Sometimes I get the question from beginner miniaturists: “Lizzy, everything in the dollhouse world is so amazing and everything interests me, where do I even start?”
And this might come as a surprise to you, but there are, in the back of my head, about 9 different methods to do so!
Making a classic cardboard dollhouse is a fun and budget-friendly project suitable for both children and adults. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create one:
Materials needed for a cardboard dollhouse.
In short, this is what you could need to create your cardboard dollhouse:
Sturdy cardboard sheets or boxes
Craft knife or scissors
Ruler or measuring tape
Pencil
Craft glue or hot glue gun (this latter is up to you, but I tend to not use a glue gun)
Decorative materials like dollhouse wallpaper, dollhouse shingles, etc…
Depending on how elaborate you want a cardboard dollhouse to be, you might have the need for more materials!
A Step-by-step guide:
In this article, we will only describe this method and how to in short, as we have already talked about cardboard dollhouses before. Check out the link below!
Cut the cardboard: Use a craft knife or scissors to cut out the walls, floors, and roof pieces according to your design. Make sure they fit together correctly.
Assemble the structure: Begin by gluing the walls together to form the basic structure. Add the floors and secure them in place with glue. Let the glue dry thoroughly.
Add doors and windows: Cut out openings for doors and windows in the walls.
Decorate the interior: Paint or wallpaper the walls and floors in your desired colors. You can also add carpet, or other decorative materials to make the interior look cozy and inviting. And don’t forget the staircase!
Decorate the exterior: Paint the outside of the dollhouse and add any desired details such as shingles, trim, or a front porch.
Ensure the dollhouse is sturdy and secure, this can be a problem when using cardboard.
Optional: wood filler, primer, paint, and decorative materials like stickers, fabric, or small trimmings. Power tools if you want an extension.
Step-by-step guide on how to transform a bookshelf into a dollhouse
Select a Bookshelf: Choose a bookshelf that you like and has a good size for a dollhouse. The number of shelves and dividers can help you decide on planning the dollhouse rooms.
Clean and Sand: Thoroughly clean the bookshelf to remove any dust or dirt. Sand down the surfaces, especially if it’s painted or varnished, to create a smooth base for painting.
Optional Enhancements:
Fill up visible holes and gaps with wood filler, if they bother you. (and sand these again)
Prime and seal the exterior to protect the paint. You can also add small LED lights to illuminate the interior for a more magical touch.
Also, if you want doors and windows in this bookshelf dollhouse, you either need to take it apart beforehand and create openings with a power tool, or you can create fake doors that don’t open.
If you are handy, you can also attach doors to open the bookshelf with small hinges to create doors.
Paint the Exterior:
Paint the exterior of the bookshelf with your desired color using acrylic or latex paint. You can use a brush or a roller to achieve a smooth finish. Apply multiple coats if needed and let the paint dry completely in between layers. More ideas on how to paint a dollhouse can be found here.
Decorate the interior of the bookshelf.
You can now add wallpaper, paint, or other decorative elements. Measure the dimensions of the shelves and cut the wallpaper to fit. You can add different colors or patterns of wallpaper on the back of the shelves, creating a specific look.
Furnish the dollhouse with miniature furniture and accessories. You can find these at craft stores or online, or you can make your own using simple materials like cardboard or popsicle sticks.
You can also add your personal touches by using miniature curtains, rugs, miniature art, etc..
So in short, with some simple modifications and decorations, you can transform an ordinary bookshelf into a charming dollhouse that will bring joy and imagination to playtime.
Now, renovating an old dollhouse is something else, and a lot harder to do than the previous method.
And, it also requires a lot more skills and knowledge of dollhouse making and how to renovate things.
In the near future, I will surely write a separate article on this method, but let’s head over to a short tutorial here first.
Before renovating a dollhouse, you need to understand the dollhouse style!
There are a few things that you need to think about before deciding on renovating a dollhouse, which include:
Understanding the Dollhouse Style:
Before starting the renovation, it’s essential to study and identify the existing style of the dollhouse. Dollhouses can come in various architectural styles, such as Victorian,Georgian, Modern, Cottage, Shabby Chic, etc. Understanding the current style will help you decide if you can or want to continue in this style! This also means that you need to do your research first and learn the specific techniques if you don’t know the style!
Preserving and Restoring Antiques or Vintage Dollhouses:
If your dollhouse is an antique or vintage piece, extra care is needed during the renovation to preserve its historical value and authenticity. Avoid making irreversible changes and strive to maintain the original materials and craftsmanship. The best way here is to consult with experts or collectors to get advice on restoration techniques suitable for antiques.
Then again, if it is a simply designed modern dollhouse, renovating it will be a lot easier and then we basically need ==>
Materials needed for renovating a simple and modern dollhouse.
If a dollhouse has already been painted before, then you need a larger list of materials to handle the paint:
Materials Needed for Removing Old Paint:
Paint Stripper or Paint Remover: A chemical paint stripper can help soften and remove the old paint from the dollhouse’s surfaces.
Paint Scraper: Use a paint scraper to gently scrape off the softened old paint after applying the paint stripper.
Safety Gear: Wear appropriate safety gear, including gloves, goggles, and a respirator, to protect yourself from fumes and chemicals while working with paint stripper.
Materials Needed for Surface Preparation and Renovation:
Sandpaper: Coarse and fine-grit sandpaper for removing any remaining paint residue, and smoothing the surfaces.
Primer: A high-quality primer will provide a good base for the new paint and improve its adhesion.
Paint and Paintbrushes: Choose acrylic or latex paint suitable for the dollhouse’s material and the style you want to achieve.
Painters Tape: To create clean edges and protect specific areas while painting.
Miniature Wallpaper: For interior wall decoration, if you don’t use paint or you can use decorative paper or fabric.
Glue: For securing wallpapers and other decorations.
Optional: Wood Filler: To fill any cracks, gaps, or holes in wooden dollhouses before painting.
Optional: Wood Varnish or Clear Sealer: For a protective finish on wooden dollhouses
Renovating an old dollhouse, step by step.
By following these steps and using the appropriate tools and materials, you can successfully renovate an already-painted dollhouse and achieve a fresh and updated appearance for your miniature dollhouse.
Safety Precautions: Ensure proper ventilation in your workspace, and wear safety gear like gloves, goggles, and a respirator when using a paint stripper.
Apply Paint Stripper: Follow the instructions on the paint stripper product and apply it to the painted surfaces of the dollhouse. Allow sufficient time for the paint to soften.
Scrape Off Old Paint: Use a paint scraper to gently remove the softened old paint. Be careful not to damage the dollhouse’s surfaces while scraping.
Surface Preparation: After removing the old paint, sand down the surfaces with coarse sandpaper to remove any remaining paint residue and create a smooth surface.
Fill and Repair (if needed): If the dollhouse has any cracks or holes, use wood filler to repair them. Sand the filled areas to make them flush with the surrounding surface.
Apply Primer: Apply a layer of primer to the dollhouse surfaces to create a suitable base for the new paint. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying times.
Painting and Interior Decoration: Once the primer is dry, paint the dollhouse with your chosen colors. Use painter’s tape to create clean edges between different colors or sections.
Exterior Painting and Finishing: Paint the exterior of the dollhouse, and if it’s a wooden dollhouse, you can apply wood varnish or clear sealer to protect the finish.
Furnishing and Decorating: You can now furnish the dollhouse with miniature furniture in the same style as the house.
Remember to take your time and work carefully to ensure a beautiful and lasting result.
4. Create Fabric dollhouses
Did you ever see these fabric little dollhouses on Etsy, made with crochet?
Personally, I have never made a dollhouse with crochet or any kind of fabric, so I personally can’t explain how to build a dollhouse like this, but there are patterns online where you just can follow the instructions. Here are a few:
A crochet pattern for a gingerbread house:
This is PDF tutorial on crocheting an amazing Gingerbread house. The pattern has 28 pages and contains more than 100 step-by-step photos of the process, all in English.
There are lots more patterns in PDF file on Etsy to create these special types of dollhouses and I hope you will figure things out on how to sow or chrochet these, good luck!
5. Create (outdoor) fairy garden houses.
Creating a fairy house can be done in different ways, but the original intent of it was to use organic materials that blend harmoniously with nature, like:
A summarized walkthrough on how to create a miniature dollhouse fairy house.
There can be much more to it than these steps because for example, I have used dollhouse kits as a base, but this is basically it, step by step:
Gather Organic Materials:
All the materials that I have used to decorate my fairy houses, were either found in nature and thus organic or made from leftover wood or branches from my garden. Walking outdoors, you can collect things like pinecones ( beautiful roofs!), seashells, and acorns, you can find anywhere in the world, normally 😉
Create the Base:
Find a flat surface or a tree stump as the base for your fairy house. Alternatively, you can use a flat piece of wood or a large rock as the foundation, or even a broken ceramic flower pot.
Build the Structure:
Begin building the walls of the fairy house using a DIY kit, stones, branches, rocks, or whatever you can think of to use as a structure.
Craft the Roof:
Lay large leaves, seashells, pieces of pinecone, small branches, or pieces of bark across the top of the walls to form the roof. Overlapping the materials can help prevent water from seeping through in case of rain. (in heavy rainfall, I put my fairy houses inside)
Add Doors and Windows:
Use small pieces of bark, and flat stones, or even (pre)created pieces by artists to create doors and windows in the walls.
Interior Decoration:
If you have created an interior in the house (not necessary), you can now decorate it with soft moss or leaves to create cozy rooms for the fairies. You can also add small pebbles or shells as flooring.
Add a touch of magic by incorporating small items found in nature, such as tiny flowers, colorful berries, or feathers, to decorate the exterior and interior of the fairy house.
With these steps, you can create a captivating fairy house using organic materials, giving the fairies a beautiful and sustainable home amidst nature’s wonders.
This can be a very easy method to create a miniature dollhouse.
What you need is a (second-hand or affordable) plastic dollhouse, like the ones from Kidcraft, and paint/decorate them. Some people use spray paint, but you can use regular paint, as seen in the video below.
In this video on how to renovate a plastic dollhouse, the creator, Hannah or “Lambincy,” shares her process of transforming a 1993 Fisher-Price Loving Family dollhouse into a stunning new version.
A small tutorial on this process:
The renovation process is focused on the exterior of the dollhouse, with additional parts planned for future videos. Here is a summarized breakdown of the steps taken:
The first step is to pop out all the windows and doors to be repainted. She struggles a bit with removing the roof and doors but eventually figures it out.
Hannah paints everything white as a base for the new color palette.
The new color scheme for the dollhouse is a dark gray created by mixing cobalt blue, burnt umber, and black. She paints the windows and doors with multiple coats of this gray color.
Hannah uses the “egg carton technique” she found online to create a cobblestone look on the exterior walls. She rips off pieces of an egg carton and glues them onto the dollhouse to resemble stones.
Once the egg carton stones are glued on, she paints them with different shades of gray to create depth and variation.
The roof, front porch, and balcony are also painted with various shades of gray.
Hannah adds additional details, like stone texture on the fireplace, painted bricks, and green color for ivy coverage.
She seals the entire house with a matte mod podge for protection.
Hannah adds tiny flowers from the craft store artificial flowers to flower boxes and around fences for decoration.
Using her Cricut Joy machine, she creates house numbers and additional floral decorations.
7. Create your own miniature dollhouse from scratch
This method of creating your own miniature dollhouse is definitely the hardest one, there’s no doubt about it.
Building a dollhouse from scratch will mostly be built from wood and it requires lots of materials and tools and know-how:
Materials and power tools needed to build a wooden dollhouse from scratch:
Materials Needed:
Wood:Different types of wood can be used, such as plywood, pine, or MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard).
Wood Glue: High-quality wood glue for joining the wooden pieces together.
Nails or Screws: To secure the wooden parts, you can use nails or screws, depending on your preference and the thickness of the wood. Added to this is a wood-filler, to cover up any gaps in your dollhouse.
Sandpaper or sanding block: For smoothing rough edges and surfaces.
Paint or Stain: Choose acrylic paint or wood stain to add color and protect the wood.
Paintbrushes: Different sizes of paintbrushes for applying paint or stain.
Clear Varnish or Sealer: For a protective finish on the wood.
Hinges and Latches (optional): If you want functional doors and windows, you’ll need hinges and latches.
Window Panes: For creating realistic windows, you can use clear acrylic or plexiglass sheets.
Roofing Material: Options include wooden shingles, thin plywood, or other roofing materials for the dollhouse roof.
Decorative Materials: Such as faux bricks, stones, or miniature tiles for added details.
Power Tools Needed:
Table Saw or Circular Saw: For cutting larger pieces of wood to size.
Miter Saw: Useful for making angled cuts, especially for roof sections.
Jigsaw: To cut intricate shapes and designs.
Drill: For making holes and for attaching screws if you choose to use them.
Nail Gun (optional): To speed up the nailing process, a nail gun can be used.
Sanding Machine (optional): For faster and more efficient sanding of larger areas.
Remember that while power tools can make the process more efficient, you can also use hand tools like a handsaw, hand drill, and hammer if you prefer a more traditional approach.
Additionally, safety gear such as safety goggles, ear protection, and a dust mask is essential when working with wood and power tools.
I could repeat the process of how to build a dollhouse DIY in detail, but I have already written about this topic a few times on my site.
So for this article, we will keep it short, as it already is getting very long and I might bore you haha!
It all starts with building plans!
Here are the steps in a nutshell:
Design the Dollhouse: Plan the size, shape, and layout of the dollhouse. Create a blueprint or sketch to guide the construction.
Prepare the Wood: Cut the wooden pieces to the required dimensions using a table saw or circular saw. Use a miter saw for angled cuts if needed.
Assemble the Walls: Use wood glue and nails/screws to join the wall panels together, forming the main structure of the dollhouse.
Add Windows and Doors: Cut openings for windows and doors using a jigsaw. Install clear acrylic or plexiglass sheets as window panes. Attach hinges and latches for functioning doors.
Construct the Roof: Create the roof using wood shingles, thin plywood, or other roofing materials. Secure the roof to the top of the dollhouse structure.
Sand and Finish: Smooth the surfaces with sandpaper to remove any rough edges. Apply paint or wood stain for color and protection. Add decorative elements like faux bricks or stones, if desired.
Install Flooring (optional): Add flooring material inside the dollhouse, such as miniature tiles or wooden planks.
Apply Varnish or Sealer: Apply a clear varnish or sealer to protect the wood and enhance its appearance.
Decorate the Interior: Furnish the dollhouse with miniature furniture and accessories to create a cozy living space.
8. Build a miniature dollhouse with the help of DIY dollhouse kits.
Building a dollhouse with the help of DIY dollhouse kits is probably one of the easiest ways to get a dollhouse.
Depending on the brand, there could be pros and cons on each kit, but this is normal and explained extensively on my website 😉
I can’t really hand you a walkthrough on how to do these, because the process of each one can be very different, but I did write a list of craft materials needed for DIY house kits and lots of tips, check them out!
This is another method to build a dollhouse miniature that I haven’t used myself, but as usual, I have found some more explanation on how to go about things, this time again in the shape of a Youtube video by Bentley House Minis:
(I will let her do the talking this time, enjoy!)
Working with foam to create a dollhouse is a very specific technique, so in the future, I will spend a whole article on this method, you just wait and see! 🙂
Well, I think I broke a record here for looooong articles on my website ahaha!
But, I thought it was time to get out the big general article on how to build a miniature dollhouse because this is the start of your miniature journey and answers the beginner’s question: “How to build a dollhouse”?
You now have 9 different methods to choose from 😉
Which method have you chosen? Please do let me know in the comment section below or join me on (one of) my social media channels or my cozy Facebook group!
4 thoughts on “How To Build A Miniature Dollhouse In 9 Different Ways – From Easy To A Bit More Complicated”
What a wonderful, packed full of information about building dollhouses article! I always wanted one when I was growing up but unfortunately, we could not buy one, but if my dad had all this information, I’m sure we would have made one. I just had the paper doll houses I made from shoeboxes and paper dolls which I loved anyway. The videos are very helpful and brings your subject to life. I got my daughter the plastic dollhouse from the Barbie sets. The pros and cons in your article also help a potential doll house maker with his decisions of which one to make. How did you get into making dollhouses? Thanks for this unique article with a wealth of information.
I’m glad that I could be of assistance! Working with shoeboxes I didn’t even include in this article, sounds like an amazing idea as well, thanks!
My first dollhouse was actually also a cardboard dollhouse that I based on a book that I got as a gift when I was about 15 years old, and I have been hooked ever since 😉
Interesting and exciting is what I have to say! Your dollhouse ideas and instructions are superb and easy to follow. I have made a few doll offices as projects. A couple of them were out of cardboard and one was designed after a little office I had using wood and glass. They were all well decorated with carpet and furnishings.
I believe you are making many little girls and “big" ones happy with your projects. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
What a wonderful, packed full of information about building dollhouses article! I always wanted one when I was growing up but unfortunately, we could not buy one, but if my dad had all this information, I’m sure we would have made one. I just had the paper doll houses I made from shoeboxes and paper dolls which I loved anyway. The videos are very helpful and brings your subject to life. I got my daughter the plastic dollhouse from the Barbie sets. The pros and cons in your article also help a potential doll house maker with his decisions of which one to make. How did you get into making dollhouses? Thanks for this unique article with a wealth of information.
Hello Delois,
I’m glad that I could be of assistance! Working with shoeboxes I didn’t even include in this article, sounds like an amazing idea as well, thanks!
My first dollhouse was actually also a cardboard dollhouse that I based on a book that I got as a gift when I was about 15 years old, and I have been hooked ever since 😉
Thank you and I wish you happy crafting!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
Hi Lizzy:
Interesting and exciting is what I have to say! Your dollhouse ideas and instructions are superb and easy to follow. I have made a few doll offices as projects. A couple of them were out of cardboard and one was designed after a little office I had using wood and glass. They were all well decorated with carpet and furnishings.
I believe you are making many little girls and “big" ones happy with your projects. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
Veron
Hi Veron!
You are very welcome and that sounds like so much fun when you made those cardboard and wood and glass houses!
It is addictive, right?
I wish you happy crafting!
Kind regards,
Lizzy