One amusing detail in the instructions was the “Adult Helper” illustration — a superhero-like figure brandishing a saw — which made us laugh. The image felt overdramatic for the job, but it captured the spirit of taking on a small construction project as a family.

When built, the house feels solid and well-made. Roof slats interlock securely, and the whole structure has a sturdy, tight fit. Inside there’s even a little kitchen complete with burners, knobs, and a tiny sink — perfect for imaginative play, whether they’re “cooking” or pretending to wash squirrels.

Initially we set the playhouse on the deck (you can still see spring pollen in some photos), but the kids quickly asked to move it down to the lawn. They wanted more privacy — and more distance from adults — so we relocated it to the grass where they could truly claim it as their own little hideout.

To protect the cedar from sitting directly on the ground, we placed inexpensive pavers underneath. The pavers lift the structure slightly and provide a solid, dry surface — plus the kids appreciate having a defined floor to sit on. In one of the photos you can see our daughter inside, happily pretending to wash imaginary squirrels at the sink.

The playhouse doesn’t include actual flower pots, only holders. I used a black pot with faux flowers we already had, but planting seeds with the kids would be a fun option — just be mindful of local wildlife that might nibble on anything tender. Drought-tolerant or deer-resistant plants like lavender could work better in some yards.

Before it arrived I worried whether both kids would fit comfortably or use it together, but they spend a surprising amount of time inside side-by-side. Their favorite game lately involves holding hands while pretending the kitchen knobs and spigots are controls for “driving through space.” The playhouse has sparked creative, cooperative play, which is exactly what we hoped for.

A small but beloved detail is the functioning doorknob and latch. The kids always make sure the door is firmly closed when they leave, and it’s sweet to see them treat the space responsibly when they feel it’s “all theirs.”

This playhouse is simpler than some of the highly decorated or painted versions you might see — no miniature bridges or elaborate window treatments here — but the natural cedar pairs nicely with our brick house and will age gracefully outdoors. A painted playhouse can look charming at first but might weather quickly depending on exposure; the natural cedar keeps a low-maintenance, classic look.

Ultimately, whether you buy a prebuilt model or assemble one yourself, the kids will love having a small space of their own. It becomes a tiny cabin where they can escape adults, create imaginary worlds, and practice new games together — from pretending to be chefs to “driving through space.”

For more kid-related projects, we’ve also shared builds and playful renovations we’ve done over time, from dollhouses to creative play kitchens and other DIY ideas.

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