Extravagant Playsets to Inspire Your Backyard

With summer in full swing, the days are longer and the weather is nicer, which means you and your little ones will want to spend as much time outside as possible. A great way to pass the time can be finding outdoor activities that double as exercise! Your kiddos will be wiped by the time they’re done, and you’ll get some well-deserved down time. While spending an afternoon at a local park serves as a great way for the kids to have some much-needed fun in the sun, why not consider setting up a backyard playset offering the kids a multitude of things to do like climb, swing, and slide from the comforts of home?

If you’re up for a good old-fashioned summer DIY project, read on to learn about some unique playsets you can use as inspiration to build your own dream setup!

How much do elaborate playsets cost?

While you could surely hire a professional to build a backyard playset, it can also be a fun DIY project a handy weekend warrior could tackle. Plus, when you construct one yourself, you won’t have to shell out additional money for labour. Instead, you can put your money toward impressive features and add-ons. When it comes to cost, it really depends on factors such as the equipment you choose, the surface, and the price to level your yard. Fully-loaded backyard playsets with all the bells and whistles can cost more than a whopping $19,600, while more modest sets can cost around $520.

Of course, you could always go the DIY route and build your own backyard masterpiece, in which you would have to buy all of the lumber and pieces of equipment separately. This way you’ll have the chance to build a custom-designed creation that could range from a simple platform with a slide and a swing to a soaring fortress with swings, monkey bars, a climbing wall, and even a towering slide.

Creating your own playset

Sure, it might be tempting to buy a kids playset you can simply piece together, but who wants a setup that looks like everyone else’s? You want your backyard to be the envy of all your neighbours! By building your own, you can save some money and create something truly unique and something your kids will love.First thing’s first—ask your children what kind of features they would prefer for their play structure. Do they like simpler models with a slide and swing or a themed, multi-levelled design that will suit their changing needs for years to come? Next, you’re going to want to determine what kind of structure you want, whether it’s on the ground or elevated in the air.

On-the-ground structures are definitely the easier of the two options and can resemble an outdoor fort with a single room, windows, and doors. From there you can incorporate features like a swing set and even a sandbox. If you choose to make an elevated play structure, you can really get creative and build a towering fort with multiple levels and add fun features your kiddos will enjoy. Some of our favourite features are swings—including rope, tire, and traditional options—trapeze bars, rings, slides, monkey bars, rock climbing walls, rope walls, ziplines, fire poles, bridges, and ladders. To really make the play structure your own, incorporate a fun theme into your design that will help spark your children’s imagination. Some fun (and children-approved) themes include castles, pirate ships, jungle, and space.

Times are changing

Long gone are the days of simple, cookie-cutter swing sets and slides. It’s go big or go home for today’s youngsters, with some backyard play structures soaring to incredible heights. Some of the coolest designs we’ve seen range from play structures that look like massive bulldozers and giant ships to a multi-levelled tower with a spiral tube slide, and even a Mediterranean-inspired castle with numerous forts, bridges, and hideaways.

Keep in mind

The idea of building your own playset may get your creative juices flowing, but the current prices of lumber may make it a more expensive venture than you originally planned. Though the prices are starting to drop after a wild surge, be sure to figure out your budget before committing to anything drastic. Other things to remember include your municipal bylaws…and your neighbours! Different cities may have certain bylaws when it comes to building a playset in your yard, especially if it’s going to be tall or in the trees, so be sure you have any necessary permits and approvals before the shovel hits the dirt. While you don’t need a permit from your neighbours to build in your own yard, being respectful of their space is always appreciated. If the playset is going to be a towering 15-foot pirate castle, your neighbours may be asking you to walk the plank!Regardless of what playset you choose, it’ll provide your children with endless hours of fun and give them space where they can create memories that will last a lifetime!