Design Considerations

Ask any treehouse nut about design and you’re bound to be advised to let the tree lead the way. This means respecting the tree’s natural strengths and weaknesses and not over-stressing it with an unsuitable or excessive house design. It also speaks to aesthetics. Much of a treehouse’s appeal comes from its host, and the best house designs complement the tree’s character or make use of special natural features. Designing within the branches, as it were, is also good treehouse philosophy and makes the planning and construction—not to mention the enjoyment—of your house as fun as it should be.

So, now that you’ve picked a tree and had a talk with the folks at the local planning office, it’s time to give your house some shape, in your mind at least. As you mull over the height, size, and features of your new home, don’t be afraid to make sketches of your ideas—despite what we’ve all been told, doodling during work is actually a good thing. This will also help with the final step of the design process—making scaled drawings.