Did you ever look at ads for dollhouses and think: " Couldn't I do a dollhouse makeover all by myself, and thus craft something that is complete to my own taste"?
The answer to that question is pretty simple: yes you can!
Let's talk a little bit more about this topic today.
updated 09/08/2023
Which Kind Of Dollhouses Can You Give A Doll house Makeover?
That is kind of a difficult question because it would depend on the dollhouse style that you prefer.
Let's just say it this way: you can't make a Victorian-style dollhouse from an old Tudor-style dollhouse (well, I don't think so anyway). So going from one (very detailed) style to another would be impossible, in my opinion.
The only possible style that would seem likely to me to be turned into, would be the Gothic or Halloween style because I have seen before that the original architecture isn't always preserved. (like the pointed arches on windows and doors).
So for the latter, you can just use your imagination for a dollhouse makeover.
But today, we are not going to dive deeper into this, because that would take us probably too far down the road of professional miniaturists (not that there is anything wrong with that obviously).
I would like to really talk to you about making a "simple" dollhouse for your child, for example.
DIY A Modern Dollhouse - A Gigantic Dollhouse Makeover!
Do you recognize that feeling when you are getting down the rabbit hole on the internet, looking for a suitable dollhouse?
Or, for example, your kids want a dollhouse, but they want a big one, with stairs, and most of all, you agreed to look for that specific house, thinking that wouldn't be so hard to find, right? So now, you need to keep that promise 😉
Only to find out: well, trying to find a big dollhouse, with several stairs, good-looking ànd affordable? Mission impossible!
Then by coincidence, as you were talking about dollhouses with your own mom, she mentions that she has a large dollhouse "still in the attic somewhere" and she thinks it has stairs, jihaaa!
(That being said, why not have a look at Marketplace, second-hand stores, etc..? You can find hidden treasures and many people are willing to sell you gorgeous miniatures for a low price!)
You rush to the attic, to find a huge dollhouse indeed, including those stairs, but oh boy, it looks dusty, dirty, old, bweurk!
Back to frustration...? Not necessarily!
First, have a closer look at the dollhouse and remove some dust and dirt. How about now? Are you getting more excited/what do your kids think? Is there any potential?
Yes! Look at it now: it has 2 stairs, a balcony, and even the roof is in good shape!
You have decided: "Let's fix this!".
The Immens Research on how to renovate a dollhouse and get some dollhouse inspiration?
I'm not going to lie about this: researching how to do a dollhouse makeover and renovation can get quite lengthy and maybe even a bit annoying.
But overall, you have a choice. You can either make it easy on yourself and buy everything you need ( yes, including wallpaper, floors, furniture, etc ), but you can fix a lot of things for free or for a very cheap price. Let's resume all:
- Start by cleaning up the dollhouse and decide if the wood needs to be abraded or not. You can do this by hand or use a powertool.
- Then if