How to paint a little tikes plastic playhouse

I am no stranger to playhouse makeovers, I remember doing this wooden one back in 2019, but I wanted to get my hands on a plastic one. I felt so excited when I was able to find one online for €25. In this post, I will share how to paint a little tikes plastic playhouse. 

Painting plastic is a little more complicated than wood or other materials. However, you can still successfully paint it. 

Have a scroll below to read what I used and how I painted mine.

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Sourcing a second-hand plastic playhouse

These little tikes playhouses are expensive, even second-hand ones. I set a search alert on adverts.ie. I would get a notification whenever someone would list one for sale.  

Some second-hand playhouses were still around the €100-€150 price point. I knew if I patiently waited, I would get a bargain. When I saw a cubby house listed for €25, I bid straight away, no bargaining, just a bid! 

You can easily dismantle the playhouse to make it easier to transport. The little tikes playhouse is much lighter in comparison to the wooden cubby I painted back in 2019. 

Now, because I have a small car, I rented a van from GoCar for €11. I politely asked my brothers if they would collect it for me. 

What paint to use on the plastic playhouse

I used Autentico Versante Matt paint on the plastic playhouse. I used this paint on the other cubby house and also on my shed. Since painting both of these in Versante Matt, I have had no problems with the paint range, and it has lasted. 

The Versante Matt range has a built-in primer and is also self-sealing, so no need to wax or varnish after applying. It does have a matt feel, so if you are not a fan of the matt feel, you could try the eggshell paint. However, you will have to use a primer with the eggshell range. 

I used Autentico Versante Matt in the shade Milk for the base of the cubby house. Roughly, I used 1.5 litres of paint. 

For the bricks and rood, I used Autetnico Versante Matt in the shade Blogne Bricks. I used a half-litre tin for this, and I had some paint leftover.

I have an affiliate discount code with Autentico. Use the code DAINTY10 at the checkout for 10% off your order.

 Will I have to prime the little tikes plastic playhouse?

Depending on the brand of paint you are using, you may have to prime. For example, if using Colourtrend or Farrow and Ball, I recommend using their primer ranges to get the best adhesion. 

As I used the Versante Matt, I didn’t have to apply a primer. 

How do I prep the plastic before painting?

To prepare the plastic before painting, use a degreaser to remove dirt and oils. I used Omniclean by Autetnico to wash down the plastic playhouse. As this has been in a garden, it was full of spider and cobwebs, so I gave it a blast of the power washer as well. 

Lightly scuff sand the surface of the playhouse and wipe away any dust before applying the paint. 

Use a spray gun! 

I cannot recommend using a spray gun enough for this project. When I was painting my shed, I purchased this spray gun. 

Using a spray gun will save you time and paint when painting the playhouse base inside and out. You do not need to water down the paint with this spray gun. 

To paint the bricks, I used an old makeup brush. Painting the bricks was probably the longest part of this project, but pop on a podcast, and you will fly through it. 

How to stop the plastic paint from chipping

Your painted plastic playhouse is most at risk to chips in the first few days, as the paint needs to cure. I had smalls lifts of paint around the window and door frame where I had opened them.

Use a brush to touch up these areas and wait a few days before allowing children to play with it, as this will allow the paint to cure. 

Use a hose and soapy water to clean, and avoid using a power washer, and a power washer could cause the paint to lift. 

Video!

Here is my YouTube video sharing how I made over my little tikes plastic playhouse. I hope you find one second-hand, or if you already have one, I hope this inspires you to give it a makeover. 

Please share this post if you found it helpful, and comment below if you have also given one a makeover. 

Thanks for reading, Catherine.