Build a playhouse — step by step
A little house for the kids — one they'll remember forever.
This is a complete guide to build a playhouse yourself — step by step, with a material list, tools, a timeline and what it costs. It's written for anyone building at home without professional experience: count on 3–5 weekends and a material cost of around 8,000–20,000 kr.
Showing method: Classic Falu-red playhouse
The price is an estimate based on typical material prices and can vary depending on size, material choice, location and store.
Which method suits you best?
Best for: A garden where a playhouse can stand year-round.
Please note: Material quantities, prices and building methods are guidelines. Always check current prices, local regulations and product instructions before starting a project.
How a playhouse comes together
A playhouse is one of the most fun projects to build — and one of the most appreciated. Here we build a classic Falu-red cabin about 2 × 2 m with windows, a door and a pitched roof. Sturdy enough to last for years, simple enough to finish in a few weekends.
Materials for a playhouse — full list
Check items off while you shop — the list stays with you on the page.
Build a playhouse step by step
- 01
Plan the size, location and safety
A playhouse of 2 × 2 m and 2 m to the ridge suits children aged 2–10. Choose a spot with a good view from the house, level ground and no sharp corners nearby. Mark the corners with pegs.
Tip: Don't build higher than 1.5 m to the floor — that way it usually doesn't count as a permit-requiring outbuilding. - 02
Lay the foundation with piers or ground screws
Set four concrete piers or ground screws at the corners. Check that they're level with each other and at 90-degree angles — measure the diagonals; they should be equal.
- 03
Build the floor frame and lay the plywood
Screw a frame of 45 × 95 mm joists onto the piers. Lay joists at 40 cm centres. Screw down 18 mm plywood as the floor.
- 04
Raise the walls
Build four wall sections flat on the ground — studs at 60 cm centres with corner posts. Cut out the openings for windows and doors as you go. Raise the sections and screw them together at the corners. Brace them until everything is fixed.
Tip: Build the walls on a flat surface like a driveway — they come out much straighter than building them upright. - 05
Build the roof trusses and lay the sarking
Build two roof trusses at a 30–40 degree angle on the ground. Lift them onto the walls and screw them fast. Lay sarking boards as the roof decking and nail them down.
- 06
Lay the roof and clad the facade
Lay roofing felt or roof shingles with overlap according to the instructions. Then clad the walls with shiplap boards — start at the bottom and work upward so water runs off properly.
- 07
Fit the window and door
Mount the windows in the prepared openings and seal around them with foam strip. Hang the door on two hinges and fit a handle and an external hasp.
Tip: Skip glass — use 4 mm plexiglass. Safer for children, cheaper and easier to replace if something happens. - 08
Paint in classic Falu red
Apply Falu-red paint to the facade in two thin coats with a brush. Paint the trim, corner boards and door frame white with linseed oil paint. Let it dry between coats.
Help specific to build a playhouse
How the time breaks down
A playhouse of 2 × 2 m takes 3–5 weekends if you work alone. With help from another adult, the time for walls and roof is halved.
- Planning, measuring & buying materialsWeekend 1 morning (3–4 h)
- Foundation with piers/ground screwsWeekend 1 (4–6 h)
- Floor frame + plywood floorWeekend 2 (4–5 h)
- Building and raising wallsWeekend 2–3 (8–10 h)
- Roof trusses + sarking + feltWeekend 3–4 (6–8 h)
- Cladding + window + doorWeekend 4 (8 h)
- Painting (two coats)Weekend 5 (4 h + drying time)
How to save time
- Prefabricate the walls flat on a level surface — saves hours and comes out straighter.
- Buy secondhand small windows online for 100–300 kr each instead of new ones.
- Get help when the roof and walls go up — two people halve the time.
Questions and answers about build a playhouse
How do you build a playhouse?
A playhouse is one of the most fun projects to build — and one of the most appreciated. Here we build a classic Falu-red cabin about 2 × 2 m with windows, a door and a pitched roof. Sturdy enough to last for years, simple enough to finish in a few weekends. The guide breaks the work into 8 steps — you start with plan the size, location and safety, lay the foundation with piers or ground screws and build the floor frame and lay the plywood and work your way forward at your own pace.
How much does it cost to build a playhouse?
Material cost is typically 8,000–20,000 kr. Total cost 8,000–20,000 kr depending on size, materials and whether you buy the window new or secondhand. The biggest items are pressure-treated joists (~40 m) 1,800–3,000 kr, plywood floor + sarking for roof 1,500–2,500 kr and shiplap pine cladding (~25 m²) 2,500–5,000 kr. The price varies with size, material choice, location and store.
What materials do you need for a playhouse?
You'll need things like joists 45 × 95 mm pressure-treated, plywood 18 mm for the floor, shiplap cladding 22 × 120 mm pine, sarking boards 17 mm and roofing felt or roof shingles — the full material list with quantities is in the guide and can be checked off while you shop. Tools you'll need at home: drill & batteries, circular saw or mitre saw, jigsaw and spirit level.
How long does it take and how hard is it?
Count on 3–5 weekends for a playhouse. A playhouse of 2 × 2 m takes 3–5 weekends if you work alone. With help from another adult, the time for walls and roof is halved. The difficulty level is moderate, so you can manage it without professional experience if you follow the steps in order.
Which method should I choose for a playhouse?
There are 3 common ways to build it: classic falu-red playhouse, mini playhouse without a foundation and playhouse on posts (treehouse-style). Choose a method at the top of the page — the guide, material list and cost then adapt to that solution.
What's the most common mistake?
The mistakes we see most often: building without a level foundation — the cabin goes crooked by the first winter, doing heavy steps alone — get help when the walls and roof go up and glass in windows at child height — use plexiglass instead. Read through the whole guide once before you start — that way you'll avoid most of them.
And that's it, done.
Take a step back, pour a cup of coffee and enjoy. You built it yourself.
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