Doll House Kits for Every Budget and Skill Level
I have to admit, I am very impressed, at what the miniature dollhouse industry has to offer.
They have successfully replicated the natural (full-sized) world in miniature with doll house kits that fit almost every budget and skill level.
In fact, I believe that if you will take a few moments to look at what they have accomplished that you too will be impressed at what you learn.
Dollhouses are not just for little girls or women.
They have grown in popularity in just about every adult demographic.
By taking a closer look it is easy to understand the growing appeal.
Doll house kits are available in just about any architectural style imaginable and they are easy to customize and accessorize.
In fact, if you are particularly skilled at crafts you may want to forgo a kit and purchase blueprints which enable you to customize as big as you can dream.
For beginners there are also quick-build kits that, according to the advertisements, can be built within an hour.
I am not so confident in the one hour time limit if you are a beginner but one of these kits may be an excellent place for you to start if this is your first dollhouse project.
Inside your kit you will find instructions, drawings, and the pieces for assembly.
Manufacturers like to use the term "easy" when describing their instructions.
However, that's not always the case.
Expect that there will be a few hitches in the construction process.
Most pieces are precut although some will need to be punched out.
The good news is that you won't need to do any cutting yourself unless you are building from a blueprint or making some of your own changes.
Wooden construction materials seldom come pre-sanded so there will be some light sanding involved prior to painting.
Painting, by the way, is optional but a good idea for adding authenticity to your project.
Some manufacturers also give you a choice on the wood that will come with your kit.
Choices include milled plywood, MDF, and smooth plywood.
Prices vary based on the material you choose.
Assembly then is made with nails and glue that may or may not be included with your kit.
Once you have assembled your doll house kit you can then easily expand.
Additional expansion kits are also available.
For example you can add a conservatory or a wing onto your existing structure.
It should be pointed out that the term "doll house kits" is used interchangeably to include both dollhouses and accessories.
For example there are accessory kits for bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, porches, libraries, and dining rooms that coordinate with your architectural style.
There are even outdoor kits that add to the "curb appeal" of your project.
When selecting your doll house project you will need to determine the scale that will be used that will remain consistent with the structure, accessories, and furnishings.
The normal scale is 1 inch per life-sized foot.
There is also a popular ½ scale which is scaled to ½ inch per life-sized foot.
Neither of these scales are compatible with Barbie-sized dolls.
For that you will need a 1/6 scale to accommodate the most popular dolls for play.
I frequently make mention of this fact in my articles because it is the one place that people most often make mistakes on their dollhouse purchases.
Now, there is a good chance that you will need help.
If you find yourself in that predicament you will be happy to know that many local hobby stores offer advice, construction support, specialized instruction, and even classes on electrification, interior finishing, decoration, and landscaping.
Another excellent source for help is to check in on one of the dollhouse forums on the web.
Hobbyists are generally more than glad to share their expertise.
The sky is the limit.
Your hobby can be as little or as big as you want.
Thanks to a very customer friendly industry there are doll house kits to satisfy your level of interest, expertise, and even your budget.
They have successfully replicated the natural (full-sized) world in miniature with doll house kits that fit almost every budget and skill level.
In fact, I believe that if you will take a few moments to look at what they have accomplished that you too will be impressed at what you learn.
Dollhouses are not just for little girls or women.
They have grown in popularity in just about every adult demographic.
By taking a closer look it is easy to understand the growing appeal.
Doll house kits are available in just about any architectural style imaginable and they are easy to customize and accessorize.
In fact, if you are particularly skilled at crafts you may want to forgo a kit and purchase blueprints which enable you to customize as big as you can dream.
For beginners there are also quick-build kits that, according to the advertisements, can be built within an hour.
I am not so confident in the one hour time limit if you are a beginner but one of these kits may be an excellent place for you to start if this is your first dollhouse project.
Inside your kit you will find instructions, drawings, and the pieces for assembly.
Manufacturers like to use the term "easy" when describing their instructions.
However, that's not always the case.
Expect that there will be a few hitches in the construction process.
Most pieces are precut although some will need to be punched out.
The good news is that you won't need to do any cutting yourself unless you are building from a blueprint or making some of your own changes.
Wooden construction materials seldom come pre-sanded so there will be some light sanding involved prior to painting.
Painting, by the way, is optional but a good idea for adding authenticity to your project.
Some manufacturers also give you a choice on the wood that will come with your kit.
Choices include milled plywood, MDF, and smooth plywood.
Prices vary based on the material you choose.
Assembly then is made with nails and glue that may or may not be included with your kit.
Once you have assembled your doll house kit you can then easily expand.
Additional expansion kits are also available.
For example you can add a conservatory or a wing onto your existing structure.
It should be pointed out that the term "doll house kits" is used interchangeably to include both dollhouses and accessories.
For example there are accessory kits for bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, porches, libraries, and dining rooms that coordinate with your architectural style.
There are even outdoor kits that add to the "curb appeal" of your project.
When selecting your doll house project you will need to determine the scale that will be used that will remain consistent with the structure, accessories, and furnishings.
The normal scale is 1 inch per life-sized foot.
There is also a popular ½ scale which is scaled to ½ inch per life-sized foot.
Neither of these scales are compatible with Barbie-sized dolls.
For that you will need a 1/6 scale to accommodate the most popular dolls for play.
I frequently make mention of this fact in my articles because it is the one place that people most often make mistakes on their dollhouse purchases.
Now, there is a good chance that you will need help.
If you find yourself in that predicament you will be happy to know that many local hobby stores offer advice, construction support, specialized instruction, and even classes on electrification, interior finishing, decoration, and landscaping.
Another excellent source for help is to check in on one of the dollhouse forums on the web.
Hobbyists are generally more than glad to share their expertise.
The sky is the limit.
Your hobby can be as little or as big as you want.
Thanks to a very customer friendly industry there are doll house kits to satisfy your level of interest, expertise, and even your budget.
Source...