Doll’s House Makeover

Hi, this is Karen from A house full of sunshine! It’s my first post here at Practically Functional as part of the new contributor team, and I’m so thrilled to be here! I’m looking forward to bringing you lots of creative and achievable interior decorating and DIY ideas to make your home more beautiful.

Over in my corner of the internet, I blog about home and kids, so to kick things off today I thought it would be fun to give you a little taste of who I am with a post that kind of combines the two. So today, we’ll be talking home decorating on a small (very small) scale!

Sweet dolls house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

It all started when I purchased this second-hand doll’s house as a birthday present for my daughter.

Sweet dolls house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

I loved the classic lines and the solid wood construction. I wasn’t in love with the dark, orangey-brown stain. It’s just not my style, and it makes the doll’s house look a bit old and dated. So, I decided to freshen it up.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

I removed the internal shelves and got to work. The house needed two coats of stain-blocking primer. After just one coat, the stain was still seeping through in places and turning the white primer a dirty yellowish color like nicotine stains. Definitely not the fresh look I was after! Two coats did the trick beautifully. I followed with one coat of matt white spray paint.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

This was the finished result! So much lighter and happier.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

The next step was to “wallpaper” the rooms to inject some color and personality. For this task, I raided my supplies of scrapbooking paper, and used a larger piece of wrapping paper for the attic. I just creased the paper firmly into the edge of each “room” to mark the dimensions, then took it out, trimmed the paper down to size and affixed it with double sided tape.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

Here’s where we ended up!

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

I was so pleased with how well the colors and patterns worked together. Each room has a different feel, and the overall effect is so sweet and cheerful.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

Now the fun part – time to furnish the rooms! I’d bought a pack of doll’s furniture shortly after I purchased the doll’s house. I enjoyed unwrapping all the cute little miniature pieces and arranging them in the different rooms. But being an interior decorator, I couldn’t just leave it there. The house needed a few extra special little touches to make it feel like home.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

I began by picking up a few little bits and pieces from my local craft supply store. For the attic bedroom, I cut a piece of white fleece to make a floor rug, then layered a miniature crocheted doily over the top for a warm and homely feel. I spray-painted a little monogram letter “A” for my daughter’s first name and propped it on the dresser, then raided my fabric box and cut out some fabric to make little bedcovers.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

A crocheted bead became a ball fit for a little dolly to play with.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

Lastly, I spray-painted a wooden coaster white and affixed a smaller circle of cloud-print paper over the top to create a window with a view.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

For the living room, an off-cut of chevron fabric became a floor rug, layered over fleece. I found some chipboard frames in my scrapbooking stash and painted them white, then used them to frame prints clipped from a magazine.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

In the dining room, I made a table runner out of the same chevron fabric, and tacked up another magazine cut-out straight onto the wall for a casual, poster feel.

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

The bathroom didn’t need much – just a doily rug. That gorgeous peacock wallpaper is the real star of this room!

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

Finally, in the master bedroom, I made a polka-dot bedcover, then turned a magazine clipping of flowers into a work of art by displaying it in a chipboard frame.

DSC_0498

All those small details help to make this little house feel like a real home!

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

Sweet doll's house makeover by A house full of sunshine for Practically Functional

I can’t wait to see my little girl’s face when she sees her made-over doll’s house for the first time on her birthday! I think she’ll love it!

If you enjoyed this post, you can follow along with me here:

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You can also check out some of my other projects below! Just for fun, I chose some real-life rooms that reflect some of the doll’s house rooms I’ve shared today.

playroom wall pin

cot view

DSC_0148

Thanks for having me today! Has anyone else here tried making over a doll’s house before? What is it about miniature furniture that’s so addictive?

Karen @ a house full of sunshine

My name is Karen and I'm a sleep-deprived stay-home Mama to three cute little hooligans. I live in Australia, and as a part-time interior decorator and ex-teacher of Creative Arts, my passion is expressing creativity in the home. On my blog you'll find decorating ideas, kids' activities, recipes, and organising projects, inspiring you to live your most creative life and love the home you're in. I hope you'll join me at a house full of sunshine.

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Reader Interactions

  1. Emily says

    9 years ago

    This dollhouse is lovely. I recently bought a second hand dollhouse that’s very similar to your original. It’s about the same color. Did you have any problems by not sanding? Thanks!

  2. aline says

    9 years ago

    It’s beautifull! I love it ! Can you tell me the size because I shall like making one for my daughter! thank you 🙂

  3. aly says

    9 years ago

    ADORABLE! I have been looking everywhere for doll house furniture! Do you know if there Is someplace you can buy the furniture online? Because there is no toy world close to me unfortunately 🙁

  4. Susan DiMondi says

    9 years ago

    Hi!
    I just LOVE how you rehabbed this adorable dollhouse! It is so cute and inspiring me to do one sitting in my attic. Where did you get the furniture? I’ve been searching online and can’t find anything similar.

    Thanks for sharing !
    Susan

  5. Blythe says

    9 years ago

    I really adore your dollshouse! It so lovely! My huby wants to make me a similar one for Christmas… hmm I am so excited. So I have one question: Could you tell me the measurements of this beautiful house? Thank you so much for your advice! I wish you lovely Christmas
    Blythe

  6. Anne Learned says

    9 years ago

    What brand are is the furniture? Not finding it on Toy World. Not sure if l was on the right place.

  7. Janelle says

    10 years ago

    Oh it looks lovely! I just made my son a dolls house (yes – my son – I have 2 boys and I see no reason why my 4 year old cannot have a dolls house) but I am having so much trouble finding dolls house furniture. I am in Australia too so may I ask where you got the dolls house furniture from?

    • Karen @ a house full of sunshine says

      10 years ago

      Janelle, the furniture came from Toyworld. 🙂 And I agree with you – my boys have enjoyed playing with the new doll’s house just as much as their sister!

      • Janelle says

        10 years ago

        Thanks so much for that Karen. 🙂

  8. Helen Laurini says

    10 years ago

    Just beautiful.

  9. Holly Day says

    10 years ago

    What a lovely doll house! This reminds me from the times my grand-father made me a doll house. I could feel the sentiments he put into his work, just like I can feel the ones you put into your own work. Definitely, homemade doll houses have something more than pre-made ones you can find in stores. And yours turned out to be something that, as a little girl, I would have enjoyed a lot!

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