This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com on behalf of Erie Insurance.
One of the things that makes a house a home is when it can evolve along with your family. When we built our house 14 years ago, it was just my husband and I. Now that our family has grown to include twin boys, two dogs, and a cat, what we need in a home has changed dramatically.
Fortunately, the house we chose to build has changed along with us. We've replaced the worn out carpet, painted the walls, and upgraded to stainless steel appliances that we couldn't afford originally.
But the best feature that we've added to our home is our deck. It has truly become our family's favorite place to gather, which is why I was surprised to read that it is one of the top 5 features that homeowners would not choose again when purchasing a new home, according to a recent survey by Erie Insurance.
I am not at all surprised though that many homeowners wish that they had gotten hardwood floors in their homes. We were definitely in that category until we replaced our carpet last summer.
Read more about the survey here and see where your must haves rank!
As you can see, our dogs love our deck too. But sometimes, when it gets chaotic out there with the kids, they like to have their own retreat. That's why when my boys outgrew their playhouse we decided to give it a makeover and turn it into a cozy doghouse. It's a super easy DIY project that anyone can do, and our entire family loves the results. Now our dogs have their own newly renovated space too!
DIY Doghouse Playhouse Makeover
Before I show you our DIY doghouse playhouse makeover, let me explain that this is not intended to be a primary outdoor shelter for your dog. If your dog will be alone outdoors for an extended period of time, he or she will need more adequate shelter.
This is a cozy retreat where your dog can relax along with the family, enjoy some fresh air, and keep his or her toys safe from the weather. My dogs love hanging out in here and I'm sure yours will too!
I got the idea to transform our playhouse into a doghouse after my kids outgrew it, and I noticed that our dog Griffey would sometimes hang out in there when we were playing outside.
The playhouse had seen better days and was in desperate need of a makeover. Here's what I did to turn our old playhouse into an adorable dog house.
Start by giving it a good power washing to get years of dirt and grime cleaned away.
Next, completely disassemble your playhouse. You may find even more dirt to wash away once the pieces are taken apart.
Then, let the pieces dry completely. Now you're ready to paint.
Painting a plastic playhouse is easier than you may think. All you need is some quality spray paint. I used dark gray for the bottom half and roof, white for the middle sections, and blue for the shutters.
You will want to make sure that your spray paint works on plastic. You may also choose to use a primer coat, however this is not necessary if your paint says that it is paint and primer in one.
You will probably need to do at least 3 coats for complete, even coverage. Let the paint dry between coats. It does take some time but the results will be well worth it!
Of course, Griffey felt that he needed to supervise all of the renovation.
Once your final coat of paint is dry, you can reassemble your playhouse. Then you can add the finishing touches that will make your playhouse the perfect retreat for your dog.
You'll want to add a cozy bed inside to keep your pet comfortable. Since it will be outdoors, I recommend one that is washable. Be sure to add a water bowl as well.
We also added a cute dog garden light and a welcome mat for those muddy paws.
I used my Cricut to add some vinyl decor to the front of the house as well. If you don't have a cutting machine, you can paint on some paw prints or even your dog's name to the front of your house.
Inside, I used a command hook to hang a cute sign and a small bucket of tennis balls (Griffey's favorite). It looks like he approves!
He does have to share the house with our other dog Grady, who loves to take an afternoon nap on the cozy bed. At his request, we added a treat jar too.
Making your house a place that you love is one of the great joys of home ownership. As we've improved our home over the years, it is clear that one of the most important ways that we can protect it is with guaranteed replacement coverage on our homeowners insurance policy.
Guaranteed replacement coverage means that your coverage will pay to rebuild your home in today's dollars. This type of coverage gives you peace of mind that your home will be protected.
Understanding homeowners insurance can be tough, which is why every Erie Insurance homeowners policy comes with a local agent who can talk you through your options and make sure that you have the coverage you need.
Is your home protected as well as it can be? Find out more here, and talk with your local Erie Insurance agent to get the facts about homeowners insurance.
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