My outhouse reveal! After building my outhouse I couldn’t wait to dress it up! To be quite frank the last thing I wanted this little outhouse to feel like was an actual outhouse. (I have nightmares of the creepy, spider-filled, half-rotted places I remember using when I was a kid. To be fair it was better than having to go in the woods – but still.) I was on a mission to make it as comfortable as any of the bathrooms in my home.
First thing I did was hit the seat and basically every surface by hand with fine grit sand paper because nobody wants to get a splinter when using a rest room! I also did a coat of poly acrylic over everything.
Inside, over the windows, I happened to have some little curtain rods so I just used some drop cloth I had on hand. I also stapled drop cloth over the screen on the back of the door and (of course!) drew on a half moon with a magic marker.
I purchased and installed a shepherds hook to hang the solar light basket beside the door. (Check out my tutorial on how I put the basket together here.) The rope solar light I used around the back window and back of the seat was only $11 off of Amazon.
It also turned out really spacious! The interior measurements are more than 3 x 7 feet so plenty of room to come in, close the door, and not feel claustrophobic.
The door got several purchases: a handle for both inside and out, a hook latch, two hard core magnets to keep it shut as well as a set of screen door hinges that have a spring in them so it shuts on its own.
(I am REALLY impressed with these magnets! They hold it shut so well you actually have to give it a good push or pull to get it open.)
On the shelves I have extra hand sanitizer, toilet paper etc. And on the back shelf I finally found a place for these awesome old glass vinegar jugs I’ve been holding on to! Depending on the time of the year I’ll change the flowers out for whatever I have blooming in the yard at the time.
(My hydrangeas are white when they bloom but then, over the summer, the sun blushes them into this incredible dusky rose!)
And, of course, I had to add the little outhouse my Grandparents’ made years ago in their wood working shop. I also added a VERY old mirror of my other Grandma’s and some coat hooks that Rachie (my best friend and cousin) gave me.
I believe the conversation went like this, “Your outhouse needs a mirror. Please take it. Its a miracle we’ve managed not to break it all these years!” It fits in just perfect here.
Pretty much everyone thought I was the weirdest chick ever for wanting an outhouse but, dang it, it is SO handy. Numerous times over this summer I got extra dirty doing yard work and it was so great that I didn’t have to track through my clean home.
But its really been the parties and family gatherings that made me absolutely love having it! Twenty kiddos (after a four hour water balloon fight through my horse pasture) NOT having to go into my house for the potty was just so great lol.
It will come in handy when you decide to have that Carlson Reunion at the farm. Such a warm and cozy place. Loving it!
Thanks Carol!
That’s just pretty darn cute!!
Thanks Stacey!
It’s fabulous, something you never knew how much you needed until you had it!
Thanks Julie, have a great week!
I recall my grand-mothers outhouse it never looked as good as this. Thanks so much for sharing your project with me
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Thanks Angie, have a wonderful week!
That turned out really cute! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Thank you Sherry!
i think it is great ….it is always when we go outside to do something you have to go and who doesn’t hate to go to the house take the boots off for you don’t want the mud in the house and then have to put them back on …i would love to have one …will have to show my husband this …thank you and yes this is great and too have your grandmas with you all the time …i don’t have anything that i could use in one from my grandma…love and much happiness …take care and be safe…
Thanks so much Madeline for coming by! Happy Fall!
You are an inspiration!
Thank you Jan!