Much like painting your own house, painting the interior walls of a new miniature dollhouse kit can be tedious work, but the fun happens when you begin to see everything come together in a beautiful fashion.

To begin this easy process you will need to have some paint on hand. Paint is not included with most dollhouse kits, so this will need to be purchased this separately.  Use a non-acrylic based paint as these can leave streaking. Premium latex paints (in either a flat matte or satin finish) are recommended. These are east to come by, don’t come with a heavy price tag, and are available in a wide range of colors. Visit your local hardware or diy store. Specialty paints for dollhouses also exist through craft stores and specialty websites, but generally cost more.

There are lots of options for how your dollhouse appears when finished.  If you need inspiration, look to home decorating magazines. Though intended for full size homes, the color combinations will work just as well in a 1:12 scale dollhouse. Choose trim and accents colors at the same time you choose your main wall colors. Also, be sure to choose a roller or paint brushes that are of high quality. These will prevent streaking and will provide an even coat.

A wood sealer is recommended as a first coat. This will prevent the wood from absorbing the paint and will make the process of painting your interior walls much quicker. Sealers and primers can be found in the same places where you would buy interior latex paint. Apply your sealer before you’ve assembled the dollhouse walls. Prepare surfaces for the sealer, by removing doors and windows and covering – with tape or cloths- areas that are not meant to be painted. You may also need to sand away rough areas. This is easily accomplished with an emery board- typically used for filing nails.

Once prepped, you can begin sealing, then painting the surfaces. Paint your trim and detail work first (this is much easier to install finished after your dollhouse walls have been painted). Next, apply your first coat of paint to your dollhouse walls before assembling.  Be aware that you may need as many as three coats of paint to achieve the desired result. Be sure to lightly sand each coat before applying the next coat of paint.

This dollhouse decorating project is one of the most enjoyable and will have the largest impact on the look of your interior. Spend the extra time to tape any pieces you don’t want painted. The result will be beautiful and one you will enjoy looking at for years to come.