Pretend plays can contribute to a child’s growth and development, and a playhouse is the best tool. However, playing outdoors isn’t for everyone, both kids and parents. Playing indoors is ideal for easier supervision and the kids’ safety. You need an indoor playhouse for that.
This article has compiled the best options you can choose from. Discover what features each has to offer and learn what you would need to consider. Find and get a kids' indoor playhouse and let your child engage in a more fun way of learning and entertainment. Plus, get tips on what considerations to make when choosing and buying one.
10 Best Kid’s Indoor Playhouses for Ages 3 and Above
1. Backyard Discovery Sweetwater Playhouse
Get a realistic wooden playhouse with the Backyard Discovery Sweetwater Playhouse. It offers a sweet and typical playhouse design, from wooden paneling to airy windows, a sink, and even a working doorbell. Kids can use and integrate it into different imaginative plays. For example, they can use it as a kitchen, a restaurant, and a whole house when playing.
If you want to customize it more, add plants to the flowerpots to make it more homey. Plus, the large windows will allow you to keep an eye on your child while they play. This way, you can ensure their safety even when you’re across the room.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 46 x 42 x 55 inches
- Age Range: 2 to 6 years
What to Like About It:
- Sturdy and durable cedar wood material
- It comes with play kitchen accessories
- It’s affordable and offers great value for money
- It can also be used outdoors
Things to Consider:
- Assembly may take hours
2. 2MamaBees Oceano Playhouse
If you want a more modern-looking playhouse for your kid, get the 2MamaBees Oceano Playhouse. It has a stunning white and black farmhouse design that can serve as a beautiful addition to your home decor. It has good design elements that your kid can use for creative sensory plays.
It has a built-in kitchen and a big, airy window that a kid can use to play all kinds of pretend games. They can even set up and have their own mini garden with its flower boxes at the front. With these, they can develop both their physical and mental skills. It also comes with a bench for more realistic plays. Plus, it’s made kid-friendly and uses no toxic or harmful substances and materials.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 90 x 68 x 73 inches (includes bench)
- Age Range: 2 years and above
What to Like About It:
- Passed all F963 toy testing
- It comes with cooking toys and accessories
- Suitable for outdoor use as well
- Sturdy wood construction
Things to Consider:
- Relatively expensive
3. Smoby House on Stilts
Another good playhouse material is plastic, especially if you ask kids. If you prefer that, you can consider getting the Smoby House on Stilts for a plastic playhouse. It features child-friendly colors and an elevated design—two main reasons why kids love it. Even its design is aesthetically pleasing, as its side walls have a wooden grain effect and great detailing.
Most importantly, unlike common playhouses, this playhouse has a slide, hence its elevated design. Two to three children, or more, can take turns sliding down and playing in the mini house at the top. Combining these two makes a great space for different pretend plays and fun games.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 102.36 x 62.99 x 77.56 inches
- Age Range: 2 years and above
What to Like About It:
- High platform
- Anti-UV treated for durability
- Sturdy plastic material and build
- Suitable for outdoor use as well
Things to Consider:
- Available in one color scheme only
4. Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse
If you’re on a budget, consider the Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse. Despite being a simple playhouse, it’s popular among toddlers and parents. This is because it offers great value—it’s the most budget-friendly option on the list. It also comes in a size that will fit in the corner of your kid’s room for a dedicated play space.
It’s also made of plastic, so setting it up is fairly simple and fast. It’s also lightweight, so if you or your kid want to place it outside, it will be easy to carry and move. However, take note that its construction may be a little flimsy, so it’s still best to safely use indoors.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 49 x 42.8 x 35 inches
- Age Range: 2 to 6 years
What to Like About It
- Available in different color schemes
- Designed with a slot for letters
- Detailed design
Things to Consider
- No interactive features like a kitchen or doorbell
5. 2MamaBees Zahara Playhouse
Another great playhouse from 2MamaBees is the Zahara Playhouse. It features a cozy cottage feel with its black-and-white farmhouse design. Aside from its black roof and door and brown potted boxes, everything else is white. This makes the playhouse aesthetically pleasing and makes it look more like a real house. With a little bit of decor and accessories, your kid can make it look like their mini home.
Fortunately, this playhouse already comes with a lot of those. The package includes child-sized cooking tools that they can use to pretend they run a restaurant and cook their favorite food. It’s even designed with a small bench on the side for more interactive play with their friends and playmates.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 67 x 49 x 72 inches (including bench)
- Age Range: 2 years and above
What to Like About It:
- Non-toxic and kid-safe materials and build
- Durable and sturdy wooden construction
- Suitable for outdoor use as well
- It comes with many accessories
- Passed all F963 toy testing
Things to Consider:
- Relatively more expensive than other playhouses
6. Kiddiewinkles Outer Space and Rocket Large Playhouse
If you think a solid playhouse isn’t ideal for your kid and home, get one made with fabric like the Kiddiewinkles Outer Space and Rocket Large Playhouse. It’s made with 100% cotton and hand-embroidered with a unique galaxy galore design that your kids will love. It has some rockets, planets, and stars that would look great in their dedicated playing space.
It offers an impressive amount of space inside where kids can play whatever they want. You can even personalize it with your child’s name or use their favorite space movie dialogue. In case you need to store it away, it comes with a storage bag so you can easily hide it in a closet or cabinet.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 52.76 x 43.31 x 64.96 inches
- Age Range: Not Specified
What to Like About It:
- Spacious and lightweight
- Easy to set up
- It can also be used outdoors
Things to Consider:
- No accessories or built-in interactive features
7. 2MamaBees Ajure Playhouse
Get a simpler playhouse from 2MamaBees with the Ajure Playhouse. Unlike the other two previous models, this playhouse doesn’t come with a bench, making it more compact or easy to set up in rooms with limited space. The Ajure is made of sturdy wood and without any toxic or harmful substances and materials, making it safe for children.
Additionally, with its built-in kitchen and included cooking toys, they can enjoy a wide range of sensory plays. They can pretend to cook, clean, and even sell food. Plus, the color and overall appearance of the playhouse can make a good aesthetic addition to any space.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 50 x 46 x 68 inches
- Age Range: 2 years and above
What to Like About It:
- Built-in potted garden so your kids can add flowers
- Clean white look
- Airy windows and openings
- Suitable for outdoor use as well
Things to Consider:
- Quite more expensive than other playhouses
8. Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage Homestyle Edition
Many playhouses aren’t ideal and are recommended for ages below 24 months. If you have a younger toddler, you can get them the Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage Homestyle Edition instead. It’s widely known for its open design, which makes it easy for children to see out and for you to keep an eye on what’s happening inside the playhouse. This makes it an ideal choice for younger toddlers.
They can use it to do different kinds of pretend plays as it has a sink, grill, counter space, a play phone, and even a seat. It also comes with a working doorbell, giving kids a more realistic feel of the playhouse that can engage their cognitive and motor skills. However, take note that this is made of plastic, not wood.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 49.8 x 33.8 x 53.3 inches
- Age Range: 18 months and above
What to Like About It:
- Built-in pot for flowers
- Working doors and shutters
- Water and weather-resistant, so it’s suitable for outdoor use as well
- Affordable
Things to Consider:
- Assembly may require some care
9. Tiny Land Large Space Play House
If you don’t want a wooden or plastic playhouse, you can also opt for a more tent-like option like the Tiny Land Large Space Playhouse. It’s a simple yet beautiful option made of fabric with a plastic frame. This design and build allow you and your kid to personalize and style it however you like. You can even add more play tools and accessories inside for a wider range of pretend play and entertainment.
It has a curtain-like opening instead of a door, making it look more spacious and cozy. As your kid grows up, you can even transform it from a playhouse into a reading corner. With this playhouse, you can support and encourage your kid’s growth and development as they get older.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 53 x 36 x 60 inches
- Age Range: 3 years and above
What to Like About It:
- Extremely affordable
- Easy to assemble
- It can be used by up to four or five kids
- It comes with string lights you can attach
Things to Consider:
- For indoor use only
10. Step2 Adventure Camper Playhouse
Do you think house-like designs are too common? Do you want something more unique and different? Then, the Step2 Adventure Camper Playhouse might be a good choice for you. It has a camper design, with wheels and all, making it different from most playhouses in the market. With such a design, your kid can use it as a home, a food truck, a restaurant, and more.
It has an open design, so you can easily monitor what they’re doing inside. It also has many built-in and interactive features, like a sink, stove, skylight, and more. Plus, to encourage and engage more creativity and cognitive development, it comes with a 50-piece accessory set, including play utensils and food.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 50 x 36 x 63 inches
- Age Range: 2 years and above
What to Like About It:
- Durable plastic material
- It features a built-in floor
- It offers great value for money
- It can be used outdoors as well
Things to Consider:
- Assembly can take time
Key Considerations When Buying an Indoor Playhouse
Choosing the right and best playhouse for your kid isn’t always a straightforward process. But to make it easier, here are some tips and considerations you should keep in mind when buying:
Age Suitability
Always make sure that the playhouse is recommended and appropriate for your child. Remember, different playhouses are appropriate for different ages. Aside from checking age appropriateness, it’s best to look for one that your kid can use for a long time.
To get the most out of your money and the playhouse, check the age suitability range of the structure. Consider getting one that’s suitable for older children as well. Make sure that as your kid grows, they can still play and use the playhouse.
Size and Space Requirements
Check the size and dimensions of the playhouse to ensure that it will fit in your available space. If you still don’t have an idea on where to place it, you can consider your kid’s playroom, bedroom, or in a common area, like near the kitchen so you can keep an eye on them while doing chores. Nevertheless, wherever you place it, you need to make sure that you can set it up in that space without any obstructions and problems.
At the same time, make sure that the size is big enough for your kid to play comfortably. It should have enough room inside for them to move in and around. If you have indoor space for a large playhouse, consider getting that size so your child can still use it as they get bigger and grow. A larger size would also make it easier for them to play with siblings and friends.
Materials and Construction
To ensure your kid’s safety and the longevity of the playhouse, consider the materials and overall quality of the construction of the playhouse you plan to buy. Playhouses come in a wide range of materials and styles, wood and plastic being the most common. Wood is a sturdy and durable material that can make the playhouse even usable outdoors. However, wooden playhouses can be quite tricky to assemble.
On the other hand, plastic is also a durable material and is usually easier to assemble. However, if you want to use the playhouse outdoors at some point, some plastic might get easily damaged by the weather and other elements.
But aside from those two, indoor playhouses can also be made of fabric. They’re easier to assemble and are usually cheaper. However, take note that they’re usually more tent-like and less durable. They’re specifically designed for indoor use only and may or may not come with any playing accessories and built-in features.
Portability
Although this isn’t as important as the rest, portability ensures that you can easily move the playhouse. It’s a necessary factor to consider if you think your kid would want to move the playhouse around, like using them outdoors. Portability will also indicate how easy to store the playhouse is, which is more common among fabric and plastic playhouses. You would want to make sure it’s lightweight enough for you to move it alone.
Interactive Features and Accessories
For a complete setup, check if a playhouse comes with accessories that your kid can play with. At the same time, it’s best if the playhouse has built-in interactive features. These can be a sink, stove, doors, and a doorbell. Some playhouses may even come with benches, mailboxes, and potted boxes for a mini garden.
Essentially, you want your kid’s playhouse to have these to make the most out of your money. However, you should also take into account that having many features like these may also result in higher price tags than those without them.
Price
The price of an indoor playhouse depends mainly on its material, features, and accessories. Wooden playhouses usually cost more than other materials. Plastic playhouses may seem more affordable, while fabric ones are the most inexpensive.
Depending on your budget, you can choose whatever material you prefer. However, you also have to take note that the material affects the durability of the playhouse, so a more expensive material may be worth it if you want a high-quality playhouse.
Conclusion
Aside from choosing a beautiful playhouse, you must ensure your kid can use it safely and for a long time. If you want a kid's playhouse indoors, consider the size, features, construction, price, and other essential factors. Of course, you can always refer to the list we have above for your best options. But if you want to check out more, visit our playhouse collection!
