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Dollhouse Basics

willow cottage dollhouse

The dollhouse is the peak of creative excellence for all those who are interested in miniature craft hobbies, and so it should be of no surprise that everyone here at The Pedlar’s Tray is so passionate about this wonderful pursuit.

Therefore, we thought that it was only right if we took a moment to give a brief overview of some of the most important facts and factors involved in the magical and endlessly engaging hobby of building up a dollhouse.

History of the Dollhouse

If we look back to the possible origins or even precursors to the dollhouse, we will find ourselves around 400 years ago in Europe, where the ‘baby house’ was a possible progenitor of what we might now know as a dollhouse. Even then, the focus was very much on an idealised interior. A similar focus on producing realistic exteriors then began to gather pace in Europe in the 18th century.

Initially strictly a personal passion, dollhouses were in fact all made by hand at home. However, this all changed as we move through the industrial revolution and then on past the first and second world wars, by which time commercially produced dollhouses became much more common.

Choosing the right dollhouse

So, that is all well and good, you might say, but what do I need to know if I want to invest in a dollhouse of my own? This is an important question as, if you are getting into the rewarding and exciting hobby of dollhouse building and styling, then you may well want to bear a few key points in mind.

One of the most important things to think about is the quality of the dollhouse. It may be tempting to be attracted by what seems to be a great deal on what is a good-looking dollhouse. However, you may find that it is not built to last, and one of the main pleasures in having a dollhouse is that you have it for a long time, building on it with little details, new pieces of furniture, and changes in décor.

You will also want to think about the level of realism and complexity which will be right for your purposes. If, for example, a dollhouse is being bought primarily for a young child, then you would not want one with lots of small loose parts. However, if you are buying one to build up yourself as a hobby, then you will want one which you are able to accessorise to the max.

It should almost go without saying that another one of the key factors to have in mind when you are thinking about whether to buy a particular dollhouse or not should be its size. You might think that a bigger dollhouse is a better one, as you will be able to do more with the amount of rooms and features available, but you also don’t want a case where you end up with a dollhouse which is too big for the space in which it is going to be kept.

Take a look at our fantastic range of dollhouses here at The Pedlars Tray.

Dollhouse Scales

Standardised sizes for dollhouses are in inches and often are 1:6, 1:12, 1:16, 1:24 or 1:48, but you will get other sizes with custom built dollhouses.

1:6 Scale

The 1:6 is sometimes known as the playscale. The 1 inch to 6 inch scale means that it is able to house standard doll sized figures of around 12 inches.

1:12 Scale

The 1:12 dollhouse is a 1 inch to 1 foot scale and is an extremely common size, not least as it was lent much credibility by Queen Mary’s special dollhouse which was made in this size.

1:16 Scale

The 1:16 is also known as a three quarter scale, as three quarters of an inch makes a foot. This was common from 1930s to 1950s, but is seeing a resurgence today.

1:18 Scale

The 1:18 is the scale common in Sweden and is sometimes known as the two thirds scale.

1:24 Scale

The 1:24, or half scale as it is often known, will mean that doors will be around 3-4 inches. It is a scale which is growing in popularity in the UK, and is mainly used for children’s playscale.

1:48 Scale

The 1:48 scale, also known as the quarter scale. This is popular especially in America and with gamers who use 40mm figures. For the extreme miniaturist, you might also go for a 1:144, or micro scale.

Furnishing your dollhouse

dollhouse kitchen

Once you have found the perfect dollhouse in terms of size and external design, you will be free to express your creativity through furnishing the interior. Many dollhouses you get will come with standard furniture sets. But (as is the case with your own full-sized home!) it is always nice then to add your own touches to the décor of each room. From setting up items which would be functional, like kitchen appliances or radios, to adding items just for the ambience and style, such as pieces of wall art, this will be your opportunity to flesh out your own vision and build up an intricate and layered masterpiece over the years. Our how to guides offer plently of inspiration on how to decorate your dollhouse for special occasion such as Christmas. Take a look at our Easter dollhouse decor collection.

Make your own miniature tea set and cake

Why not try and make your own tea set and cake using the quilling technique, we also have a range of acrylic paints to personalise your tea set. Take a look at the tutorial below from Shivani Creations for instructions on making a quilled miniature tea set.

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