DIY fan shows how to transform an old plastic playhouse with a tin of paint

The perfect upcycling project for kids

Playhouses are a staple in most family gardens. But what do you do when your children fall out of love with their miniature house? One savvy Mum reignited her daughter's imagination with a stunning playhouse makeover.

Related: This Pinterest inspired bathroom makeover cost just £60 – the results are startling!

The brightly coloured walls of a plastic playhouse might be a hit with the kids fresh out of the box. But, after a year or two they can start to look a bit weathered.

It can be tempting to give up on the playhouse as a garden eyesore, but a bit of paint can be all it takes to give it a new lease of life, which is just what Mum of two, Rachelle Waugh, did.

Playhouse makeover

the perfect upcycling project for kids

(Image credit: FuturePLC/Rachelle Waugh)

Posting on the Extreme Budget DIY & Life Hacks group, Rachelle revealed the stunning transformation. From a lack-lustre playhouse to a pale pink play-cafe.

'We had an old sun-weathered playhouse which wasn't used at all by our two young girls,' explains Rachelle. 'So I decided to make it more 'girly' and created a garden cafe project.'

rust-oleum universal paint in dusty pink and white

(Image credit: FuturePlC/Rachelle Waugh)

Rachelle ordered two 125 ml tins of Rust-Oleum Universal paint in dusty pink and white from Amazon. After giving the house a good clean, with the help of her two girls she painted the whole house.

All the walls were painted white, while the roof, door and windows were picked out in dusty pink. Rachelle then added some old fake flowers to the roof using a hot glue gun.

diy fan shows how to transform an old plastic playhouse with a tin of paint

(Image credit: FuturePLC/Rachelle Waugh)

To complete the cafe look the family also painted a plant stand with a chalkboard that Rachelle found on Amazon for £10.99. Before covering it in flowers.

'As soon as the girls started taking some upcycling responsibility, they wanted to play with it again,' says Rachelle. 'The results have been amazing! They've played in it every day, and it fits much better with the theme in the garden.'

Related: Enjoy this multi-level garden makeover with clever planting and banquette seating

It is amazing the power that is contained in a tin of paint. Have you been inspired by this playhouse makeover?

Rebecca Knight
Deputy Editor, Digital

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.