how to build a dollhouse

PSSST : To see the entire house decorated – check it out here!

Hey guys, Jamin here again with another tutorial from the redo in Emerson’s room. Today we are going to be focusing on how to build a dollhouse.

How to build a dollhouse

Building the dollhouse really is a breeze, but it will take some time and patience. Don’t get discouraged, and be willing to walk away if you get tired… this is a time intensive project. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves around here that Rome wasn’t built in a day… and neither is any project worth tackling. ;}

How to build a dollhouse – The supply list

(7) 2 x 4 sheets 1/4 MDF • (1) 4 x 8 sheet 1/8 backing • (26) 1 x 2 x 6 • (15) 1 x 2 x 8

2 inch finishing nails (large box) • 1 1/4 inch finishing nails (large box)

3/4 inch finishing nails (small box) • (6) 3 hole 2 inch hinges • (2) bundles of shims

wood glue & gun • hot glue • sand paper

Tools

a saw (10 compound miter saw) • A finish nailer (airstrike nail gun) • Belt sander

Jig Saw • Circular saw

How to build a dollhouse – Cut list

cut a 1 x 2 x 6 down to (98) 16 1/2  inches pieces

(3) of your  1 x 2 x8 down to (36) 7 ¼ pieces

(6) of your 1 x 2 x 8 down to a (1) 49 3/4 inch piece and (6) 7.25 pieces

cut 3 of your 1 x 2 x 8 down to (8) 31 inch  pieces

2 of your 1 x 2 x 6 down to (4) 28 1/2  pieces

also cut 2 of your 1 x 2 x 8 down to (4) 15 inch pieces and (1) 25 inch piece

1 of your 1 x 2 x 8 down to (3) 25 inch pieces

1 of your 1 x 2 x 6 down to (1) 25 inch pieces and (1) 33 inch piece

2 of your sheets of  your 1/4 MDF down to 49 x 16 1/2 inches

1 sheet of ¼ MDF down to 25 x 17 1/2  and 24 3/4  x 17 1/2 .

(4) sheets of ¼ MDF down to 31 ½ x 16 1/2.

your backing down to 49 x 33

your shims down to random lengths, around 2 inches.

How to build a dollhouse – Building the frame

Like any good building project, you have to start with the frame. You will need 4 of your 1 x 2’s cut down to 49 3/4 inches and all (8) of your 1 x 2’s cut to 15 inches and 31 inches.

On all 4 of your 49 3/4 inch pieces, measure up and mark 16 inches and 33 1/2inches.

Next, nail your 15 inch pieces into the 49 3/4 inch piece (use a 2 inch finishing nail). Start at the very bottom, then nail at your 16 and 33 1/2 inch marks, and nail the last one at the very tops. (When nailing on the lines, the wood should meet the top of the marks you have made. ) It should be nailed together in such a way that your total depth becomes 16 1/2 inches, see the below picture.

Next, begin nailing in your 31 inch pieces to your 15 inch piece and your up right frame, in such a way that your over all width becomes 33 inches, see the above picture (use a 1 & 1/4 inch finishing nail). (The top of the piece of wood should align with the mark when using your marks.)

Finally, on the front part nail the 28 1/4 inch piece over the 31 inch piece (use a 1 & 1/4 inch finish nail.)

How to build a dollhouse – Flooring

Take the (4) 31 1/2 x 16 1/2, using a jig saw notch out each corner so that they will slide snuggly around the inside frame. Nail it to the frame using the 3/4 inch finish nail.

How to build a dollhouse – The siding

Take four pieces of  16 ½ inch 1 x 2’s and nail them to one side of your frame, with the 1 1/2 side facing out. (Use 1 1/4  inch finishing nails) Make sure that your front edge is flush and straight. Do not worry about the back edge. We will sand it down later.

 

Take one of the 7 1/4  inch pieces, and on the 3/4  inch side spread a little wood glue. Place the piece flush to the outside front edge and nail down through it with a 2 inch finish nail. Repeat this process on the opposite side. You should now have the base of the window formed. Repeat this process 2 more times. Next glue and nail a 16 1/2 inch piece.

Continue up the frame, nailing 3 more 16 1/2 inch pieces to the frame to complete the first layer. (make sure to switch back to 1 1/4 nails when nailing to the frame.)

Repeat the above process, until you reach the top of the frame.

Once both sides are nailed use the belt sander to sand down the edges so that they are flush and even.

How to build a dollhouse – The Doors

The doors are pretty similar to the siding with the exception of using 1/4 inch MDF to support them. You will be using both pieces of MDF that are cut down to 49 x 16 1/2. This time, instead of nailing the pieces to the frame, you will simply use a combination of wood glue and hot glue to secure them to the MDF.  I suggest laying the dollhouse on it’s back, placing the MDF on the front and lining up the 1 x 2’s where they will go.

You will start at the bottom and work your way up, just as you did with the siding. Simply spread some wood glue on the MDF where you will be placing the 1 x 2’s, then add a couple of drops of hot glue to the back side of the 1 x 2 and place on the MDF. Work your way up the MDF, making sure to form your windows. Once you finish, allow the 1 x 2’s to dry on the MDF according to the instructions on the wood glue.

Once it is dry, go back and use a drill to bore a hole where the window will be and use a jigsaw to cut it out. (see the above pictures)

Again, use the belt sander to sand down the edges so that they are flush and even.

Now simply attach the doors using 3 hole 2 inch hinges to the siding.

Helpful hint:

we used magnets on the top parts of the doors to help hold them closed. Simply attach regular cabinet door magnets with the screws that come with them. We chose to mount them on the underneath side of one level.

Finally, nail a 49 3/4 inch piece of 1 x 2 to the edge of each door helping cover the edges by the hinge.

 

How to build a dollhouse – Roof

To build the frame of the roof visit our detailed post about roofing here and scale it to size. We used a 25 inch piece as a rafter and a 15 inch piece as our ridge.

Once the rafters and the ridge are nailed into place simply attach your 25 x 17 1/2 and 24 3/4  x 17 1/2  pieces of MDF to the rafters and ridge with 3/4 inch finish nails.

We choose to build a front facing for what we call ‘the attic’. In reality, it’s perfect for all those dolls and storage. Simply cut (2) 25 inch pieces of 1 x 2 in the same way you cut your rafters and use the 33 inch piece as the cross piece. Glue them to a piece of MDF cut to shape and cut the hole or square where you desire (Basically in the same way we did the rectangle windows, above).

Helpful hint:

We had to sand ours (attic face) down a bit on the edges once we were finished, and the entire dollhouse was standing up, painted. Painting can subtly change the way things fit. But the top part just pops in. Feel free to use magnets here as well, and watch your children to make sure they’re careful with the top part when they open the dollhouse.

For the top part of the roof: simply glue the shims you have cut down onto the MDF to give a shingle effect. To do this, we started on one edge, and simply layered as we went. They ended up in a random pattern, like an old beach cottage.

How to build a dollhouse – Paint and trim – {Back to Ashley}

For the finish on the dollhouse, we tried a spray primer first, outside and it got us nowhere but a cloud of awkward dust in our eyes and a gross finish. (Sometimes, spray paint makes me really mad.)

So we brought it in, and painted it with a high-gloss version of Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. Inside, and out. If you’ve ever painted a shelf before, you know this was a bit of a feat, so be prepared to spend a bit of time on it… this is the fun part! ;} The edging: Painted in Chantilly Lace with light aqua stripes (Benjamin Moore’s At Sea). I used tape for the stripes. When it was dry, we lightly stained it with Minwax’s Early American and our tea stain technique.

We then glued on small pieces of craft wood for the shutters {after we stained them}. Side note: For the roof, you may notice that we chose to leave those shims a natural finish. This would be after staining them on my first initial pass, and then tearing them all off in a sheer panic attack that I’d ruined the entire thing. It was too heavy, and I loved the light, cottage-y feel the wood brought to the space. Thank goodness for hot glue. ;}

For the “window panes” this consisted of more small pieces of craft wood painted to a nice white, and glued from the inside. It gave the perfect look for the windows!

Stay tuned guys…

now that the dollhouse is done… we {Ashley + Emmy} fully intend to decorate the inside together. We have grandiose plans!

This is one of those projects that took a while, but it’s also a timeless piece. One she can look back on fondly and say, “My parents made this for me.” And hand it down to her daughter… and her daughter hand it down to her daughter… and so on. At least that’s what I see in my dreamworldfantasyunicornmnind. Maybe one day she’ll be all, “My parents never purchased anything for me! They always had to make stuff! Gross!” ;}

Thanks guys! Let us know if you have any questions here + of course, if you decide to make one! We’d love to see!

Updated: To see the room reveal + the entire series of tutorials behind it, be sure to click here and check them out!