DIY - How to Build Under Stairs Playhouse

How to Build Under Stairs Playhouse

Sometimes in life you find yourself with space that isn't very useable. Hard to get access too and need to crawl inside to get things. You could just ignore it, or you could turn it into a fancy white shiplap playhouse. You might view it as a complete waste of money especially when kids grow up, but eventually, hopefully, those kids will have kids who can enjoy it. 

Tools

Miter saw  ~$200 - Amazon Link

Level  ~$10 - Amazon Link

Measuring Tape ~ $20 - Amazon Link

Nail Gun ~ $200 - Amazon Link

Circular Saw ~ $100 - Amazon Link

Total: $530

Materials

2.5 Inch Construction Screws - Cost: ~$10 - Home Depot Link

2x4 Lumber - Cost: ~$20 - Home Depot Link - 

Shiplap - Cost: ~$200 - Rona Link

Dap - Cost: ~$3 - Home Depot Link

14/2 Wire - Cost: ~ $60 Home Depot Link

Outlet Box - Cost: ~ $6 Home Depot Link

Octagon Steel Ceiling Box - Cost: ~ $4.50 Home Depot Link

Twinkle Light - Cost ~ $20 Amazon Link

Total: $323.5

Equivalent playhouses are roughly $400 built with inferior materials and don't have working electrical. Plus built in just looks and feels better.

  

Process

Step 1: Framing

You only need to frame two walls for this project since the sides are already done for you. A tiny wall on the back and wall with a tiny door on the front. Make sure to use pressure treated lumber for the bottom of the wall in case of water damage. The walls are not load bearing so precision is not necessary.

Step 2: Painting

Now this could have been done as step 1 and it probably would have been easier since you don't have to crawl through a tiny door, but I did this step 2. I didn't want to drywall the ceiling since the ceiling is already so low. I did a nice coat of white paint turned the unfinished stairs into a nicer looks stairs while keeping maximum head space. 

Step 3: Rough In Electrical

The rest of the basement was finished making it impossible to run a new circuit, so I just connected on to a nearby circuit since the load is only two things: a light and one outlet. If you are wondering how to do electrical it is really not as scary or difficult as it looks. Make sure the power is off on the breaker for the circuit you are working on then connect black to black and white to white. Make sure the black power wire go to everything you want to power then the white wire completes the circuit. 

A good resource I used to learn electrical is Construction Coach on YouTube

Step 3: Shiplap

Shiplap isn't to difficult but for a playhouse it requires a lot of bending down and crawling inside which is not ideal. Lots of measuring then cutting with the miter saw, leveling each piece then nailing into place. Also having to make sure each wall is level and aligned with the wall next to it so the lines match up. Start at the bottom of the wall and place nails on the top of the small lip so the next piece will cover it. The angled cuts will be the most difficult but luckily you can just dap the gaps if it doesn't quite line up perfectly.   

Step 4: Finishing Electrical

Attach Light Switch: Black hot wire to switch and the other black wire to the load or in this case the light.

Attach Outlet: Black wire to gold (right side) and white wire to sliver (left side)

Attach Sconce: Black wire to black wire, white to white and ground to ground.

Attach Twinkle Lights: Staple to the ceiling and plug in.

Kids Playhouse's can be purchased from Walmart or Costco but they also can be built yourself, increasing the quality and giving you pride of ownership. If kids become too old for the playhouse you can always turn in into a fancy doghouse. 

If you found this helpful and would like help budgeting or investing please email me at taylormckeecoaching@gmail.com