DIY Little Tykes Cozy Cottage Makeover: Part 1 Planning and Shopping
Our daughter absolutely adores the Little Tykes Cozy Cottage we got for her birthday.
But, in the rush of things, we just left it in the backyard without a real plan. She plays with it every day, so we decided it was time to give her cottage a permanent home and make it truly special.
Transforming her cozy cottage into something extra has been a fun (and slightly ambitious) project, and I’m excited to share our journey with you in this three-part series. This first post is all about the planning and shopping phase!
Step 1: Make a List of Projects
The first thing I did was sit down and create a list of everything I wanted to add or update on the cozy cottage. From practical details to fun decor, it was important to have a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve. Here are some of the key ideas that made it to my list:
Flag pole (because every house needs a flag!)
Doorbell
House numbers (using our home address as a teaching tool)
Solar porch light
Window flower box (for seasonal decorating)
Step 2: Find the Best Prices
Once the list was ready, it was time to start hunting for the best deals. A little research can go a long way when you're trying to keep things budget-friendly.
Flag Pole: After a quick search, I discovered that flag poles for playhouses can often be found in the playground accessories section. This fun addition made the cottage feel more like a “real” home for our daughter. EDIT: See PART 2 of why I don't recommend this flag and what I do
After comparing options this is what we decided to go with; however, if you want a cheaper option you could certainly pick up the small outdoor American flags or a small wooden pole from your local craft store.
Doorbells: I decided to go with a slim doorbell which will fit perfectly in such a small space. In my search the price comparison between costs on Walmart versus Amazon were similar. Lowes the costs for a similar doorbell were almost doubled so I felt good about my choice to purchase from Amazon. Ultimately I would love to get something battery-operated because my daughter loves pushing the doorbell at Lollie's (Grandma) house.
House Numbers: We chose to put our actual home address on the cottage to help our daughter learn it. I found house numbers at Lowe’s, though I was surprised at how pricey they were! Adhesive options might have been easier, but I love the ones we got.
Solar Lamps: After comparing prices between Lowe’s, Amazon, and Walmart, I found a great deal on double solar lights from Amazon. I feel were the best fit for both style and price, and I’m excited to see how they light up the little porch area.
Window Flower Box: This was tricky! After browsing Amazon, I ended up getting lucky at Michaels and scored a window box for 60% off. I also picked up faux flowers that will look adorable in the box for fall. I plan to add some spooky elements for Halloween and transition it back to fall after that!
Step 3: Planning the Foundation
We also decided to lay down pavers around the playhouse to keep the area clean and free of dirt when she’s playing. The dimensions of the playhouse are 35.00"L x 42.75"W x 49.00"H which is about 3 feet by a little over 3.5 feet.
Initially, the plan was to cover a 10 x10 area so she would have space for her house and then her outdoor table. but once I was at the store I realized it was unneeded, just having enough to cover the house would be perfect. I chose these 12" x 12 " stones primarily due to cost. I know that the final plan will be to have them covered by an outdoor rug so I was not as concerned about if it matched the brick we have on the patio section of our yard.
I also have never laid down a foundation for a patio area so in doing my research I found these paver base panels. Were these an necessicity? Probably not. I think I could have laid the stones and it would have been fine. What I do like is that it gives an extra absorbent layer to help the pavers level out.
Lowes has a paver calculator, but I once I saw these mats in person I knew I could need two to fit the playhouse. Then I held the pavers to the mat and realized I needed two rows of three to cover the whole mat. You will need two mats to cover the space under your house.
It was probably a little ambitious of me to load 12 pavers into the car at almost seven months pregnant—but I managed! I’m so excited about this addition because it’ll help keep things tidy.
Step 4: Extra Touches and Tools
During my shopping trip to Lowe’s, I found a few more items that will help complete the look:
Door Handle: A small handle for the playhouse door that I plan to glue or attach securely. Tip on this? Look in the cabinet section versus the door handles. There are more options not just in style but color choices as well.
Planter of Mums: Because what’s a cozy cottage without some fall mums on the side?
Step 5: Planning for the Next Steps
Next up is getting everything in place and decorating the front of the house.
One of the goals for this project is to keep everything as reversible as possible, in case we ever want to re-sell the playhouse or make updates in the future. With this in mind, I plan to attach the window box to the window using S hooks, so there’s minimal permanent damage. We’re sticking to that plan for now, but if it doesn’t hold, we might rethink our approach.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll start setting everything up and decorating the playhouse!
This first phase of the Little Tykes Cozy Cottage makeover is all about planning and prepping, which I’ve learned is key when tackling DIY projects—especially while juggling mom life and pregnancy!
Until Next Time!
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored or paid to promote any of the products or stores mentioned in this post. All products were purchased by me, and the opinions expressed are entirely my own based on personal experience and research.
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