Blog
Opening the Box of Doll House Kits
I heard an ingenious doll houses kits building tip the other day, and thought I'd share it in case any of you are starting a new dollhouse project soon! Did you know that many doll house kit boxes are meant to be opened on three sides to make a work tray?
Choosing Exterior Paint Colors for Dollhouse Mansions
How do you choose which color to paint your dollhouse? This summer I repainted my own house, and during the process of picking paint colors at the local hardware store, I got to thinking about how different the process is for a miniature home.
Decorate A Dollhouse For Christmas
If Christmas is your favorite time of year, show your holiday cheer by decorating your dollhouse to match the season. This winter, get inspired by your own house.
Pets for your Doll House Family
Dollhouse pets can be a great way to add realism to your dollhouse. In fact, even if you can't find the perfect doll house family to match the setting and time period, there is sure to be a fluffy critter that will look right at home. If you're choosing a pet for your doll house family, here are some considerations to keep in mind:
Making Budget Doll House Kits Look Amazing
How do you make budget doll house kits look like they took hundreds of hours and a gigantic budget to build? With a little patience and a small investment, even the smallest doll house kits can become truly beautiful homes. Only your imagination will limit the possibilities of a kit.
Where Did Your Passion for Dollhouses Begin?
Where did your passion for dollhouses begin? For some, it began as a little girl receiving her first dollhouse as a gift. I was a bit older, about 14, before my dolls house passion began. Growing from an interest in history and 'old things,' dollhouses offered the possibility for recreating imaginative historical scenes. Later, my dolls house offered a creative outlet – there's just something magical, yet challenging, about putting so many details into such a small space.
Miniatures and Dollhouses Don't Have To Go Together
Here are some alternatives to the traditional dollhouse. Do you want to collect dollhouse miniatures, but simply don't have a space to display a huge mansion? Miniatures and dollhouses may seem to go together perfectly, but my recent roombox project has taught me that there are tons of creative ways to display miniatures without building a dollhouse.
Wood Doll House Shingles Demystified
Have you been putting off the process of adding shingles to the roof of your dollhouse because the process looks too complicated? When I first started building dollhouses, each of mine ended up with a bare roof because I was too scared to lay down the first stripe of glue for a row of wood doll house shingles.
Decorating Dolls Houses For a Victorian Halloween
With the first hints of fall in the air, it's time to think about the upcoming holiday season, starting with Halloween. For those of us with a Victorian dollhouse, decorating for Halloween is a great chance to add period decorations. Did you know that Halloween as we know it was first celebrated during the Victorian period?
Read more: Decorating Dolls Houses For A Victorian Halloween
Barbie’s Dollhouse Mansions
Have you heard about the Barbie dream home competition? I know most of you build in 1":1' scale, not Barbie doll size, but this news was too cool not to share..
How to Decorate Doll Houses for Fall
As the weather turns colder, it's a sure sign that fall is in the air. As I decorate my home for the season, I know that it's also time to decorate doll houses with autumn details. With the change of the seasons, it's time to store away the porch swing, the bicycle, and the sandcastle buckets.
How To Decorate a Doll House Kitchen Floor
I installed black and white floor tiles in my 1950s diner roombox today, and thought I'd pass along a few tips I learned along the way. First, 1" by 1" floor tiles from a home improvement store seem like a good idea for replicating the look of 12" square tiles in miniature scale, but they're too thick! .My 50's Dollhouse Kitchen
I know I promised to share photos of the bed I've outfitted with crocheted pillows and blankets, but I got sidetracked with the polymer clay experiments! Becoming frustrated with the tiny scale of clay dollhouse food, I decided to take a break from the crafting and go on a shopping spree of tiny proportions. I'm sure you've all been there – browsing the dollhouse miniatures late at night – and I'm really excited for my finds this time! It always feels like Christmas when the postman brings them to my door.Wiring a Roombox – My First Attempt
I started wiring my 1950s diner roombox this week. The electric lights I installed give it a great sense of realism! I was a bit scared before I got started, since I've never worked with electrical components before, but it was actually a lot easier than I thought. All that you need to get started is a basic wiring kit and a 12 volt transformer.Is Wiring Worth It?
Looks like I'm on a roll with my 1950s-style diner roombox. The setting is purchased, and now I'm trying to decide whether I want to try wiring it for real lights. Electric lights are a great doll house accessory to add character, charm, and realism. But most of my previous houses have been Victorian-era mansions – where electric lighting wouldn't have been used. .On a Shopping Spree for Your Dollhouse
I know I promised to share photos of the bed I've outfitted with crocheted pillows and blankets, but I got sidetracked with the polymer clay experiments! Becoming frustrated with the tiny scale of clay dollhouse food, I decided to take a break from the crafting and go on a shopping spree of tiny proportions. I'm sure you've all been there – browsing the miniatures late at night – and I'm really excited for my finds this time! It always feels like Christmas when the postman brings them to my door.More of The Miniature Food
While I've very much enjoyed my attempt at miniature treats, I must admit I'm a bit disappointed at the level of detail that seems impossible to achieve, at least for me. While some foods are pretty simple – a potato is just a ball of brown clay – examples abound of exquisitely tiny hamburgers, roast turkeys, and baked goods that look fresh from the oven. How do they do that?? There are lots more miniature food items I'd like to make, but first I want to get a handle on how to make them the right scale for my dolls to be able to eat.Miniature Food from Polymer Clay
Do any of you make miniature food from polymer clay? Tiny bits of polymer clay (such as Fimo or Sculpey) can be used to make anything from hamburgers to cupcakes. I saw a few photos online, and this gave me the idea that making polymer clay food would be the perfect chance to add a touch of realism to my miniature settings.The History of Dollhouses
Have you ever wondered about the history of dollhouses? This fascinating hobby is by no means a recent development. In fact, the building of dollhouse mansions can be traced back at least as far as the sixteenth century, when “baby houses” showcased elaborate settings with exquisite furniture. These were not child's toys, but handmade displays commissioned by affluent women across Europe.What You Should Know About Dolls For Dolls Houses
Should you populate your finished miniature with dolls? Many collectors end up considering this question while buying miniatures to fill their house. Historically, dolls for dolls houses have left something to be desired when realism is considered. Today, though, amazingly realistic dolls can add a special 'lived in' quality to the home.
Crocheting for My Dolls House
As you might remember from my earlier posts, recently I've been experimenting with dollhouse-sized versions of another hobby of mine, crocheting. I've been having a blast!
Tips For Painting Dollhouse Interior Walls
Painting the walls of a doll house can be as tedious as painting the walls of your own house. It may not be fun, but you'll surely enjoy the results of a job well done. Thinking about your plans for doll house decorating should begin at the start of the construction process, since it's often easiest to paint interior rooms before the house is assembled.
Decorating Your Dollhouse Porch For Spring
Does it ever feel like time stands still in your dollhouse? The dolls stay the same age, and there's no sign of holidays or seasons passing them by. Every season, I like to decorate a dollhouse with special accessories to help bring the outdoors in. When it comes to decorating, whether your own home or a dollhouse, spring is the most important time of year. It's time to get excited about giving the space a fresh new look inspired by the vibrant colors and burst of activity all around you.
Decorating Doll Houses for Easter
It's finally spring! The sun is shining and the flowers are starting to bloom. But if your dollhouse is anything like mine, you're only now finding the time to take down the miniature Christmas tree and stow away the red and green décor. The dollhouse accessories designed around each holiday are truly amazing – and this is certainly true for Easter! Here are a few tips for decorating doll houses to welcome Easter and the springtime season:
Dollhouse Kit Bashing – Ever Heard of It?
Have you heard of dollhouse kit bashing? Even if you haven't, there's a good chance you have done it if you've ever tried your hand at making doll houses using a dollhouse kit. Kit bashing means modifying a dollhouse kit, perhaps by adding a different porch, or an extra room, or even using the parts from two different kits to build a dollhouse mansion.
Cleaning Doll Houses with Furniture
Have you ever taken a close look inside one of your doll houses with furniture after it's been on display for a while? When I did, I noticed that it was very dusty! Not just a layer of dust settled on the shingles and the front porch, but all the way inside each room.
Introducing Our New Dollhouse Blogger
Hi, everyone! Katie is no longer able to blog for us, so I'll be taking over the blog here at the Dollhouse Company. I look forward to sharing dollhouse tips and ideas with all of you!
Redecorating your Dollhouse
Every once in a while, I get the itch. You know, the "I want to change something so badly it hurts, even though I don't know what I want to change" itch. I'm convinced most women and some men get that urgent feeling. I know I do!
Happy Holiday
I got a little sidetracked with my last blog; I was going to write all about our gingerbread house making adventure and wound up reminiscing about my childhood dollhouse! I guess it happens!
Each year, my little ones and I bake and bake until we pass out from sugar highs and then we bake some more. And each year, we go all out on our gingerbread house! This year was no different.
It's Christmas Time
This year for Christmas, between our trips to the mall, stores, and shopping online, looking for the perfect gift or finding the right place to get our Christmas gift certificates, my kids and I are taking a little more time for ourselves. We decided to go to the grocery store and buy all the supplies, well, ingredients really, for a gingerbread house.
More about Room Boxes
Remember the diorama you built of the solar system in elementary school? Well now you aren’t on a deadline and a pocket change budget. The sky’s the limit! Let your creativity loose and lose yourself in inspiration with these room box ideas.
The Magic of a Room Box
Sometimes, you have a pang of inspiration. I know I do. You shop, ponder, and buy one of the beautiful, 13-room, wooden doll houses that made you drool a little (I know I do!), and it arrives on your doorstep. You really like the house. You pull it out of the box and get to work. And sometime around when you’re letting the shingles dry (that you’ve painstakingly spent hours staining), something happens and your inspiration starts to wane.
A Kidkraft Toy is the Answer!
Just like any dollhouse lover, when The Dollhouse Company adds new lines, I don’t hesitate to look around! My most recent rave here is Kidkraft - I can’t say enough about the idea of a Kidkraft dollhouse ! Last year, when my son began play therapy for a sensorimotor disorder, the therapist often brought out a play doll house that I thought was pretty cool. It was basic, colorful, and strong. This Kidkraft dollhouse was designed for littler, clumsier hands - a sturdy, large doll house.
A Dollhouse Kit for Sarah!
Last year, just before Christmas, I decided to build a dollhouse for my daughter, Sarah. It’s my most recent dollhouse project. I wanted something I could do relatively quickly, but was high in quality. I chose the ‘Princess Anne’ dollhouse kit and it was a perfect choice!
The Dollhouse Company Blog is here!
There’s a lot going on here at The Dollhouse Company! We’re completing a huge renovation and we’re excited to share our good news with you. You may already know about some of our new additions - I am happy to be one of them! I’ve been invited to join the Dollhouse Company as the new ‘blog manager’ and I am thrilled to introduce our new blog!
My name is Katie and I am a dollhouse maniac - really! I built my first dollhouse back sometime around 1985, and since
Miniature Lights - Creating Ambiance in Your Finished Dollhouse
Nothing makes your dollhouse look more real than the ability to switch on the lights when it's dark in order to create the feeling of a real home.
Dollhouse lighting should ideally be planned before you glue and nail the house together. This way you can hide all the cables behind the wallpaper and in the floor and ceilings.
Read more: Dollhouse Lighting - Creating Ambiance in Your Finished Dollhouse
Finished Dollhouses - Choosing the Perfect Dollhouse
Finished dollhouses come in many sizes, shapes, styles and finishes. Depending on who the house is for, depends on what kind of dollhouse you should choose.
Children usually get houses in 'play' size, which is the 2 inch scale and big enough to be handled by the young ones. These houses are often placed on the floor and the children can walk around them while playing and furnishing them. Children's playhouses are made from plywood and can be just as small as a one room box or they can be mansions of 5 to 10 rooms or more.
Read more: Finished Dollhouses - Choosing the Perfect Dollhouse
Miniature Porcelain Dolls
Miniature enthusiasts collect many things, from miniature houses, furniture and ornaments to miniature trains, soldiers and horses. Miniature dolls are one of the most popular items for collectors. There are 1 inch, ½ inch and even ¼ inch dolls. Many are made of resin but the most beautiful ones are miniature porcelain dolls.
About Dollhouse Miniatures
Dollhouses have been popular for centuries. Long ago, they were made for royalty. Europe's middle class soon became interested in these tiny homes, and accomplished artisans began making dollhouse miniatures. With the Industrial Revolution, toys such as dollhouse miniatures were finally available to the masses. Today, these miniatures remain a popular hobby for many.
Doll House Shoes - How to use them to decorate your Dollhouse.
A great way to make your dollhouse look authentic and give it the real life feeling is to decorate it with doll house shoes. These shoes come in many styles and sizes. They also come in a variety of colors. There are shoes for men, shoes for women, children, boys and girls.
Dollhouse Accessories - How to make your house look real - Part 1
In order to make a dollhouse look as real as possible, one of the best things you can do is to decorate your house with lots of different dollhouse accessories. In part 1, we will be looking at the best dollhouse accessories for decorating the kitchen, lounge and dining room of your dollhouse.
Dollhouse Accessories - How to make your house look real - Part 2
In part 2 of 'How to make your house look real' we are looking at which dollhouse accessories to use to decorating your hall, your bedrooms, your nursery and the bathroom.
Dollhouse Accessories - How to make your house look real – Part 3
In part 3 of 'How to make your house look real' we are looking at which dollhouse accessories to use for decorating your music room, your sewing room, your office and library.
Where to place your Dollhouse Miniature Project
An important consideration is the position where you eventually want to display your finished dollhouse. Below are some points you should consider before deciding which house to purchase.
Victorian Dollhouse Furniture
When it comes to deciding which furniture to select for your dollhouse, you will find that there is a large selection of Victorian dollhouse furniture to choose from. In the Victorian age, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, a great mix of styles came together. The styles that influenced this era came from the Baroque, the Gothic, the Rococo and the Neoclassical. Therefore Victorian dollhouse furniture can have a variety of looks.
