Doll house furniture mimics real furniture.
Dollhouse bedroom suites can be constructed on many levels of competency, ranging from a child using a facial tissue box (and its contents), to fine, delicate workmanship using scrap hardwood. Most of us (parents, educators) take the middle road of working with what we have on hand but construct something a little more durable than the tissue box.
Instructions
Bed
1. Measure the doll or the house for desired size. Decide if this bedroom will be in the master bedroom or the child's bedroom (of the dollhouse).
2. Cut a piece of 1/4 inch plywood about 1/4 longer than the doll is tall. If this will be for a "child" doll's room, make it 1/8 inch wider than the doll; if it is for the master bedroom, double the width.
3. Using the table saw, slice 1 inch pieces from the edge of a piece of 1 inch wood stock. After cutting off enough to make four corner posts, two side rails, and head and foot braces, cut the posts to a length about 2/3 as tall as the doll. If desired, the two posts placed at the foot of the bed may be shorter. Cut two pieces that will equal the width of the platform piece minus 2 inches, cut two pieces that will equal the length of the platform, minus 2 inches.
4. Lay out the headboard and the foot board on a level surface, but do not attach anything just yet. Measure the distance between the upright posts on headboard and foot board, and the measure the desired height from bottom brace to top of post. Use these measurements to sketch a shaped headboard and foot board piece on graph paper. Cut out the sketched shapes.
5. Lay the patterns on the 1/4 inch plywood. Draw around the shape. Cut out the shapes using a saber saw or scroll saw.
6. Assemble the headboard and foot board by drilling a starter hole through the uprights into the ends of the bottom braces. Put glue on the ends of the braces, then position them at the desire height on the uprights. Carefully tap in a small finishing nail, or picture hanging nail. Using too large a nail can cause the wood to split. Put glue on the plywood pieces along the three plain sides, and glue it into place.
7. Position the side rails slightly higher or slightly lower than the head and foot braces. Drill guide holes through the uprights into the ends of the side rails. Put glue on the ends of the side rails, position them, and gently tap in a small finishing nail or picture hanging nail.
8. Check the platform piece for size, trim if necessary. Put glue on the side rails, and on the narrow ends of the platform piece. Glue in place.
9. Top the corner posts with decorative knobs from the hardware store, or acorns, or leave plain, as desired.
Dresser
10. Select or cut a 2 inch by 4 inch block of wood of suitable length. If the dresser needs to be a little taller, select two pieces the same length. Cut a piece of 1/4 inch plywood the same width as the 2 inch by 4 inch block, that will extend at least 6 inches above it.
11. Nail the two blocks together, if using two; or merely position the single block if not. Position the plywood piece so that the bottom edge is flush with the edge of the 2 inch by 4 inch block, allowing the top half to extend above the blocks. If desired, the top portion of the plywood can be shaped using a saber or scroll saw. Allow enough room to attach a small cosmetics or shaving mirror to the top.
12. Spread glue on the back of the block or blocks, place the plywood piece on the blocks, tack in place using small finishing nails.
Closet
13. Cut five pieces of 1/4 inch plywood in dimensions that will form a rectangular box about the same height and width as the doll.
14. About 1/4 of the way down from the top of the box on opposite sides (the front is open, the back solid), drill two holes about 1/2 inch apart. They should be placed one above the other, forming a vertical line.
15. Thread a wire cut from a wire clothes hanger through the top holes, across the top of the box. Thread each end of the wire back through the bottom hole and wrap around the wire that is going across to secure it. This is the hanging rod for the doll clothes.
Finishing
16. Sand all the wood surfaces smooth, making sure there are no splinters, protruding nails or other problems.
17.Paint all surfaces white.
18. Add details, such as drawers on the dresser, using a small paint brush and black paint. Use the gilt paint to add decorative touches.
Mattress, bedclothes, pillows.
19. Cut two rectangles of fabric slightly larger than the bed platform. Sew up three sides, leaving the fourth open. Lightly stuff with old toweling or scraps of quilt batting. Sew up.
20. Cut a pretty piece of fabric slightly larger than the bed. Hem all around using a handkerchief hem. This is the bed spread.
21. Cut four very small rectangles, sew around three sides. Stuff lightly with batting, fiberfill or whatever you have on hand. These are the pillows. If desired, create pillow slips that match the coverlet.
Tags: side rails, , headboard foot, headboard foot board, inch plywood