Convert Your Kids’ Playhouse into a Haunted House for Halloween

Just Add Spiders

Modern, Halloween-themed signs and garlands make this playhouse by @maggiejeanspears cute and spooky, but the spiders make the biggest impact.

To recreate this look on your playhouse, don’t hold back on the spider webs. Stretch the fabric webs to create a thick layer over multiple surfaces on the playhouse. Then add the spiders! Plastic spiders from the dollar store will do the trick — the more creepy crawly spiders, the better the effect.

Painted Halloween Makeover

Take an ordinary plastic playhouse and transform it into a Halloween fun house with spray paint!

First, thoroughly clean the house with soap and water. Then spray paint the roof, door and other accents. (Make sure the paint is formulated for use on plastic.) Black and orange are obvious color choices, but purple and green look great too, as seen here in this impressive playhouse makeover by @ealgarin2.

Boneyard Bash

It’s nearly impossible to get your hands on the 12-foot skeleton that went viral earlier this year for your front yard, but an oversized skeleton for the playhouse is a little easier to manage! The smaller scale gives you the same effect with a six-foot skeleton.

This playhouse by @thehouseholdreview features two welcoming skeletons, as well as pumpkins, hay stacks, sunflowers and spiders. Too cute!

Giant Furry Spiders

If you don’t feel like attaching dozens of small spiders to your playhouse, go with big, furry ones instead! A few well-placed giant spiders give this Halloween playhouse from @homewithjoanie just the right amount of spookiness in much less time. Finish the look with potted mums and piles of pumpkins for the right balance of scary and inviting.

Indoor Spooky Playhouse

Indoor playhouses can get a spooktacular makeover, too!

@chloe_duffy3 saw this playhouse as the perfect blank canvas for Halloween decor. Then she went all out with string lights, pumpkins, spiders and even a rat! Our favorite part: The shredded cheesecloth hanging in the doorway, which makes entering appropriately creepy.

Scary Sweet Playhouse

For a sweeter take on spooky decor, ditch the black and orange. This playhouse from @minimal_ishmom is done up in white, pink and purple for an adorable, unique look.

Can’t find any pastel Halloween decorations? Spray paint traditional decor to easily match your color palette. Don’t forget the gold skeleton to welcome your little ones to the house!

Spray Foam Texture

If you’re not lucky enough to own a permanent playhouse, check out this creative idea from @lauren.clutter.

Cover a cardboard playhouse with a layer of insulating spray foam, then attach various skulls, spiders and bats. After it’s dry, cover the whole thing with black spray paint. The resulting spooky texture makes a perfect haunted house exterior. Your kids will love discovering all the creepy camouflaged shapes.

Movie Theme

Use your kids’ favorite Halloween movie as inspiration for their playhouse transformation.

This Beetlejuice playhouse by @tehetessa2 is a playful tribute to the popular movie, complete with flashing lights that are sure to delight the kids. (For a light show outdoors, consider a Halloween projector.) A balloon garland is an easy and inexpensive way to make a big impact while matching the movie color theme.