Monday, January 13th
2025 Playhouse Reviews
Little Cottage Company
- Prices starting at $2,626
- 10 playhouses
- Family-owned Amish company
- Bright, unique exteriors
- 10% off + free shipping sale
- Made in the USA
- "A+” Better Business Bureau rating
Little Cottage Company was established in 1999 by founder Dan Schlabach. He began using his woodworking skills to create playhouses and was invigorated by the joy and excitement that came to children and families by doing so. Throughout the years, the catalog of Little Cottage Company expanded to include other structures like sheds, greenhouses, chicken coops, dog kennels, and poly furniture for adults and children.
Talk of the town
If you purchase a playhouse from Little Cottage Company, you'll have all the neighbor kids flocking to play in your yard and it will be the talk of the town. These unique playhouses are so ornate, bright, and realistic-looking. Some are Victorian-style with tall roof peaks, bright pink exteriors, a small fenced porch, big windows, and decorative trim. Some are designed to look like grand mansions, Cape Cod homes, and even one called "Little Cottage Chapel” in all white with a red door and tall steeple.
Select your size
In total there are 10 playhouses from Little Cottage Company that range in price from $2,626 to $15,866, all with free shipping. When you select a playhouse, you'll have size options to choose from that will affect the overall price. While we were shopping, a banner was displayed across the top of the website offering 10% off all purchases - which could take over $1,000 off your purchase depending on the playhouse you choose, so definitely keep an eye out for a similar promotion.
Build from a kit
All of the playhouses come in kits, so you'll need to follow the instructions and put it together upon arrival. Pay attention to the list of items that the kit does not include, which are usually things like shingles, paint, and drip edges that you'll need to buy separately. A quantity list of these things is provided with your purchase. You can view some photos with general step-by-step instructions to get an idea of how the wall panels for the playhouse come and what it will take to put it together. Most playhouses will take 2 people around 4-8 hours to build (though Victorian mansions will take longer) and you'll only need basic carpentry skills and tools for assembly.
All sales are final
Most playhouses say they ship in 4-6 weeks. Once you've made a purchase from Little Cottage Company, there's no going back since all sales are final. If you cancel your order within 24 hours, you can get a refund, but after this point, there are no returns or refunds of any kind. If your order arrives with issues, Little Cottage Company asks that you reach out to them directly to get it taken care of. There is also no mention of a warranty.
Few, mixed reviews
The Better Business Bureau gives Little Cottage Company an "A+” rating. There are only a handful of customer reviews to be found on Little Cottage Company's website and third-party web pages, but what we saw was mixed. Some people referred to other structures like the sheds and said that the assembly was tricky because not all the cuts were made right and some of the quality seemed flimsy. Others had no issues at all with their product. There are unfiltered reviews on the playhouses themselves (though not very many) so at the very least, you should read through those to identify key details about quality, assembly, customer service, and durability overtime.
Fun, unique options
Overall we are impressed with Little Cottage Company, mostly because of the unique designs of their Amish-made playhouses. This is a company that's proud of their work and has a good selection, but we do wish they had more details about the materials their playhouses are made of and if they offer a warranty. Otherwise, we recommend shopping at Little Cottage Company if you have the budget for it. This is not the cheapest playhouse option you'll find, but it's worth looking into if you want something extremely unique.
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Where Can You Find the Best Playhouses?
Parents are always looking for ways to keep their children entertained for hours while nurturing their imagination. Playhouses are a great way to allow a kid to explore new worlds by playing store, kitchen, princesses, knights, or whatever their limitless minds come up with. They're plenty of fun for one kid alone or a bunch of siblings and friends who join in too.
Playhouses are one of those toys that never goes out of style and is enjoyed by those young and old - sure to be a huge hit for a birthday present, Christmas gift, or just for fun. And, there are plenty of different types of playhouses to fit the space you have and the style you're going for.
Playhouse FAQ
Continued from above...
Some people like having an indoor playhouse while others prefer to have one outdoors. You could even choose to move your playhouse indoors and then outdoors as the weather changes, to switch things up throughout the seasons. Be sure to consider the type of materials your playhouse is made out of if you choose to do this, to ensure it can withstand the elements on rainy, windy, or snowy days.
For simplicity, you may choose to buy a pop-up type playhouse. This requires almost no assembly and could even be stored away as your kid gets older or for times when you need a little breathing room and want some of your space back for a while. Others are made of wood, which gives the playhouse a beautiful, classic look, but may require some repainting over the years, especially if left outside. Plastic materials are popular since they often are good for all types of weather and are easy to clean.
Consider the ages of the kids who will be using the playhouse. Do you want something with a tall tower or rock climbing wall and big slide to add a challenge to playtime? Or would you rather stick with a simple structure with a play table and sink that's safe and fun for all ages? Some have water tables connected, a sandbox, little shelves for displaying trinkets, or bridges connecting separate spaces. These are great additions for kids young and old.
These days you can get so many types of features included with a playhouse, even super-realistic ones that resemble a home with flower boxes, drapes, a mailbox, and a front porch. Think about how mobile you'll want the playhouse to be, who will be using it, and what types of weather it will be exposed to to help you start narrowing the hundreds of fun choices you're about to explore.
There are many places online that sell playhouses. Some are stores you may be familiar with while others are smaller, family brands that have a fun variety of products. So who do you choose? Consider these key areas when shopping for a playhouse:
- Selection. Does the store have a variety of materials that their playhouses are made of? Do they have good size options that would cater to your indoor/outdoor areas? Are they mostly meant for toddlers? Or would big kids find these playhouses enjoyable as well?
- Price. Depending on the size, features, and material of the playhouse, prices can range quite a bit. Find a retailer that offers you options on the low and high end to give you the best selection. We like when websites have filtering tools that let us set our budget so we aren't tempted to spend more than we should.
- Delivery. How long does it take for the company to ship their playhouses? Are they made-to-order and require a lead time of weeks or months or are they ready to go? On top of the price of the playhouse, pay attention to how much the company might charge for delivery and see if it seems reasonable.
- Reputation. What have other customers said about the quality of playhouses from the retailer? Do they hold up well over the years? Is their customer service responsive and easy to deal with if you're trying to track down a shipment or if your playhouse happens to come with missing pieces or some other issue? How are they with cancellations and returns?
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the best, most fun playhouses available online. We hope this information helps unlock your inner child and find something that your own children will love and spend years playing with!
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