Cardboard boxes will be the cheapest and easiest to paint and decorate, but they will also be the least durable. Multiple cardboard boxes stacked together may begin to sag beneath the weight of the doll and her furniture after a while. Wood will be more expensive, but they will also be more durable. Depending on the quality of the wood, however, some of the creates will need to be sanded to achieve a smoother finish. Plastic crates may be more expensive than cardboard boxes, but they will be more durable. Depending on the finish, some plastic crates might have to be sanded first before painting or adding wallpaper and flooring; not doing so might result in the paint chipping off and the glued-on pieces falling off.
You can also use foam-core or sheets of fabric instead. You can make doors by cutting rectangles into your walls before you insert them into your house. Make sure that the rectangles are at least 20 inches tall.
If you are using wood or plywood, look for something that is between ½ to ¾ inch thick. If you are using cardboard or foam-core, glue 2 to 3 sheets together to make the house more durable. If you wish to add multiple rooms, create walls out of the same materials that you are using for the rest of the house and insert them after you have put the rest of the house together. Each wall should measure the room’s height by the room’s depth. For example, if each floor is 20 inches high and 20 inches deep, then your walls need to be 20 inches by 20 inches. Since you are building this house from scratch, consider cutting some windows into the outside walls, and doors into the dividing walls. Make sure that the doors are big enough for the doll to fit through.
If you are making a dollhouse for one of American Girl’s historical dolls, look at pictures of houses from that era to get some ideas. Look at home decorating magazines to get more ideas.
Consider leaving some parts of your dollhouse unpainted. For example, if your dollhouse is made out of wood, then paint just the walls. The unpainted floors will look like wooden floors.
Wrapping paper is great for covering large areas. Measure the walls of your dollhouse, and cut sheets of wrapping paper according to those measurements. You can glue the paper down to the walls using spray-on adhesive, or you can paint a thin layer of glue onto the walls and press the paper down. You can seal the paper with either a paint-on varnish or a seal-on varnish. Colored contact paper or shelf and drawer liner is another alternative to wrapping paper, except that it does not need to be glued down or sealed. Simply measure the areas you want covered, cut sheets of colored contact paper/shelf and drawer liner according to those measurements. Then, peel off the backing and stick the sheet to the walls. Scrapbooking paper comes in 12 by 12 inch sheets and is good for small spaces. You will need to use several sheets of scrapbooking paper to cover large areas. You can use the same pattern for an entire wall, or you can mix and match patterns to create a tiled effect. Like with wrapping paper, you will need to glue the scrapbooking paper down using either a spray-on adhesive or painting on a thin layer of glue. You can also seal the scrapbooking paper with a paint-on or seal-on varnish to make it last longer. You can also purchase small amounts of wallpaper from your local hardware store and glue it to the walls of your dollhouse.
For something more elegant, put the pictures and mirrors inside mini picture frames. [1] X Research source You can find them at most arts and crafts shop. If you like the style of a frame but not the color, you can always paint it with some acrylic paint. You can make simple frames fancier by adding gemstones and beads.
Make your window appear even more realistic by adding a square of clear, plastic sheeting or cellophane over the picture. Cut a square of plastic sheeting or cellophane a little bit bigger than your picture. Put some glue around the edges of your picture, and press the plastic sheet onto it. You can hide the edges of your window by putting colored tape over it, or gluing thin craft sticks around the edges.
Take your dowel and cut it a few inches wider than your window. You can paint it, or you can leave it blank. [2] X Research source You can make the curtain rod appear fancier by gluing a fancy bead or button to each end—just make sure that they match. Screw tiny wall hooks above the window, one to each side. You will be placing the dowel over them. [3] X Research source Cut two pieces of fabric. Each piece should be a few inches taller than your window, and half your window’s width. Fold over the top inch or so of each piece and sew or glue the edge down. Make sure that you can slide the wooden dowel through. Assemble your curtains by sliding the pieces of fabric over the dowel, and setting the dowel onto the hooks. Pull the two pieces of fabric apart, one to each side of the window. Tie a piece of ribbon around each curtain so that they don’t fall shut over the window.
Popsicle sticks or small pieces of craft wood can be used to create a wooden floor. If you are using popsicle sticks, you can prevent gaps by cutting off the rounded ends. Glue the sticks to the shelf, and coat the wood with varnish. You can tint the floor a darker color using wood stain. Do this before adding the varnish. Use sample pieces of wood flooring to create an authentic wooden floor. Some hardware and furniture stores sell sample pieces of flooring. Purchase several of these and glue them down side by side on the shelf. You can also sheets of wood-textured linoleum to mimic the look of wooden floors. Simply measure the floor of your dollhouse, and cut sheets of linoleum according to those measurements. Glue the linoleum down to the floor of your dollhouse. If you have a tight budget, you can use wood-patterned scrapbooking paper. Because scrapbooking paper comes in 12 by 12 inch sheets, you will need to glue several sheets of scrapbooking paper side-by-side in order to cover the entire floor. Use either spray-on adhesive or paint on a thin layer of glue. You can help the paper last longer by coating it with either a spray-on varnish or a paint-on varnish.
Purchase some small tiles from a hardware store or an arts and crafts store, and glue them down onto the shelf. If there are gaps, you can seal them by painting over the whole floor with varnish. Tile-patterned linoleum sheets can also be used to cover floor. Measure the floor of your dollhouse and cut sheets of linoleum according to those measurements. Glue the linoleum down to the floor of your dollhouse. If you are on a tight budget, you can use some tile-patterned scrapbooking paper instead. Because scrapbooking paper comes in 12 by 12 inch sheets, you will need to glue down several sheets of scrapbooking paper side-by-side. of You can create the appearance of large tiles by alternating solid-colored sheets of scrapbooking paper in a checkerboard pattern.
Use miniature, sample rugs. Some stores make and sell miniature versions of larger, full-sized rugs. Purchase some and set them down over the wooden floors you have made. Try using some miniature versions of Persian rugs for a historical dollhouse. Small bathmats can also be used to make rugs and carpets. You can cut and glue down a bathmat to create a carpet. You can also cut down a bathmat to a small rectangle and use it as a cozy rug in a bedroom or living room. Purchase some carpeting from a carpet store or a hardware store and glue it down to the shelf. Choose something with a low pile so that it will be proportional to the doll. Use towels to make carpets and bathmats. Simply measure the floor of your dollhouse and cut a towel according to those measurements. Glue it down to the floor of your dollhouse using fabric glue. You can also cut towels into smaller rectangles and use them as bathmats in a bathroom. Scraps of fur can make trendy and chic rugs, especially if they are a bright color.
If you are making a bed, don’t forget to make a mattress, some pillows, and bedding! Make sure that the bed is at least 18 inches long, or else it will be too small for your doll. You can make mattresses and pillows by folding pieces of fabric in half, sewing two of the edges, stuffing it with cotton, and then sewing the third edge shut. You can use bandanas and some old pillow cases (provided that they are small/large enough) as blankets. Plastic cups can easily be turned into stools. You can make your own stool by turning a plastic cup upside down and painting it or wrapping fabric around it. Don’t forget to add a cushion to it![4] X Research source
Many garden shops and arts and crafts stores sell planters that look like chairs or benches. Some of them might be just the right size for your doll. You can make them appear cozier by making a small cushion out of scrap fabric. Jewelry chests can already resemble dressers, and some of the fancier ones can make great dressers for a historical American Girl doll. If you don’t like the handles, you can unscrew the old ones, and glue on a large, fancy bead or round button instead. Small storage containers with drawers often look like modern dressers—except doll-sized. Most are about 6 to 8 inches tall, made out of plastic, and have 3 to 4 drawers. If you are painting a mini dresser be sure to pull out all of the drawers before painting, and wait for all the paint to dry before you put your mini dresser back together.
Mini, battery-operated Christmas lights can be strung along a wall, over a window, or around a mirror. You can purchase them online or from an arts and crafts store. The battery pack can be hidden in a dresser or under a bed in the dollhouse. Add a battery-operated cabinet light to the ceiling of your dollhouse. Many battery-operated cabinet lights are easy to install—you can also use double-sized foam mounting tape to secure a cabinet light to the ceiling of your dollhouse. Hanging chandelier lights for school lockers can be suspended from the ceiling of your dollhouse for an elegant look. They are battery operated and come in many different styles and colors. You can conceal the battery pack inside a dresser or under a bed in the dollhouse. They can be purchased from arts and crafts stores during certain times of the year, or they can be purchased at office supply stores. Purchase decorative lights designed for 18 inch dolls. There are many companies that sell 18 inch dolls, and some of them also sell accessories and furniture for the dolls. Look at the companies’ websites and see if you can find a doll-sized light.
Try cutting some small, fake flowers and putting them into a small bud vase. You can create potted plants by filling a miniature pot with clay, plasticine, or craft foam, and sticking fake flowers into it. If you wish to use real plants, try using some succulents. They are low maintenance and easy to take care of. They don’t have to be watered that often, and are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. They are the perfect size for a dollhouse!
The caps from some spray bottles (such as perfumes and hair sprays) can resemble cups. If you are looking to stock up a doll-sized kitchen cabinet, then consider saving a few and using them as glasses and cups. Flower pots and planters come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are shaped like chairs or bathtubs! You can purchase tiny erasers and key chains that are shaped like food. Many of these are the perfect size for 18 inch dolls. [6] X Research source
