Tree houses are fun, creative spaces where children can play the old fashioned way using their imaginations. Tree houses are a great way to engage in fun outdoor family activities. The whimsical aspects of a modern treehouse often provide enjoyment and aesthetic appeal to adults as well. Even though it is tempting for do-it-yourself types to grab a set of blueprints and head to their local hardware store, it is best to consult a building professional when deciding to construct a quality tree house. Professional tree house builders develop tree house designs that are structurally sound for the chosen location and that fits in with the rest of the landscape. Treehouse plans can range from fancy tree house design ideas with whole family appeal to a basic tree fort to simple tree house ideas for kids. These ideas for your backyard treehouse cover the whole gamut.
The Best Tree House Designs For The Whole Family
Castle treehouse design idea- photo via highlifetreehouses
#1 Sherwood Forest Inspired Castle Tree House Design
A property abundant in foliage and deciduous trees seems to beg for a quaint castle inspired tree house. The architectural features of this type of tree house varies to include elaborate medieval accoutrements like miniature turrets, drawbridges, and even a spiral staircase. You can scale back castle tree house plans to a simpler design that includes special molding and a zip line as a fun way to get down.
#2 Polynesian Beach Cottage Tree House
As with traditional homes, location is a key consideration for choosing a tree house design. If one is blessed to live near a nice coastline or a stream, a builder might recommend creating a Polynesian inspired beach tree house that enhances the main residence. Such tree homes perched beside turquoise hued water feature sturdy bamboo accents and panoramic picture windows making it a perfect place to relax.
#3 Eco-Friendly Condor’s Nest Tree House
An excellent way to train future environmental engineers is to pack their tree house designs with eco-friendly features. Given the difficulty level here, it is a good idea to get guidance from LEED certified new home builders. Utah among many other states offer environmentally conscious construction firms to give home owners ideas about using reclaimed wood or other recycled building materials for this type of project. Such an eco-friendly tree house may even be equipped with solar or wind energy collectors and electrically wired for further enjoyment. This fancy but small treehouse features different angles and is certainly an epic treehouse!
#4 Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
This style of tree house is inspired by the classic Disney film, Swiss Family Robinson. It requires sturdy trees for numerous treehouse ideas to take shape. The idea here is connect several small tree houses so that each one feels like it could be a room for a different family member. Each tree house can be as fancy or simple as you like, even a platform tree house would work. This ideal treehouse is enhanced by functional features like buckets and pulleys. In this way the “inhabitants” easy access to snacks served from below. Other accents for this type of tree house include multiple ways to exit the lofty abode like a winding staircase, zip lines, slides, and even a fire pole similar to the one used by the caped crusader Batman. This is pretty much the perfect treehouse to fulfill a childhood dream!
#5 Farmhouse Inspired Tree House For Kids
Another of my favorite tree house ideas for kids is the farmhouse tree house. Building a farmhouse inspired tree house is a great tribute to the joys of country living. This has a fairly simple design when it comes to building treehouses. You don’t have to worry about having the right tree or a big tree. This can be built around any small tree since the landscape base is on the ground. A coat of paint gives it a lovely finished look. This type of tree house is perfect for younger children who want a peaceful place to play, relax, or study. You could eventually expand the miniature farmhouse to include some farm critters like chickens or a small organic garden at the tree’s base.
What types of tree house designs appeal to you the most? Which one of these tree house ideas do you think you would like the most? Which tree house ideas for kids did you find most feasible as a DIY treehouse?
#6 Pirate Treehouse Idea
I absolutely love this fun pirate tree house design for kids! This is a fairly simple treehouse and it offers enough room for your child to be able to have some small social gatherings in their very own treehouse. This sturdy treehouse has great features like a trap door with a rope ladder and a large deck. This treehouse project is a lot of fun if you don’t mind a little hard work and elbow grease. You can get the free plan and building instructions at Instructables.
#7 Elevated Play House- Trees Optional
So you don’t have any trees with load-bearing branches? No problem. You can still build a simple structure that is elevated. This will offer the same escape, quiet place, get away effect. With some power tools and scrap lumber you can make an elevated play house that provides the perfect outdoor space for your kids to use their imagination and practice having some independence. Get the design ideas for the playhouse at Jessica Welling Interiors.
Conclusion
Building a treehouse can be a magical project that offers endless fun for kids. I hope you enjoyed these creative and practical treehouse ideas to inspire your design. A simple tree house with a basic platform supported by a sturdy tree or between multiple trees is usually enough to make most kids wild with joy. But if you are the over-achiever type, these elaborate tree fort ideas should provide plenty of fun, new ideas. Building a tree house can be a fantastic family project. Tailor the design to suit your needs and the tree’s structure while keeping safety a top priority. Enjoy creating a magical space in the trees!
What types of tree house designs appeal to you the most? Which one of these tree house ideas do you like the most? Which of these ideas for tree houses is the best DIY treehouse for you?
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