DIY: Build a PVC Playhouse
In my toddler’s bedroom we have curtains hanging in his closet in lieu of accordion doors. He likes to take a little book into the closet, squish himself behind the clothes hamper, and hide himself away. This got my wheels turning about how we can create a fun little hideaway for him where he can sit and read a book in the family room, or in the yard.
I originally began designing a full blown “Fort” from scrap wood, complete with a roof, but, decided that portability and moveability were more important than a super cute shingle roofed cabin. I scrapped the overly ambitious project (complete with roof angles.. thank you High School Trig) and decided to build with PVC and Fabric.
I measured out the spaces where I thought the fort might fit and decided to build it 3′ tall, 2′ wide and 4′ long. Thankfully, the Home Depot up the street sells PVC in 10′ lengths, so, the math was simple.
I purchased four lengths of 3/4″ pvc and eight 3 way PVC fittings to use in the corners.
I cut four 4′ pieces, four 2′ pieces and four 3′ pieces of the plastic PVC with my Table Saw. The pieces went together seamlessly and the measuring, cutting and building only took 40 minutes.
Instead of going out in search of cute printed fabric for the walls of the fort, I rifled through our linen closet and found an old queen size flat sheet that hadn’t been put in rotation in a few years. I also found a pair of curtains I had made for the Nursery before I knew the critical importance of blackout curtains.
I took three pieces of sheet and pinned it to the frame of the fort to find my seams around the PVC rods. I slid the pinned pieces off and sewed along my Pin Line. When the seams were all sewn, I slipped them back on and adjusted them to cover three sides of the fort.
I slipped the curtains on the front of the structure, and pinned the length to fit the 3′ opening. I hemmed and trimmed the curtains, and slid them back over the top front pipe to create a curtained “Doorway” and the structure was complete!
When the kiddo woke up from his nap, he ran straight into the fort like it had always been in the living room. We’ve since thrown in a few pillows and have set some books in a basket for him to use inside, and when we take his “House” (as he’s taken to calling it) outdoors, a fitted sheet fits perfectly over the top to provide some shade.
Top to bottom, this project cost me $23 and was completed during one nap time. Anything that encourages imaginative play or reading is a win in my books!