Miniature Fruit Bowl by Small Wonders

If you’re new to collecting dollhouse miniatures, then you’ve already discovered the vast selection of miniatures available! It can be almost overwhelming the first time you visit a dollhouse miniature shop or dollhouse miniature on-line retailer.

If you’ve decided to enter the wonderful world of miniature collecting, then this article will help get you started. Brainstorming and planning is an essential first step in dollhouse miniature collecting.

Here are 4 basic questions to ask yourself before beginning your collection:

1. Do I have the space? Before you begin your collection, decide which scale of dollhouse miniatures is right for you. Decide where in your home you will display your collection. The amount of space you have to work with will help you decide whether you want to showcase your collection in a room box, dollhouse or in a room filled with display cases!

2. What’s your purpose? Ask yourself why you are motivated to start this miniature collection? Do you enjoy collecting a certain type of miniature (i.e. miniature dogs or miniature vases) or do you have odds and ends of miniatures stored away in a closet that you wish to display in a scene? There are many reasons people love to collect miniatures. Some wish to tell a story with their collection by recreating a scene from their past memories. Others wish to showcase their interior design talents by creating a miniature version of their dream home. Others want to highlight the miniature objects themselves, without necessarily creating a miniature scene.

3. What’s your budget? There are many price ranges of dollhouse miniatures on the market and budget is an important factor. Ask yourself if you wish to complete your project in a few months time, or over several years. If you are in no hurry, consider beginning with a room box and “upgrading” to a larger scale dollhouse as you add pieces to your collection.

4. How do I want to display my collection? This is perhaps, the most rewarding part of miniature collecting. Interior design is at the heart of miniature collecting. If you’ve decided to display your collection in a dollhouse or roombox, now comes the real planning – choosing the style of your room box or dollhouse (i.e. Victorian, Georgian, Craftsman), planning your interior colors and deciding what type and style of miniatures to add to your display. This final planning step will help you realize what’s most important to you as you begin your collection.

We encourage you to read through our other blog postings for more tips and ideas on what you miniature pieces to add to your dollhouse.

Miniature Charlotte's Web Book by Tiny Details

If you’re a dollhouse miniature enthusiast, you will appreciate knowing there are many more out there just like you! Clubs and organizations around the country attract individuals who enjoy the hobby of dollhouse miniatures.

Some unfamiliar with this hobby would believe that building and decorating a dollhouse is a one-time project, but those involved in miniatures know this is not true. It’s an addiction!

The motives behind miniaturists often vary. For some, it really is a one-time project, for others, it is the challenge of constructing a dream house on a miniature scale. I have even seen miniaturists build dollhouses to reconstruct a miniature version of a childhood home or grandmother’s house.

If you are new to this hobby, consider joining a dollhouse miniature club. There are many local dollhouse clubs around the United States (and even around the world).

In addition to dollhouse clubs, there are many other great resources out there. The internet hosts many on-line groups where you can chat with other miniaturists about your dollhouse project. It’s a great way to bounce ideas of others from the comfort of your own home. Both Google and Yahoo host some great groups you can join. Some groups are private, which means you have to request an invite to join, while other groups are public and you can join without request.

Dollhouse miniature shows are another great venue to see the vast array of collectibles available. There are several held around the country. This is a great place to see hand-crafted miniatures from local and national miniature artisans.

Finding others who share the same passion for the miniature dollhouse hobby makes the addiction to dollhouse miniature collecting….well, just that much more addicting.

About us:

Zoolabees Dollhouse Miniatures is a premier on-line retailer of 1:12 scale dollhouse miniatures. We specialize in miniature dollhouse furniture, miniature dollhouse accessories, lamps and lighting, building components, dollhouses and dolls. Zoolabees is also an authorized dealer of Hansson Miniatures.

Real Good Toys Williamsburg Dollhouse Kit

Building a dollhouse doesn’t have to be an expensive project. There is a whole range of dollhouse miniatures on the market ranging from custom built dollhouses and dollhouse kits to high-end, solid wood hand-carved miniature dollhouse furniture (such as Hansson Miniatures) to lesser expensive, value-priced dollhouse miniatures.

The first place to start when building your dollhouse is to decide how much you want to spend. Is your goal to build a premiere dollhouse to showcase in your living room, or is it a project you wish to share with your child? For the crafter-at-heart, this may be a one-time project for fun you would like to build for yourself or give as a gift to a friend or family member.

Since this article is geared towards the budget-conscious miniaturist, here are some tips we’ve picked up on how to save money building and furnishing your dollhouse.

Start Simple – Build your dollhouse as your budget allows. Your project could take a few days or it could take years. It’s up to you to decide how much money you want to devote to your new hobby. Set a weekly or monthly budget for yourself and treat yourself to miniature building supplies or dollhouse furniture and accessories of your choice accordingly.

Build using a Dollhouse Kit – Some experienced miniaturists opt to build their dollhouses from scratch, using custom dollhouse plans. However, these custom-built homes can be very pricey. Try building your dollhouse using one of the many dollhouse kits available which includes all of the pre-cut pieces ready for assembly. If it’s your first dollhouse, you may want to begin with a room box kit which contains just a single room for you to design and build. As you gain confidence in your dollhouse building skills, you can always move to the larger project of building a dollhouse from a kit.

Use Paint and Stain – If you are on a budget, consider painting your walls and staining your floors. This will save quite a bit of money. You can always go back and install floors and wallpaper room-by-room later on as your budget allows. This will at least give you a semi-finished look as a beginning step.

Buy Value-Priced Furnishings – Purchase value-priced dollhouse furniture for your dollhouse project. There are many great pieces available from makers such as Town Square Miniatures or Handley Classics. Depending upon the piece of furniture, you can expect to spend an average of $5.00 – $20.00 per piece for value-priced miniature furniture. Typically, the higher the price the more detail and quality the piece will feature.

You can also purchase your miniature furniture in packaged room group kits. For example, a kitchen room group might contain a refrigerator, stove/oven, sink and kitchenette table set. Purchasing miniatures this way can often save lots of money in the long run. You can also opt to make your own furniture from scratch or by purchasing a ready-to-assemble furniture kit. You also always have the option of redecorating your dollhouse to more expensive furnishings as your budget allows.

Do the Research – Before you begin your dollhouse project, we suggest you thoroughly research the project. There are many websites and books devoted to the topic of building a dollhouse. Ensuring you have all of the supplies and tools necessary will help make your project a success!