Why Build a Dollhouse?
Dollhouse assembly is a great hobby for collectors, parents, and crafting enthusiasts alike. It takes little more than 2-4 hours on average and at the end of the project you’ll have a beautiful completed dollhouse.
If you’ve never done anything like it before, don’t worry. After reading this guide, you’ll be the next Dollhouse Builder of the Year—or at least know enough to add “Building Dollhouses” to your growing list of hobbies!
What You Need Before Building Your Dollhouse
Kit
If you’re a carpenter or want to build a basic dollhouse, you can skip this part. But if your carpentry skills aren’t up to par or you want something more elaborate, you’ll want a dollhouse kit. You can buy dollhouse kits at most craft stores, or even at specialty dollhouse stores. The most common kit is the Inch scale (1 dollhouse inch = 1 real world foot). There are other sizes available, but buying the “Inch” size is ideal as most furniture is sized to fit it.
Space
This one is simple. Make sure you have sufficient room to complete the project. If you live in a messy, one-bedroom apartment, you’ll want to make some room. If possible, use a large table to work on. It’ll save you from a messy floor and a sore back the next day.
Glue
Wood and tacky glue, as seen here are perfect for building dollhouses. Many people also recommend Omni stick glue for shingles and the like. You can also buy special Wallpaper Gel for the wallpaper.
Paint
Applying a sealer or primer is recommended by expert painters. You may do this before assembly, but wait until the house and furniture are completed before painting or applying wallpaper. Flat or semi-gloss paint is best for dollhouses. If you have leftover paint from other household projects, save yourself some money and use it for your dollhouse!
Cost & How to Save Money
Dollhouse kits range in price. They can be as cheap as $30 to $40 and as expensive as $6,000 or $7,000. If you’re an experienced dollhouse builder or collector, you’ll want to splurge for the more expensive dollhouse kits. For beginners, a small budget kit is best.
Save money by purchasing cheap furniture. If you’re creative enough, you can even make your own out of materials around the house. For example: use a leftover piece of fabric to cover the couches. You can always upgrade to more expensive quality furniture later on.
Building the Doll House
Before building, make sure everything is in the box—don’t lose any pieces or you’ll be regretting it later on. For some kits, you may have to sand the edges to make them fit.
That said, the process of building the dollhouse isn’t that hard. Just follow the instructions and you’ll have a beautiful completed dollhouse in no time!
