A recent article published in Dollhouse Miniatures Magazine asks its readers to provide their most indispensable tools when building dollhouses and other dollhouse miniature projects. Here’s a list of the most important tools to top their list:

One-Inch-Scale Ruler: A standard architect’s ruler is a must-have when working with dollhouse miniatures. This handy ruler will allow you to easily transfer full-sized measurements into scale measurements, instantly! Look for the left end of the 1″ scale which is divided by 1/12″. It’s available at most office supply stores.

Miniature Bench Lighting: When working with tiny items, good lighting is essential. Use an incandescent light at a sharp angle to avoid shadows. Use color-corrected fluorescent lighting for painting when color matters because the incandescent light can drastically affect how colors appear under this type of lighting. A combination of both types of light work well when clear coat finishing furniture.

Plastic Picks for Teeth: These picks are similar to wooden toothpicks, but are made for teeth. Unlike wood, plastic doesn’t encourage things to stick or absorb. These picks are usually shaped somewhat like a hockey stick and can usually be located where toothpaste and floss are sold.

Storage with PVC Pipe: Cut various lengths (6″ to 15″) white PVC pipe, wire or tape them together and attach to a box bottom. These pipes can stand vertically or lay horizontally for storage of wood dowels, molding, metal rods, etc. A larger diameter PVC can attach to your garage wall for larger pieces.

Teflon Pressing Sheet: Teflon pressing sheets can be used while painting, sanding, gluing or even ironing. The dried paint and glue can be washed off or scraped off using an old credit card. These sheets are practically indestructible, but be careful not to cut on them. These are usually found in fabric stores and are available in different sizes.

We hope you will find these tips provided by readers of DH Miniatures magazine useful. Please visit our other blog postings for more helpful tips and suggestions.

You’re building your first dollhouse – either from scratch or using a dollhouse kit. You want to be sure you have a basic understanding of the project as well as all of the right tools before your miniature dollhouse building begins.

Keep in mind that building a dollhouse from a kit is a much simpler task and will include all of the pre-cut pieces in either MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or plywood. If you decide to build your own dollhouse from scratch, you will need dollhouse plans, more tools and must have an adequate understanding of how to work with different types of wood and power tools.

If you are planning to build your dollhouse using a kit, this article will provide you with a simple overview of what to expect as well as the basic items and tools you will need to get started.

The type of dollhouse kit you purchase will determine its level of difficulty to assemble. Room boxes, which are simply that – just one room, are the easiest to assemble and a great starting point if this is your first dollhouse project. Single story dollhouses are more difficult, but much easier than multi-story, multi-room dollhouse kits. Also, decide before purchasing your dollhouse if you would prefer one that opens from the front or from the rear.

Before you begin, know what to expect when you open the box that contains your dollhouse kit. Basic dollhouse kits include all of the basic pre-cut pieces. A quality dollhouse kit will include 3/8” thick walls with clapboards milled directly onto the exterior walls. All pieces are designed and built to fit together perfectly. The windows and doors will arrive pre-assembled. Your kit will include roof shingles in either cedar or pine. These will arrive in individual pieces and will be glued to the roof of your dollhouse one shingle at a time. Gingerbread trim is included in the dollhouse kits in strips. Depending upon the actual kit purchased, your kit may also include moldings, railings, staircases, shutters and window boxes, which are more common in the larger, more expensive dollhouse kits. Kits do not include finishing touches such as primer, paint, glue, curtains, landscape materials or miniature dollhouse furniture and miniature dollhouse accessories.

The basic tools needed to build a dollhouse will include a carpenter’s square, carpenter’s glue, tacky glue (found at craft stores), tape measure, exact-o knife, sandpaper and masking tape. Also, be prepared with a hammer and finishing nails.

Since your dollhouse kit will not include paint, you will want to purchase a good quality acrylic latex paint as well as a primer. Small quantities of trim colors should also be purchased (you can find these at a craft store).

Be sure to read through all instructions before you begin. If you opt to electrify your dollhouse, the basic wiring should be installed during the construction phase and completed before decorating your dollhouse. The materials needed for this are included in a wiring kit, sold separately. Cir-kit Concepts makes one of the most popular kits on the market.

Stay tuned to our other blog articles for more in-depth instructions and tips on building a dollhouse!

OK, so you’ve decided to build your own dollhouse. Congratulations, the dollhouse miniatures hobby is both fun and rewarding! A common question among newcomers to the dollhouse hobby is “Where do I start?”

The first step in building a dollhouse is to decide whether you want to build your dollhouse from scratch or build your dollhouse using a dollhouse kit. Take into consideration that building a dollhouse from scratch is not for the faint of heart. If you are new to the hobby, consider building your first dollhouse or room box using a kit. There are many kits available which include all of the pre-cut pieces ready for assembly. Real Good Toys and Greenleaf Dollhouse are examples of two popular manufacturers of dollhouse kits.

If you’ve decided to build your dollhouse from scratch, the first item you will need is a set of dollhouse plans. These can be obtained through hobby shops or through specialty websites. Before selecting dollhouse plans, you must decide on the scale of your dollhouse. 1:12 scale is one of the most popular scales among American dollhouses.

The next step in building your dollhouse is deciding which type of wood you will use to construct your miniature home. Before making this decision, ask yourself why you are building your dollhouse? Is it meant to be a toy for a child, a gift, a fun craft project or a treasured heirloom you plan to keep in your family for generations. The answer to this question should help guide you towards the type of construction material you will use in your dollhouse. Oak, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and plywood are some of the more popular woods used in constructing dollhouses.

Oak is more difficult to work with, but if you want to build a top quality dollhouse as a treasured heirloom or beautiful display showcase, oak will give you the high-end results you are seeking. Be prepared that oak will require more tools to work with than the other two wood materials mentioned.

MDF is the least expensive of the three materials mentioned above, but is considered the easiest to work-with. Cutting this wood will generate a lot of dust, but it does not splinter and is very easy to paint making it a great choice for a children’s play dollhouse.

Plywood, another common building material is available in thin sheets and is another common wood used in collector dollhouses. Plywood is very easy to transport and is also easy to work with in constructing a dollhouse. Plywood can splinter which means it’s not the best choice for a children’s play dollhouse.

Windows and doors are also an important decision when building a dollhouse. You can opt to make your own windows and doors, or you can purchase these ready-made. Building doors and windows can be a challenge, so if you are building your first dollhouse, you may be wise to purchase these already manufactured.

This article is meant as a basic overview for constructing the basic shell of a dollhouse. There are many more interior options and decisions to be made including electricity, flooring, wallpaper, niches and mouldings and hardware – just to name a few! We recommend that you stay tuned to our blog for more helpful tips in building and designing a dollhouse.