With dainty wavy trim, faux chimneys, flower boxes, and white picket fences, these charming playhouses make me wish I were a kid again. Once built in the backyard, it’ll become a destination for hours of imaginary play, whether your kids are playing house, ruling their own tiny kingdom, or dreaming up fairytale adventures. They might even turn it into a pretend bakery to serve you up sweets or a secret clubhouse for their friends. When they’re a little older, it becomes a place to do homework or practice an instrument.
From Victorian mansions and Cape Cod houses to gingerbread cottages, the adorable designs are meant to emulate popular design styles. Little Cottage Co. sells more than 50 different styles on Amazon, all with slightly different layouts—some have sloped roofs, extra windows, loft space, front porches, and dutch doors.
Little Cottage Co.’s Playhouses
My personal favorite is the gingerbread cottage because of the sloped roof and heart stamped above the front door, plus that precious trim. The Cape Cod might be equally as cute, with its shutters, dutch doors, and dormer windows—plus there’s space for an optional loft to encourage your kid to spend even more time inside.
Depending on how much backyard space you’ve got (and how many kids you can expect to play inside), there are so many sizes to choose from, from smaller 4’ x 6’ houses to spacious 10’ x 12’ structures. Most models can accommodate a deck with a rail, a loft, or both for an added price.
All wood panels are pre-assembled, labeled, and ready for assembly, so you don’t have to be an expert to bring this fairytale to life. Keep in mind, the playhouse don’t arrive painted—so you’ll have to pick out your family’s favorite color.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.
