How to Make an American Girl Doll House

Building the Dollhouse

Measure your space. Before you convert something into a dollhouse, you will need to make sure that it will fit the doll and her furniture. You want your doll to be able to stand up comfortably in her house, and you want the furniture to fit easily into the rooms without going over the edges. Whatever space you end up using or building for your dollhouse will need to at least 20 inches tall, 20 inches wide, and 20 inches deep in order to fit both the doll and her furniture. This section will give you several options on where you can build your dollhouse.

Convert a bookshelf into a multi-storied dollhouse. You can transform a simple bookshelf into a dollhouse, or you can make your own bookshelf. Depending on how wide your bookshelf is, you may be able to add some vertical walls or dividers to create more rooms. Bookshelves take up the least space, and can be turned into multi-storied houses.

Build your dollhouse inside a wardrobe. You can convert a wardrobe into a large dollhouse by adding 2 to 3 shelves inside. Some wardrobes include drawers, which can be used to store extra items for your doll, such as clothes and brushes. The best part about using a wardrobe for a dollhouse is that you can close the doors when playtime is over so that dust, pets, and younger siblings can't get inside.

Create a multi-room home using some cubbies. You can purchase a unite with cubbies from a furniture store and turn it into a dollhouse, or you can make your own by stacking several crates together and securing them with wood glue or nails. Make sure that each cubby hole is at least 20 inches tall, or else your doll will not have room to stand up in it. Cubbies will allow you to create multiple rooms without having to insert any dividing walls.

Stack some boxes or crates together to create rooms. You can create a dollhouse by stacking several boxes or crates together. The boxes or crates can be made out of cardboard, wood, or plastic. Secure the creates with nails, screws, or wood glue. Cardboard boxes will be the cheapest and easiest to paint and decorate, but they will also be the least durable. Multiple cardboard boxes stacked together may begin to sag beneath the weight of the doll and her furniture after a while. Wood will be more expensive, but they will also be more durable. Depending on the quality of the wood, however, some of the creates will need to be sanded to achieve a smoother finish. Plastic crates may be more expensive than cardboard boxes, but they will be more durable. Depending on the finish, some plastic crates might have to be sanded first before painting or adding wallpaper and flooring; not doing so might result in the paint chipping off and the glued-on pieces falling off.

Add separations to make individual rooms. If you are using a wide shelf or wardrobe, you can easily turn it into 2 or 3 separate rooms. You can create more rooms by cutting a sheet of wood, plywood, or cardboard the same height as the "room" and wedging it into the shelf vertically. You may need to secure it with some wood glue or hot glue. You can also use foam-core or sheets of fabric instead. You can make doors by cutting rectangles into your walls before you insert them into your house. Make sure that the rectangles are at least 20 inches tall.

Consider building the dollhouse from scratch. You can also build a dollhouse from scratch out of wood, plywood, cardboard, or foam-core. You will need to create something that looks like a bookshelf, with each floor being at least 20 inches high and 20 inches deep. If you are using wood or plywood, look for something that is between ½ to ¾ inch thick. If you are using cardboard or foam-core, glue 2 to 3 sheets together to make the house more durable. If you wish to add multiple rooms, create walls out of the same materials that you are using for the rest of the house and insert them after you have put the rest of the house together. Each wall should measure the room's height by the room's depth. For example, if each floor is 20 inches high and 20 inches deep, then your walls need to be 20 inches by 20 inches. Since you are building this house from scratch, consider cutting some windows into the outside walls, and doors into the dividing walls. Make sure that the doors are big enough for the doll to fit through.

Decorating the Walls and Floors

Decide what sorts of rooms you want. Knowing what types of rooms you want inside your dollhouse will help you decide what to make the walls and floors out of. Some rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens, will look better with tiled floors, while other rooms, such as living rooms and bedrooms, will look better with wooden or carpeted floors. If you are making a dollhouse for one of American Girl's historical dolls, look at pictures of houses from that era to get some ideas. Look at home decorating magazines to get more ideas.

Add some color by paining the inside of the dollhouse. You can add color to your dollhouse by painting the walls with acrylic paint or spray paint. You can paint each room a different color. You can also paint the walls a solid color with a large brush or spray paint, and then paint designs using a smaller brush or stencils. If you choose to use spray paint, make sure that you paint outside or in a well-ventilated area. Consider leaving some parts of your dollhouse unpainted. For example, if your dollhouse is made out of wood, then paint just the walls. The unpainted floors will look like wooden floors.

Add some individuality with wallpaper. You can add some texture and personality to your dollhouse by adding some wallpaper. If you are making a house for a historical American Girl doll, look at pictures of wallpapers from her era and finding something with a similar design or pattern. There are many ways you can make wallpaper: Wrapping paper is great for covering large areas. Measure the walls of your dollhouse, and cut sheets of wrapping paper according to those measurements. You can glue the paper down to the walls using spray-on adhesive, or you can paint a thin layer of glue onto the walls and press the paper down. You can seal the paper with either a paint-on varnish or a seal-on varnish. Colored contact paper or shelf and drawer liner is another alternative to wrapping paper, except that it does not need to be glued down or sealed. Simply measure the areas you want covered, cut sheets of colored contact paper/shelf and drawer liner according to those measurements. Then, peel off the backing and stick the sheet to the walls. Scrapbooking paper comes in 12 by 12 inch sheets and is good for small spaces. You will need to use several sheets of scrapbooking paper to cover large areas. You can use the same pattern for an entire wall, or you can mix and match patterns to create a tiled effect. Like with wrapping paper, you will need to glue the scrapbooking paper down using either a spray-on adhesive or painting on a thin layer of glue. You can also seal the scrapbooking paper with a paint-on or seal-on varnish to make it last longer. You can also purchase small amounts of wallpaper from your local hardware store and glue it to the walls of your dollhouse.

Decorate the walls. Make your dollhouse appear cozier by adding some pictures and mirrors on the walls. You can print out small pictures (or cut them out of magazines) and tape them to the walls of your doll house. You can also glue small craft mirrors to the walls in bathrooms or above dressers. For something more elegant, put the pictures and mirrors inside mini picture frames. You can find them at most arts and crafts shop. If you like the style of a frame but not the color, you can always paint it with some acrylic paint. You can make simple frames fancier by adding gemstones and beads.

Add some windows. You can make your dollhouse appear more realistic by adding some windows. You can either cut square holes into the walls, or you can add pictures of the outdoors and tape them to the walls instead. You can either find pictures on the internet and print them out, or you can cut them from a magazine. Make your window appear even more realistic by adding a square of clear, plastic sheeting or cellophane over the picture. Cut a square of plastic sheeting or cellophane a little bit bigger than your picture. Put some glue around the edges of your picture, and press the plastic sheet onto it. You can hide the edges of your window by putting colored tape over it, or gluing thin craft sticks around the edges.

Add some curtains. You can make your windows appear cozier by making some curtains for them. You will two small wall hooks, a short dowel or wooden rod, some fabric, and some ribbon. Take your dowel and cut it a few inches wider than your window. You can paint it, or you can leave it blank. You can make the curtain rod appear fancier by gluing a fancy bead or button to each end—just make sure that they match. Screw tiny wall hooks above the window, one to each side. You will be placing the dowel over them. Cut two pieces of fabric. Each piece should be a few inches taller than your window, and half your window's width. Fold over the top inch or so of each piece and sew or glue the edge down. Make sure that you can slide the wooden dowel through. Assemble your curtains by sliding the pieces of fabric over the dowel, and setting the dowel onto the hooks. Pull the two pieces of fabric apart, one to each side of the window. Tie a piece of ribbon around each curtain so that they don't fall shut over the window.

Add a classic look with wooden flooring. Wooden floors can add a more luxurious feel to a dollhouse. They can also lend any dollhouse a more authentic look, especially if it is for one of American Girl's historical dolls. Unless your dollhouse is already made out of wood, you will need to made some wooden floors for it. Fortunately, there are many ways you can make a wooden floor: Popsicle sticks or small pieces of craft wood can be used to create a wooden floor. If you are using popsicle sticks, you can prevent gaps by cutting off the rounded ends. Glue the sticks to the shelf, and coat the wood with varnish. You can tint the floor a darker color using wood stain. Do this before adding the varnish. Use sample pieces of wood flooring to create an authentic wooden floor. Some hardware and furniture stores sell sample pieces of flooring. Purchase several of these and glue them down side by side on the shelf. You can also sheets of wood-textured linoleum to mimic the look of wooden floors. Simply measure the floor of your dollhouse, and cut sheets of linoleum according to those measurements. Glue the linoleum down to the floor of your dollhouse. If you have a tight budget, you can use wood-patterned scrapbooking paper. Because scrapbooking paper comes in 12 by 12 inch sheets, you will need to glue several sheets of scrapbooking paper side-by-side in order to cover the entire floor. Use either spray-on adhesive or paint on a thin layer of glue. You can help the paper last longer by coating it with either a spray-on varnish or a paint-on varnish.

Add some variety with tiled floors. You can make your dollhouse appear more realistic by adding tiled floors to certain rooms of your dollhouse, such as the bathroom and the kitchen. There are many ways you can make a tiled floor: Purchase some small tiles from a hardware store or an arts and crafts store, and glue them down onto the shelf. If there are gaps, you can seal them by painting over the whole floor with varnish. Tile-patterned linoleum sheets can also be used to cover floor. Measure the floor of your dollhouse and cut sheets of linoleum according to those measurements. Glue the linoleum down to the floor of your dollhouse. If you are on a tight budget, you can use some tile-patterned scrapbooking paper instead. Because scrapbooking paper comes in 12 by 12 inch sheets, you will need to glue down several sheets of scrapbooking paper side-by-side. of You can create the appearance of large tiles by alternating solid-colored sheets of scrapbooking paper in a checkerboard pattern.

Make the dollhouse look cozier with rugs and carpeting. You can make your dollhouse appear more comfortable by adding some There are many ways you can add rugs and carpeting to your dollhouse: Use miniature, sample rugs. Some stores make and sell miniature versions of larger, full-sized rugs. Purchase some and set them down over the wooden floors you have made. Try using some miniature versions of Persian rugs for a historical dollhouse. Small bathmats can also be used to make rugs and carpets. You can cut and glue down a bathmat to create a carpet. You can also cut down a bathmat to a small rectangle and use it as a cozy rug in a bedroom or living room. Purchase some carpeting from a carpet store or a hardware store and glue it down to the shelf. Choose something with a low pile so that it will be proportional to the doll. Use towels to make carpets and bathmats. Simply measure the floor of your dollhouse and cut a towel according to those measurements. Glue it down to the floor of your dollhouse using fabric glue. You can also cut towels into smaller rectangles and use them as bathmats in a bathroom. Scraps of fur can make trendy and chic rugs, especially if they are a bright color.

Adding Furniture and Accessories

Buy some 18 inch (45.7 cm) doll furniture. Many companies that sell 18 inch dolls also sell furniture for them. Visit your local toy store or your favorite doll company's website and buy some doll furniture for your dollhouse.

Make 18 inch doll furniture. Doll furniture can be expensive, but making it can not only be inexpensive, but also fun. You can use all sorts of materials to make shelves, tables, and beds, including wood, plywood, foam-core, and cardboard. You can also paint your furniture with acrylic paint or spray paint. If you are making a bed, don't forget to make a mattress, some pillows, and bedding! Make sure that the bed is at least 18 inches long, or else it will be too small for your doll. You can make mattresses and pillows by folding pieces of fabric in half, sewing two of the edges, stuffing it with cotton, and then sewing the third edge shut. You can use bandanas and some old pillow cases (provided that they are small/large enough) as blankets. Plastic cups can easily be turned into stools. You can make your own stool by turning a plastic cup upside down and painting it or wrapping fabric around it. Don't forget to add a cushion to it!

Turn ordinary items into doll furniture. Some people-sized items can be used as furniture for your doll. Look around your home and local shops for items that can resemble doll furniture. If the item you find is not the right color or is too plain, you can decorate it further by painting it with acrylic paint or spray paint. You can then paint designs with a smaller brush or stencils. Here are some ideas: Many garden shops and arts and crafts stores sell planters that look like chairs or benches. Some of them might be just the right size for your doll. You can make them appear cozier by making a small cushion out of scrap fabric. Jewelry chests can already resemble dressers, and some of the fancier ones can make great dressers for a historical American Girl doll. If you don't like the handles, you can unscrew the old ones, and glue on a large, fancy bead or round button instead. Small storage containers with drawers often look like modern dressers—except doll-sized. Most are about 6 to 8 inches tall, made out of plastic, and have 3 to 4 drawers. If you are painting a mini dresser be sure to pull out all of the drawers before painting, and wait for all the paint to dry before you put your mini dresser back together.

Add some lighting. There are many ways you can add lights to your dollhouse: Mini, battery-operated Christmas lights can be strung along a wall, over a window, or around a mirror. You can purchase them online or from an arts and crafts store. The battery pack can be hidden in a dresser or under a bed in the dollhouse. Add a battery-operated cabinet light to the ceiling of your dollhouse. Many battery-operated cabinet lights are easy to install—you can also use double-sized foam mounting tape to secure a cabinet light to the ceiling of your dollhouse. Hanging chandelier lights for school lockers can be suspended from the ceiling of your dollhouse for an elegant look. They are battery operated and come in many different styles and colors. You can conceal the battery pack inside a dresser or under a bed in the dollhouse. They can be purchased from arts and crafts stores during certain times of the year, or they can be purchased at office supply stores. Purchase decorative lights designed for 18 inch dolls. There are many companies that sell 18 inch dolls, and some of them also sell accessories and furniture for the dolls. Look at the companies' websites and see if you can find a doll-sized light.

Add some plants and flowers. You can add some color to your dollhouse with some plants and flowers. Fake plants and flowers will last forever, but you can use real plants as well, so long as they are small enough to fit inside the dollhouse. Just make sure to water them! Try cutting some small, fake flowers and putting them into a small bud vase. You can create potted plants by filling a miniature pot with clay, plasticine, or craft foam, and sticking fake flowers into it. If you wish to use real plants, try using some succulents. They are low maintenance and easy to take care of. They don't have to be watered that often, and are small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. They are the perfect size for a dollhouse!

Buy some accessories for 18 inch dolls. Many doll companies that sell 18 inch dolls also make accessories intended for these dolls. Browse the websites of some of your favorite 18 inch doll company and purchase some accessories to decorate your dollhouse with. Another thing to do is buy furniture from American Girl, Our Generation, and Journey Girls. You can also find lots of little accessories at your local craft store.

Make small accessories. You can make additional accessories, such as phones, computers, and food out of clay. You can make colorful accessories out of polymer clay and baking it in the oven according to the manufacturer's directions (usually 10 to 15 minutes per quarter inch at 275°F/135°C). If you are hesitant about using an oven, you can make the accessories out of air-dry clay and then paint them with acrylic paint once they dry.

Turn ordinary objects into accessories. Some items can already look like doll items, such as a sink-shaped paper-clip holder, while other items can be made to look like doll items. Look around your home and local stores, and see if something ordinary can resemble a doll-sized item. For example: The caps from some spray bottles (such as perfumes and hair sprays) can resemble cups. If you are looking to stock up a doll-sized kitchen cabinet, then consider saving a few and using them as glasses and cups. Flower pots and planters come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are shaped like chairs or bathtubs! You can purchase tiny erasers and key chains that are shaped like food. Many of these are the perfect size for 18 inch dolls.