Build your own tree house: Be inspired!

How long have you been dreaming of your kids having an exciting place to play and experience new adventures? Well it’s time to get started with your project. There are many different versions to suit your tastes and the trees that you have in your garden – some are easier to build and some are a tad bit more complicated. We’ll show you what a hanging tree house can look like and what you should pay attention to while building one. You can also let our alternative designs inspire you.

The hanging tree house

Traditional tree houses are normally found in the middle of sturdy branches or are secured with extra columns. But we designed a version that hangs in the tree. What makes this tree house special is that, when built correctly, it is extremely stable and can even grow with the tree.
Of course, it’s important that the tree you select has a very stable branch on the lower part of the trunk. Only then can the suspension really be tied down securely.
Depending on the height of the tree, you can or may even have to design the hanging tree house accordingly. You will probably need to have some sort of ladder, rope ladder or small set of stairs. Would you also like a veranda? If so, it needs to be built around the tree. Because the tree trunk will also continue to grow in width, make sure to leave enough of a gap.
As you can see in the images, we’ve built a small house with an outdoor area and fence on the wooden floor.

The structure itself

So, how exactly do you build a hanging tree house? It’s not so easy to give a general set of instructions because it has to be adjusted very particularly to fit the tree you want to build it in. In any case, we can show you a few important things about it.

You can see the basic structure made of several beams in the first diagram. The frame for the floor, the design for the suspension and additional support beams for the small house are particularly important. You can also see the hole for the tree trunk marked in red. You should also place support beams around the hole for additional support.

The diagram in image 2 provides another side view of the construction, which also shows you the angle of the suspensions and the positions for the thick screws. It’s particularly important to note that at no point is the tree house screwed directly to the tree. It simply hangs and supports itself. The branch, on which the crossbeam of the suspension rests, needs to be secured using a rubber mat. This prevents the tree from being damaged.

The third diagram once again shows the length and width (in cm) of our version. This will give you an idea of how to adjust the beams for your own structure.

The details

For our version of the hanging tree house, we paid close attention to the details – some of which are crucial for the structure itself and some of which are more on the creative side.
One detail that is particularly important is the structure of the suspension. Image 1 gives you a more precise idea of how to place the beams on the fork between the tree trunk and the thick branch. Of course, the beams you use should be very stable and fixed with appropriately thick screws. Round-head screws with square necks and locknuts are perfect for the job. Their lengths depend on the thickness of the beams and they have to really be screwed in deeply.

Of course, how you choose to decorate the inside is completely up to you. We’ve gone for a playful, round window in combination with a traditional square ones (image 2). As you can see in the image, all the sawed cut-outs have been reinforced with a frame (also image 3). When deciding on where to position the windows, make sure to place them in such a way that other branches do not need to be cut off and can instead continue to grow through the opening.

As mentioned above, if you choose to build a veranda for your hanging tree house, it has to be built around the tree trunk (image 4). A small fence, which can of course be decked out with nice colours, provides the necessary security.

Exciting alternatives

Of course, the hanging tree house is a version that is very special and quite complex in its construction. However, there are many different alternatives when it comes to tree houses.
For example, you can also build a small hut directly on stilts instead of hanging it on the tree (image 1). Pillars are definitely the best choice for stabilising your tree house especially if you don’t have a suitable branch to hang it from. You definitely don’t want to start experimenting with branches that end up being too thin in the end! You can also refer to our diagram, if you’re looking to build the small hut. A brief word of caution: Lateral forces will start to be exerted on the structure from a height of one metre. Make sure to do some research on the soil conditions and find out what type and depth are required for the foundation.

A simpler design is the traditional wooden board tree house (image 2). Wooden boards and, above all, pallets can be easily built into the fork of a tree with thick branches. You should make sure not to screw or nail directly into the tree in this case either. Cords and ropes are much more suitable for fastening pallets and such to the branches. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the best methods for tying and knotting so that everything is stable in the end. Individual wooden boards can of course be screwed together.
Make sure that everything is stable and safe, and that you have the necessary railings in place at all times. The same goes for the ladder that you will also most likely need to reach your tree house.

If you’d rather take a more minimalist approach, you can build a pedestal of sorts in the fork of the tree without any extra effort (image 3). It’s built in a similar way to the hanging tree house’s veranda. There are stabilising beams, onto which the longer wooden boards are screwed or nailed. Just like with the tree house made of wooden boards, this minimalistic version should also not be screwed or nailed directly into the tree. Ropes with tight knights are the best alternative. The same aspects with regard to safety and stability mentioned above also apply here.

Whatever version you decide to go with in the end, think about what place is suitable in or on the tree. Draw up a plan. Research the necessary information in terms of stability. And make sure to also pay attention to your own safety while building.

Once you’re finished, nothing will stand in the way of new adventures high above the ground.