7 Magical Treehouses and Backyard Forts
Nature-inspired designs, cozy interiors, and kid-friendly zip lines and play areas take these structures to new heights
The idea of a treehouse as a secluded bird’s-eye retreat, hidden among the leaves and worlds away from daily life, is enough to inspire countless kids — and plenty of adults — the world over. Whether you’re looking for a space to inspire creative play for your children, a peaceful retreat for meditation or a leafy sleeping spot for overnight guests, these creative dream spaces will help feed your treehouse visions.
Tucking the treehouse into the woodland and using native tree species like oak and white cedar for the lumber — some of it harvested on-site, some sourced locally and milled — helped the structure fit in with in the environment.
“The most interesting part is the live tree that grows through the center of the structure,” Skwira says. “It was one of the largest trees on the property and was a natural fit for the structure.” Generous holes cut for the tree trunk allow the tree to continue to grow up through the treehouse, while the posts of the building support the weight of the structure.
“The most interesting part is the live tree that grows through the center of the structure,” Skwira says. “It was one of the largest trees on the property and was a natural fit for the structure.” Generous holes cut for the tree trunk allow the tree to continue to grow up through the treehouse, while the posts of the building support the weight of the structure.
2. Leafy Refuge in the Irish Countryside
Location: Rural County Louth, Ireland (north of Dublin)
Used as: An off-the-grid retreat for a couple and a guest room
Perched among the branches of an oak tree that’s at least 120 years old, this lofty treehouse was built as a simple backyard getaway space for a couple in County Louth, Ireland. “It’s an adult treehouse,” says designer Peter O’Brien of Plan Eden Garden Design. “It’s used as an off-grid [escape] for the clients to get away from the rush of everyday life, and as guest accommodation.”
Location: Rural County Louth, Ireland (north of Dublin)
Used as: An off-the-grid retreat for a couple and a guest room
Perched among the branches of an oak tree that’s at least 120 years old, this lofty treehouse was built as a simple backyard getaway space for a couple in County Louth, Ireland. “It’s an adult treehouse,” says designer Peter O’Brien of Plan Eden Garden Design. “It’s used as an off-grid [escape] for the clients to get away from the rush of everyday life, and as guest accommodation.”
O’Brien designed the structure to be as integrated with the landscape as possible — it’s tucked up nearly out of view from the surrounding fields — as well as with the local rural architecture. The treehouse is fully supported by the oak’s massive trunk and large lateral branches.
The treehouse is off the grid (no electricity or running water), but insulated walls and double-glazed windows keep it snug. O’Brien says that his clients plan on fitting it out with a bed and are considering using oil lamps to provide light in the evening.
The treehouse is off the grid (no electricity or running water), but insulated walls and double-glazed windows keep it snug. O’Brien says that his clients plan on fitting it out with a bed and are considering using oil lamps to provide light in the evening.
3. Modern Treehouse Near Paris
Location: Raray, France (about 40 miles north of Paris)
Used as: A place for overnight guests
This “floating” treehouse in France, designed by Atelier Lavit, serves as an accommodation option for hotel guests and offers plenty of design inspiration for backyard treehouses with a modern aesthetic. Built around the trunk of a mature oak tree, it has an octagonal shape, emphasized by a series of wood slats arranged around the exterior. The sleek, minimalist design emphasizes the structure’s form and the pattern made by the wood slats.
Location: Raray, France (about 40 miles north of Paris)
Used as: A place for overnight guests
This “floating” treehouse in France, designed by Atelier Lavit, serves as an accommodation option for hotel guests and offers plenty of design inspiration for backyard treehouses with a modern aesthetic. Built around the trunk of a mature oak tree, it has an octagonal shape, emphasized by a series of wood slats arranged around the exterior. The sleek, minimalist design emphasizes the structure’s form and the pattern made by the wood slats.
Overlapping slatted wood siding — cleverly placed to hide the support beams — gives the impression of giant oval leaves curving up to enclose the base of the treehouse.
The treehouse has plumbing, electricity and a cozy double bed. A suspension bridge leads to a lofted private hot tub for guests to take a dip in while watching for birds zooming around the treetops.
4. Architect-Built Play Tower in Ireland
Location: Glanworth, County Cork, Ireland
Used as: A creative play space for the architect’s daughter
It originally presented a problem when Neil Kane’s daughter, Aibhe, asked for a backyard treehouse, as there were no mature trees on the property.
Kane, an architect, came up with a design solution, drew up plans for a lofted play tower and set out to build the structure for Aibhe’s fourth birthday.
Location: Glanworth, County Cork, Ireland
Used as: A creative play space for the architect’s daughter
It originally presented a problem when Neil Kane’s daughter, Aibhe, asked for a backyard treehouse, as there were no mature trees on the property.
Kane, an architect, came up with a design solution, drew up plans for a lofted play tower and set out to build the structure for Aibhe’s fourth birthday.
Built out of untreated Irish larch wood and clear acrylic corrugated sheeting, the award-winning play tower (measuring roughly 5 feet wide and 14 feet tall) has the lofted feel of a treehouse and a clear view of the growing landscape trees.
“The drawbridge door was inspired by [a] local castle, which is in ruins and visible from the garden,” Kane says. The door can be raised and lowered by a manual winch located near the back of the structure.
“The drawbridge door was inspired by [a] local castle, which is in ruins and visible from the garden,” Kane says. The door can be raised and lowered by a manual winch located near the back of the structure.
The floor of the treehouse, covered by Flotex flooring in Autumn Leaves, was designed to mimic a natural forest floor. Kane constructed the table from a school road sign and selfie sticks as legs. The legs can be collapsed and the table drawn up on a pulley system to clear the floor space for play.
5. Kid-Inspired Tree Fort in Pennsylvania
Location: Quakertown, Pennsylvania (an hour north of Philadelphia)
Used as: A playhouse for kids
Located on a farm, this kid-friendly treehouse is a destination for exploring. To create the structure, the Lewis Brothers contractors used pressure-treated lumber for the structural elements and recycled materials from the owner’s farm for other features, such as corrugated metal sheeting for the roof, leftover shingles for siding and metal livestock gates repurposed as the railing.
Location: Quakertown, Pennsylvania (an hour north of Philadelphia)
Used as: A playhouse for kids
Located on a farm, this kid-friendly treehouse is a destination for exploring. To create the structure, the Lewis Brothers contractors used pressure-treated lumber for the structural elements and recycled materials from the owner’s farm for other features, such as corrugated metal sheeting for the roof, leftover shingles for siding and metal livestock gates repurposed as the railing.
The structure was built around a mature tree but is self-supported on pressure-treated posts. A generous hole cut in the deck for the tree trunk and additional holes cut through two sides of the house for a lateral branch allow the tree to continue growing up and around the structure.
6. Fairy-Tale Treehouse in the English Countryside
Location: Hampshire, England
Used as: A fun retreat for a family
This romantic treehouse, complete with a turret and a traditional water-reed thatched roof, draws inspiration from fairy tales and folklore. It sits in the backyard of a home in Hampshire and is used by a family; it was designed to inspire imaginative play. The surrounding tall ferns and indigenous and exotic plants add to the magical feel of the treehouse and help it appear to be nestled into the landscape.
Location: Hampshire, England
Used as: A fun retreat for a family
This romantic treehouse, complete with a turret and a traditional water-reed thatched roof, draws inspiration from fairy tales and folklore. It sits in the backyard of a home in Hampshire and is used by a family; it was designed to inspire imaginative play. The surrounding tall ferns and indigenous and exotic plants add to the magical feel of the treehouse and help it appear to be nestled into the landscape.
A spiral staircase inside winds up to a viewing platform in the tower, and a second, larger room provides space for playing, lounging or having a sleepover. The interior is fully insulated and equipped with electricity. A nearly 150-foot-long zip line extends from the back of the treehouse to the lawn, providing an exhilarating way down for adventurous kids and adults.
7. Multilevel Play Space in Washington
Location: Spokane Valley, Washington
Used as: A play space for a landscape architect’s daughters
Knowing that his family would be working on the construction of their home in Spokane Valley for a good chunk of the upcoming year, landscape architect Ty Ullman, president of Clearwater Summit Group, decided to first build a treehouse for his daughters, Sierra and McKinley. “I wanted the treehouse in place so that during construction of our future dream home, we would have a place for the kids to hang out for at least a couple hours at a time,” Ullman says.
The treehouse, built as a Christmas surprise, took less than two weeks to build after Ullman and a coworker planned it out. To keep costs down, Ullman used reclaimed materials from other jobs, including a sheet of galvanized metal that became the roof.
Location: Spokane Valley, Washington
Used as: A play space for a landscape architect’s daughters
Knowing that his family would be working on the construction of their home in Spokane Valley for a good chunk of the upcoming year, landscape architect Ty Ullman, president of Clearwater Summit Group, decided to first build a treehouse for his daughters, Sierra and McKinley. “I wanted the treehouse in place so that during construction of our future dream home, we would have a place for the kids to hang out for at least a couple hours at a time,” Ullman says.
The treehouse, built as a Christmas surprise, took less than two weeks to build after Ullman and a coworker planned it out. To keep costs down, Ullman used reclaimed materials from other jobs, including a sheet of galvanized metal that became the roof.
Lofting the treehouse high off the ground provided space for a slide, a set of hanging rings and a tire swing for the girls to play on. In winter, one could imagine that the raised structure would be the perfect spot to lob snowballs from.
More
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More
7 Tips for Designing a Backyard Treehouse Like a Pro
10 Cool Ideas for Backyard Retreats and Playhouses
Find a professional on Houzz
Location: Moscow, Vermont (near Stowe)
Used as: A playhouse for kids and a spot for overnight guests
Set across a small pond from the main house, this treehouse in Vermont serves as a play space for children and spillover sleeping quarters for overnight guests — particularly useful when the owners throw their “notoriously great parties,” says project manager Nick Skwira of Steel Construction. The interior includes a wood-burning stove, sleeping area and lounge, and is insulated for year-round use. The wide wraparound porch looks out to the pond and offers a viewing deck for spotting birds and other wildlife.