24 DIY treehouses made from reclaimed materials

The Calistoga model by O2 Treehouse uses a trapdoor entry to a catwalk that leads to the rest of the treehouse. It uses woven recycled climbing ropes as built-in hammocks, too.

In Cornwall, UK, is the Lost Meadow Treepod, which seems just suspended in air. It’s built with recycled materials and uses cedar siding. The Lost Meadow is 20 acres of ancient oaks and meadow. It also sits near a babbling river for a complete outdoor experience.

A paradise for skaters who have an outdoors bent, The Cinder Cone has two treehouses and a skate bowl. It also has a wood-fired hot tub for a perfect place to end the day after skating. Foster Huntington and friends started building the project in 2014 and took about a year to complete. Huntington used Craigslist, salvage yards and leaned on friends to source the building materials.

Follow these easy tips on turning roadside trash into treasure.

This Canadian treehouse project, The HemLoft, didn’t necessarily begin as a project that would harness reclaimed/recycled material but the builder turned to Craigslist to help complete the floor of his project. Located in Whistler, British Columbia, it is now part of the Medicine Trail and a stop during guided hiking and snowshoe trips.

Follow these tips for choosing the perfect timber floor for your home.

Trillium gives guests a 360-degree view of the woods through its 80 windows from a Western Red Cedar tree. Renowned US treehouse builders Nelson Treehouse build their treehouses in a sustainable way to minimise the impact on the tree.

For the really adventurous there is the Kingston Treehouse in the Sabi Sand game reserve in South Africa. It is set in the African bush and visitors will get to experience the wildlife while also enjoying comfort. The treehouse features a full bathroom and shower while guests can sleep under the stars outside.

In Australia, along Crystal Creek is a treehouse retreat that’s more like a resort. Technically, it’s an elevated decked cabin, but it looks more like a treehouse the way it rises from the canopy. There are tons of areas to explore and interesting sites as it is located near an ancient volcano crater.

Be inspired by these backyard cabin ideas.

Talk about getting creative when it comes to working with recycled material. Builder Jonathan Juhasz took an old grain silo he found on Craigslist to begin building this treehouse. He added in a repurposed galvanised steel water trough for the doorway and included fibreglass bench seating repurposed from a bowling alley. One of the cooler features is a slide, a perfect escape hatch for an emergency landing.

Situated in the rainforest of Australia is this incredible treehouse that’s really as big as a cabin. It’s three-storeys tall, has 1 ½ baths and provides an ocean view.

Rocks from a local mountain make up the base of this treehouse in Washington, USA. Meanwhile, inside petrified wood serves as a sink basin. Just below the treehouse is a base of nets for children to play and the adults can watch through a floor window.