How to Expand Your Outdoor Treehouse into an Oasis

Treehouses are lot more than the kid-made symbols of summer that they were in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Today, parents and tree house makers alike are getting more creative with their backyard play areas, making treehouses that help spawn imagination and even grownup fun at the same time.

Whether you’re planning a tree house from scratch or you have an existing climbing frame structure in place already, you can make it the centerpiece of your backyard oasis. Create a family play area that draws kids, family and neighbors to make your backyard truly another extension of your home.

Treehouse Modular Components

Perhaps the best way to really make your treehouse stand out among other backyard play areas is using the right modular components. While traditional treehouses were once the site for rope ladders and swings, you can do a lot more with modern modular designs available to consumers. Slides, ladders, tables and seating areas all turn your treehouse into something out of the ordinary and somewhere that your entire family gravitates toward.

Luckily, since most components are sold separately, you can make a treehouse that’s all your own and nothing like the neighbor’s treehouse. By adding and subtracting the things you’ll really use, you’re able to put a personalized spin on the traditional treehouse.

Imaginative Play

What’s a treehouse for if it isn’t for children’s imaginations? Think back to when you were a child and had your own treehouse. Chances are that it wasn’t just a treehouse, but a secret club, a pirate ship, a schoolhouse or any number of other things that your imagination cooked up.

Give your kids the same opportunity to think and play together by adding modular components and design elements that really help to get their imaginations moving. Whether it’s a secret hiding spot, a letterbox or another component, you can encourage your child to think outside the box by creating a space that offers ample room for imagination and fun.

Adult Flair

While treehouses are usually defined as child’s play, you can make your child’s getaway into something of an adult oasis as well. If you love to exercise, adding some wooden play structures can double as pull-up bars or climbing apparatus to help with toning and strength training.

If you’d rather kick back and relax, add a table with an umbrella to the system so you can hang out with a cold drink while the kids play. By adding more adult components to the structure, your entire family can gather around the treehouse to spend time together as a family.

Treehouse Placement

Before you’re ready to pull the trigger on your treehouse getaway, you’ll need to find the perfect spot for the structure. By assessing your backyard area and finding a shady spot, your treehouse looks like part of the natural landscape and offers a cool getaway for hot, sunny days.

After all, the entire point of a treehouse oasis is to ensure that everyone actually plays and uses it. If the components are hot or it’s not protected from the elements, it may stand empty during most of the year. By choosing a spot that’s shady and protected from wind and rain, you’ll be able to enjoy your play structure for years to come.

While it may not resemble the secret hideout you built with your friends when you were a kid, putting a backyard treehouse on your property might help you feel a little like a child again. Sure, your activities may have changed, but your enjoyment of an old fashioned treehouse probably remains the same as you see it through your child’s eyes. By choosing the right structure and components, it can become a family gathering place for all.