How to Decorate a DIY Miniature House

by Tonya Staab
Published: Updated:

Have you ever wanted to decorate a dollhouse? We are showing you how to make handmade furniture and paint your DIY miniature house.

a DIY miniature house that has been decorated
A DIY miniature house that has been decorated using handmade decor.

When I was little, my most prized gift was a handmade dollhouse. My dad handmade it for my sister and me for Christmas one year.  I dreamt that one day I would own a real house that resembled it. 

handmade wood dollhouse
Handmade wood dollhouse.

I wanted Marisol to have a special dollhouse too. One that I hope she will use and love for many years to come and pass down to her own child or grandchild one day. 

DIY miniature house

I found one at a local thrift store that needed a lot of work done to it, but I could see so much potential that I had to get it.

An old wood dollhouse getting a makeover with paint.
An old dollhouse getting a makeover with paint.

It was grey with a red door and a brown roof. I was tempted to leave the door red but decided to give the whole miniature house fresh paint.

Make dollhouse furniture and accessories

Once the house was painted and dry, it needed furniture too. I found unfinished wood shelves and cabinets at Michaels craft store. The bed, table, chairs, and artwork on the walls are handmade.

Supplies

  • Unfinished wood furniture
  • Scrapbook paper
  • Mod Podge
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Small wood blocks (for wall art)
  • Wood spools
  • Wood circle
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Felt
  • Thread
  • Fabric
  • Foam
  • Yarn
  • Glute

DIY miniature house furniture and accessories

Using paint, Mod Podge, and scrapbook paper give the unfinished furniture a fresh new look.

Unfinished dollhouse furniture painted and updated with scrapbook paper.
Dollhouse furniture that has been finished with paint and scrapbook paper.
Handmade dollhouse bed with a hand knit blanket and floor rug.
Handmade dollhouse bed.
a bookshelf and drawer for a dollhouse finished with scrapbook paper and paint
A bookshelf and drawer finished with scrapbook paper and paint.
A handmade table and chairs for a dollhouse using popsicle sticks and wood spools.
Handmade dollhouse chairs and a table using popsicle sticks and wood spools.

I love how this DIY miniature house turned out, and I know Marisol is going to love it too.

colorful handmade furniture inside a diy miniature house
A look inside a dollhouse with handmade furniture.

I have big plans to expand upon this over time. Lace would look pretty inside the curtains. The shelves need trinkets on them, and there needs to be a cat basket by the door. One day I might even build a greenhouse or sunroom.

If you want to add floorboards or tile flooring to your dollhouse, you can build your own dollhouse wood flooring with my easy tutorial.

More pretend play ideas for kids

Are you looking for more DIY pretend play ideas for kids? Take a look at these:

Please pin this post for later:

DIY miniature house Pinterest image

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18 comments

ciara December 31, 2009 - 4:02 pm

wow, very crafty. i love all the little details you incorporated. i do have a fondness for the old red door tho. hehe LOVE it. wish i had that creativity. i would totally love it if i were a lil girl. :0)

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Deanna December 31, 2009 - 4:22 pm

Oh I love it! She is going to have so many hours of fun playing with this and I bet you will too!

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jane December 31, 2009 - 5:12 pm

This is beautiful, t. I love it so much.

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Miriam P January 1, 2010 - 11:45 pm

This just makes me smile to look at. Marisol is a very lucky girl. Every little bit of it speaks of love. Well done!

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Bird January 2, 2010 - 7:56 am

Just toooo cute for word!!! You are a super mum 😀

I’d love to be able to make one as cute as yours!!!

Well done for a great job well done!!!

Happy New Year and thank you for stopping by at Bird Crafts and for leaving such a lovely comment! 🙂

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Vixanne January 2, 2010 - 9:46 am

Absolutely gorgeous! You just had me wanting to be a kid again so I can play with dolls! I hope you post pics when you make new additions 🙂

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Life with Kaishon January 3, 2010 - 7:37 pm

Oh my word. It is gorgeous. I want to be your child. Seriously : )

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Bridget Smith January 3, 2010 - 3:22 pm

OK…love the doll house. Wish I was that creative and crafty. I’m searching for an affordable one for my little one for her birthday.

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jen smith January 3, 2010 - 6:33 pm

that literally puts tears in my eyes — i too loved my dollhouse from my grandpa and no longer have it and wish i could give my girls a homemade one – this is just so so precious!

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Formerly Gracie January 3, 2010 - 8:10 pm

Woman, is there no end to your genius?! That’s fantastic. Just one question: Do you accept orders?

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Lisa Demars January 4, 2010 - 5:02 am

Beautiful..Love it..Wow you have great idea’s..

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Sharlene January 6, 2010 - 9:07 pm

Tonya you are so incredibly talented. I am always impressed by the love and creativity you put into everything. I love the dollhouse and the farm. They are things they will treasure forever and hopefully pass down to their children.

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Brooke January 7, 2010 - 10:20 am

Very cute! I thought it was a life size doll house when I saw it outdoors.

Love the furniture, I need to head to Michaels!

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katherinemarie January 7, 2010 - 8:52 pm

I soooo need a sweet doll house like this for my little darling! Your furniture and touches are SPECTACULAR!!!! I adore your color combos. I’m going to be on the hunt at our local antique stores for something half as sweet as this! GREAT WORK!!!!thanks for sharing!!!!! OHhhh ya and that farm– to cute for words.

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Stephanie January 7, 2010 - 9:17 pm

that is so adorable, great job!

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Anissa April 26, 2010 - 8:14 am

Do you sleep? I don’t know where you find the time. You are super woman!!!

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Tonya Staab April 27, 2010 - 9:58 am

Hi Shelly. Thank you. To make the bed go to the unfinished wood section of your craft store and purchase some popsicle sticks (for the headboard), a rectangular piece of wood (for the bed base) and a packet of cotton spools (for the legs). Glue it all together and paint it. For the mattress, take a thin piece of foam and cut to the correct size, wrap a piece of fabric around it and hot glue it to the base of the bed. The blanket was knitted – just a basic knit stitch in a square and the pillow is 2 rectangular pieces of felt stitched together and stuffed.

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Shelly April 27, 2010 - 9:09 am

So cute! Doll house furniture is soo exspensive. I love the ones you made. I couldn’t tell how you made the bed. Do you mind sharing? My parents bought my niece a doll house from a thrift store and we haven’t been able to furnish it yet

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