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Playhouse Shopping Guide: High & Low

Kids love to have a place they can call their own, and it's even better if it's a freestanding structure in the backyard. Here are 10 child-sized playhouses: 5 high-end versions and 5 more affordable options.

Playhouses Over $1,000

Permanent playhouses generally cost more than tents and pop-up structures, and the more involved the design, the higher the price.

Modern Cabana : Based out of San Francisco, Modern Cabana makes prefab backyard sheds, including a $1,500 version for children known as the Kiddo Cabana. It's mod and green, made with tree oil stains, non-VOC finishes and glues, and FSC-certified wood.
Community Playthings : This catalog store specializes in products for Montessori schools and childcare centers, so they sell a lot of collaborative play gyms and lofts for children ranging from toddlers to 7-year-olds. This is the $1,680 Nursery Gym (for children 9 months to 2 years).
MetroShed : David Ballinger, founder of MetroShed, sells a high-end modular playhouse for kids known as the MetroPlay. Prices range from $5,850 for the basic modern box to $6,850 for all the bells and whistles, including an add-on slide and swing.
Barbara Butler : San Francisco artist Barbara Butler builds and paints playhouses, so that each design is one of a kind. These custom playhouses don't come cheap—this Magical Bridge Playhouse sells for $12,180.
Home Depot : This megastore carries a number of backyard playhouses, from traditional log cabin styles to Victorian sheds. This Handyhome French Chalet Playhouse is our favorite of the bunch, and it sells for $1,550.

Playhouses Under $500

If you're on a budget, consider a DIY playhouse, a tent, or a tipi. The nice thing about tents and tipis is that they're collapsible, so you can store them inside when the weather's bad.

Imagine Childhood : This online store specializes in imaginative outdoor play for children. They carry a bunch of games and kits, including this Children's Backyard Tipi for $211.
StudioMama : UK-based StudioMama is a high-end design and architecture studio, but they keep things affordable by selling DIY blueprints. You can find instructions for building this modern kids' playhouse on their site for £50.
Zac and Zoe : This online store offers free shipping on orders, and they carry a nice line of Modern Play Tents for $300. The tents can be used indoors or outside, and they come in 9 different fabric patterns.
Amazon.com : For comparison shopping, check out Amazon.com, where they have a bunch of traditional backyard playhouses made of wood and plastic. This is the $420 KidCraft Outdoor Cottage.
Etsy : For handmade playhouses, Etsy is a good bet. We found some very cute fabric playhouses from this seller for $150 to $200. Designed to fit over a card table, they're decorated with hand-sewn details.