A Beginners Guide to Dollhouses  by Marie Wendt
   
Before you dive right into the wonderful world of dollhouses and building them, there are a few things you should know.  You probably have a million questions right now like "where do I get a dollhouse kit"... "how do I put one together"... "what tools do I need", etc.  Well, not to worry.  By the time you finish reading this guide, most if not all your questions should be answered and you'll be on your way to building your first dollhouse in no time!   Some dollhouses are exclusively for the adult collector, while others are geared more towards children and playing.  Some aspects of each will not be suitable to the other.  For this guide, however, we will cover the details required of an adult collector.  Please view our Children's Corner page under Resources for information pertaining to a child's dollhouse.

Probably one of the most important aspects of dollhouse construction and finishing is the knowledge of "scales".  This means that dollhouse miniatures are constructed in a certain size.  In most cases, when you see a dollhouse kit, or assembled dollhouse, displayed in a shop, it is 1:12 scale.  The smaller scales are rapidly growing in popularity, but for the most part 1:12 scale seems to be most preferred.  For a beginner, it is recommended that you start in 1:12 scale unless you have your heart set on working in smaller scales.

Here is a scale chart for you to become familiar with:

Victorian, Tudor, Modern, and Georgian are among the time periods available in collector dollhouses. 

Probably one of the most popular house styles is Victorian which started in the 1830's.  Their ornate architecture and spacious floor plans allow for a lot of flexibility in decor, furnishings and accessories; even the eclectic.  Decoration styles were partly inspired by Louis XIV and the Oriental.   Most Victorians showed their wealth with possessions.  So if you love LOTS of accessories, this may be the period for you!

A popular style house for collectors is the Tudor.  Tudor houses have an almost 'masculine' feel to them with exposed timbers, plaster, and lots of woodwork.  On the flip side of the coin, gardens were a very popular feature of this period.  Although there aren't as many furnishings and accessories available for this style, they are gaining in popularity.  If you like to make your own furniture, the Tudor style house might be what you're looking for.

With more and more collectors wanting a dollhouse that resembles their own modern-day real life house, or a house they want to have, Modern dollhouses are becoming more popular.  There really isn't anything you can't do with this style.  Elaborate kitchens, baths, etc. are so much fun to create.  Decorating ideas can be retrieved from magazines at your local bookstore.  The possibilities are endless!

Another very popular house style is Georgian and you'll probably see just as many of these as Victorian; if not more.  The Georgian period was all about classic symmetry and organization.  The houses are large, spacious and very elegant.  If it's a mansion with grand proportions you're after, then this is the period for you!

We will start off talking about dollhouse "kits".  If you're building from scratch with detailed plans, the following will also apply.  Once you have your kit, the first thing you need to do is double-check to make sure you have all your pieces.  Kits should come with a parts list for you to go through and check off each item as you come across it.  If you are missing any pieces, contact the manufacturer immediately to get any replacements.

Now that all your pieces have been accounted for, it's a good idea to "prime" all interior and exterior surfaces of the wall, floor and ceiling panels.  This will help to prevent warping when applying paint, wallpaper, stucco, etc.  It also helps you achieve a more balanced and "true" color when applying paint and wallpaper.  There are several good brands of primer/sealer on the market and they can be found at your local home store.  I use one with a white pigment so the wood grain of the dollhouse doesn't show through my paint or wallpaper.  Painting the exterior walls of the house after priming will also be beneficial before you start to assemble.  **Please remember that good ventilation is vital during this process.  It is preferable to paint outdoors, but if you can't, open windows, turn on a fan, and wear a dust mask to prevent breathing fumes.  Odors can also be minimized by having a bowl of baking soda near your workspace!

Once the exterior of the dollhouse is painted, you are ready to start assembling.  There are a lot of glues out there, but some of the most recommended are Titebond Wood Glue or Elmer's Wood Glue.  If you're going to be building a dollhouse made of thicker woods such as plywood or MDF, it's suggested that you also use 5/8" to 3/4" finishing nails as extra support due to the weight.  Glue alone should more than suffice for houses made of thinner woods like luan plywood.

Once you have the basic "shell" assembled, it's time to start wiring your dollhouse for light fixtures if you plan to have them.  Please review our Beginners Guide to Dollhouse Electrification for more information on this subject.

When you've finished with your wiring, you are now free to paint and wallpaper all interior walls, paint or paper ceilings, and lay flooring.  If you know what paint and wallpaper you're going to use in which room, it's very beneficial to paint and wallpaper those wall sections "before" assembly of the house; if you prefer.  It's also recommended to hold off putting in any doors and windows until this step is done. 

Once everything has been painted, papered, trimmed, carpeted, etc. it's finally time to decorate and furnish your dollhouse!

If you still have any unanswered questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at allthingsmini2004@yahoo.com!