DIY Treehouse Design Ideas

Every kid loves a treehouse and these 50 treehouse designs are inspiring examples of the best treehouse designs we’ve ever seen. Most of these designs are small and we believe a treehouse should be cozy, not expansive. But the larger treehouses all have fun play areas and features such as slides, rope swings, climbing walls and ropes and buckets. Did you grow up with a treehouse? Do you have one in your yard right now? We’d love to see it! Here are 28 more treehouse designs you’ll love.

Tree houses are for everyone with imagination. Elevate your building skills with these tree house building tips from experienced builders, including attachment techniques, site choice, assembly techniques, design ideas and more.

Overview: The inspiration of tree houses

Tree house and suspended walk

This tree house has electricity and the access is a walkway hung on cables.

Photo courtesy of Out'n'About

Climbing trees has always been part of human history, allowing us to escape floods, saber-toothed tigers and intruders (especially parents with chores in mind). Building tree houses has long been part of human history, too. In that spirit, we’ve gathered tree house building tips, project ideas and photos from TFH readers and professional tree house builders. Maybe something here will inspire you to build the tree house of your dreams, for the special kids in your life or as a way to escape from modern day saber-toothed tigers and chore-requesting spouses. Enjoy!

“You get a different perspective when you’re up in a tree. First of all, nobody can find you because nobody ever looks up. And when you’re up there, you’re able to look up, down and all around - it’s another world up there.” Michael Garnier, professional tree house builder

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Building Tip 1: Site considerations

Choose a healthy, long-lived hardwood for maximum support, with load-bearing branches at least 8 in. in diameter (larger if the species is a softwood).

The best trees include maple, oak, fir, beech and hemlock.

You don’t have to build it very high, just high enough so nobody gets a bump on the head when walking underneath it.

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Building Tip 2: Keep weight and stability in mind

Single trunk construction

When building on one main trunk, level the main platform by cantilevering the beams and supporting them from below.

Photo courtesy of Sean Milroy

Build the platform as close to the trunk as possible and add diagonal bracing for extra strength to support uneven loads.

Put the load over the base of the tree, not on one side.

For heavy tree houses, consider spreading the weight among several trees.

A tree house will act as a sail in strong winds, which can add a large load to the tree’s roots. In high-wind areas, build your tree house in the lower third of the tree.

“I built a tree house for my kids in our backyard (Photo). It was tricky getting the roof in place and, of course, nothing is square. They drew the wall design on regular paper, and we transferred the pictures to the walls, using a grid method. We replace the old pictures with new ones each year.” Sean Milroy

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Building Tip 3: Don’t Restrict Tree Growth

Leave gaps around the tree

To accommodate tree movement and growth, allow gaps around any branches or trunks that penetrate the tree house.

Photo courtesy of Craig MacLean

Don’t constrict branches with rope, straps or wire. This can strangle the tree.

Add spacers between the beams and the tree to allow movement.

Use extra-long large bolts. This leaves most of the shaft exposed so you can mount items on the ends and lets the tree grow over the shaft (see “Use the Right Fasteners,” Tip 6, below).

Allow a 2-in. gap around the tree if it passes through the floor and a 3-in. gap if it passes through the roof (photo).