How to Build a Child's Dollhouse

The House

• 1

  Cut four squares of wood of equal size, which will become the dollhouse walls. The walls determine the dimensions of the rest of the house, so think carefully about how large you would like your finished product to be. Standard sizes are 1:24, 1:12 or 1:16, with 1:12 size meaning that 1 inch in a dollhouse is equal to 1 foot in a real house, and so on. A tenon saw, band saw or jig saw can be used for this. A set square can help get the angles correct. Once the first square is cut, lay it over the other pieces in turn and use it as a template to get each piece the same size.

• 2

  Cut two pieces of wood to create the base and an internal floor for your house using your chosen type of saw. They need to be the same size as the inside measurements of your walls when placed in position to allow the walls to be fixed in around them.

• 3

  Nail three of the walls together to make the back and two sides of the house. Begin by nailing the lower end of two of the pieces together, then repeat the process at the top of the join. It's a good idea to add another nail at the center to ensure the two pieces are fixed together firmly. Add the third wall in the same way, repeating the use of three nails for a strong joint.

• 4

  Lay this structure over the base of the house, and nail in place from the outside of each wall where it meets the base. Use a nail at each corner and one in the center for each wall of the dollhouse. More nails can be added to extra strength.

• 5

  Place the internal floor inside the house and nail in place from the outside. Position the floor half way up the inside of the house so that the rooms on each floor will be of equal height. A second pair of hands or a clamp may be needed to make this as easy as possible. Add nails at regular intervals to hold the floor firmly in place.

• 6

  Cut two sections of wood for the internal walls. They need to be the same length as the inside of the dollhouse and the same height as the distance between each floor.

• 7

  Position the internal walls in place, with one on each floor of the house. They can be in the middle of each floor to make two rooms of the same size, or closer to one side to create one large room and one smaller one on each floor.

• 8

  Nail the internal walls in place through the back of the dollhouse and through the base or internal floor depending on which is nearest to each internal wall. Two nails on each side should be enough to hold the internal floor in place and to add rigidity to the overall structure.

• 9

  Measure and cut window and door openings on the remaining piece of wood which will become the front of the dollhouse. This can be done by eye or by using one of the standard dollhouse scales, if one of these has been used. As a rule of thumb, the door height is usually just over two-thirds the height of the first floor, while windows tend to be positioned in the center of each floor.

• 10

  Attach the hinges to the left edge of the remaining exterior wall. Place them so that each hinge is the same distance from the top and bottom of the door. This will allow for equal distribution of weight on the hinges.

• 11

  Hold the door in place against the dollhouse and fix the hinges to the inside of the left exterior wall to create an opening front. Some adjustment may be needed to ensure the door sits square on the front of the house.

The Roof

• 12

  Cut four triangles of wood for the roof. The base of each triangle should be the same width as each exterior wall. Cut the first piece of wood and use it as a template to cut the other three pieces.

• 13

  Nail the four triangles together to create the roof. Hold two of the pieces together as they would appear on the finished roof and nail in place. Three nails along the length of this join should be sufficient, but more may be needed depending on the height of the roof. Add each subsequent roof piece and attach in the same way.

• 14

  Put the roof on top of the dollhouse and nail in place through the roof panels and into the exterior walls. One nail near each corner of the house and one at the center of each wall should offer sufficient bonding.