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PaperclipPerfector  22hr ago (text post)   554 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for August 24, 2025

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We're about to close escrow on a house. What are some fun things you can do with a house you own that you can't do with a house you rent? I'm specifically looking for ideas that small kids (ages 2-7) will find fun.

As another commenter said, I think painting or wallpaper is going to be your best bet because this is the easiest DIY project and the most easily fixable if your kids make a mess. Other DIY projects are, while satisfying, not exactly fun.

Landscaping is a potentially good option, but I would have found gardening/landscaping as boring as watching paint dry when I was a kid.

Other ideas:

  • Wall mounting a TV
  • Pillow fort with wall hooks installed
  • Putting glow in the dark stars up on the kids ceiling
  • Installing new LED lights in the kids room (adhesive strip lighting is really cool even for adults lol)
  • Adding dimmers or other custom lighting. Be careful if you're going to do any electrical/outlet work.
  • Installing shelves
  • Setting up a woodworking/art studio if you now have a dedicated space or garage

Reading this list, I think the custom lighting would be a really fun one for the kids.

Also, you should ask ChatGPT!

Kids love digging holes. Whether that counts as actual landscaping, however...

As for an actual constructive suggestion, a treehouse or some other type of outdoors semi-permanent structure that would be impractical to install at a rental.

Treehouse is a great call

Pets! At some point in life, when your kids beg for a dog, actually say yes.

Keyless front door lock (like with a number code) is a spectacular lifesytle improvement. You will never lock yourself out, ever.

Otherwise, the acquisition of power tools and knowledge in order to not deal with ridiculously expensive and incompetent contractors is somewhat satisfying.

Painting rooms in fun colors seems like something the kids would enjoy a lot. Though you might want to be careful about making it very clear that them being able to put their mark on the wall is not an every day thing, lol.

Build a moat.

Gardening or light landscaping.

Raising chickens, if your zoning allows.

DIY home improvement projects that aren't structurally critical. Teach the kids how the permitting systems works (partially serious there).

If you have trees, you can install a small zipline.

Treehouse, or a similar small construction project that they can then manage and maintain. My friend had his kids build an aquaponics system and they could grow whatever they wanted in it (aside from weed).

The landlord fears the outdoor (or indoor) chicken farmer.

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