So many dolls, so little…space? If you or your little one view dolls like potato chips (you can’t have just one!), chances are you’ve quickly run out of beds to tuck them in or shelves to display them on. The obvious solution would be to simply buy more dollhouses or display cases, but that tactic can get very expensive very quickly. On top of price, it can be difficult to find an exact match for the ideas you’re envisioning. And having a customized piece made lands us right back at the money issue.
Another solution is to take on a good ol’ DIY project. The beauty of DIY is that it can be as complex or simple as you’d like it to be, so even the least crafty person can pull off a homemade project that they can be proud of. Plus, depending on the level of intricacy and necessary tools, it’s a great way to get your kids imaginatively involved in something for their bedroom (and make their friends super jealous). Here is a short list of different DIY dollhouse projects that are sure to wow!
- Build one from scratch: This step by step video from Shaun Gehring’s “I Make Stuff” YouTube channel will guide you through the process of building a large dollhouse. Power tools, precision, and the strength to handle large pieces of wood are necessary for this project, so it isn’t something a small child could safely help out with. However, the finished product looks fantastic! It can also be used to hold more than just dolls—your child could also store their favorite books, movies, or other toys in the different sections. Overall it makes an adorable doll house and shelving unit that will add something special to your child’s bedroom or play space.
- Make one out of shelves: You know those simple adjustable metal shelves you see in Walmart or Dad’s workroom? With a little imagination, they can be transformed into a multi-story complex for your dolls! Check out this video from MommyNMeAG’s YouTube Channel where “Beauty Guru Doll Whitney” takes you on a tour of the apartment she’s fashioned for her and her best friends out of a shelving unit and plenty of great accessories. If you’re a person with twice as much doll furniture as dolls to sit in it, this could be the perfect project for you and your little one to work on together. Once you’ve snapped together the shelves, you can spend hours together playing interior designer for your doll’s unique sensibilities!
- Improvise! Maybe you don’t like the look of the metal shelves but you’re having a hard time finding a bookshelf or other display case big enough to suit your 18 inch dolls and their furniture. In that case, you just have to get creative! JadaNMomFunAG’s YouTube Channel offers an in-depth look at a dollhouse made of double-stacked bookshelves—the mother-daughter duo were able to create a sturdy and much more size-appropriate space for their dolls by simply putting one bookshelf (without its backing) in front of another. They then used scrapbook paper to make all sorts of cool, colorful wallpaper that out the personality of the doll who lived in each “bedroom.” They also took their resourcefulness a step further by making accessories out of tape or using a hilarious toilet-shaped mug to complete their bathroom! It’s clear that a lot of time and effort went into creating this giant dollhouse and that they had a lot of great bonding time doing it together.
Hopefully this small list has sparked your imagination and given you some fun ways to spend time with your little ones. No matter what method you choose, they’ll have an amazing, unique dollhouse that they got to help customize, and you’ll both have memories to last a lifetime!
