Having a playhouse is every child’s dream.
But many parents may be put off by the sky-high prices that can be found online.
And with Christmas fast approaching, you may be thinking how else to treat your little ones.
But one couple managed to build their own impressive pink playhouse for their four-year-old daughter for just £400.
Amy Townsend, 27, salon owner from Pembrokeshire, found similar playhouses online for up to £1,500.
Instead, the mum-of-one and partner Morgan decided to build their daughter her very own unique playhouse, that comes with two levels.
Amy told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk : “We came up with the idea as it was my four-year-old daughter's birthday in September.
"I'd been looking at playhouses for a while online and they all seemed so expensive for the size plus almost all of them were out of stock and couldn't be delivered in time.
"I really wanted one with an upstairs but just couldn't afford to buy one that expensive as they were upwards of £1,000!
"My partner Morgan, who is quite handy and has a passion for woodworking, told me he could build me a playhouse twice the size for the same amount as the smaller ones I was looking at.”
Morgan managed to use wood from previous projects, and bought some new treated shiplap cladding, OSB Boards for the floor, and roofing felt from Wickes. Perspex was used for the windows.
In his workshop, he created a frame for each side to begin with, using photos for inspiration of how they wanted it to look.
Amy added: “He’s used to working with wood so it only took him four days to make the actual frame and just under a week to complete it. Even if we had bought a playhouse online we would have had to build it ourselves.”
The couple dug up an unused piece of garden and covered it in weed membrane and stones to create a small area in front of the playhouse.
"I painted the inside and outside myself with Frenchic Alfresco Paint in Dazzle Me and Dusky Blush which I got from a local stockist," Amy said.
"All in all, it cost around £350 to £400 rather than paying for one that size that would easily be around £1,500.”
It came to around £350 for the paint and wood, and another £50 for the interior accessories, which were purchased from B&M, ASDA and Amazon. Amy made the prints herself.
Amy says her daughter “absolutely loves” the playhouse and has played in it every night since it was built.
She said: “It was really helpful having a project to stay busy with during lockdown and it made it really special as my daughter has been stuck inside for six months unable to go and play anywhere other than our house.
"It was really important to us to save as much money as we can as I have my own beauty business and during the lockdown, I wasn’t able to work for five months so I didn’t have the funds available to buy her the house I wanted.
“It made me feel so happy to be able to give my daughter the playhouse I wanted for her for far less. It also means we will have the extra money ready for Christmas.
Amy added: "It also feels special to know that my partner has made it himself and that no-one else will have a playhouse like this!”
