This morning, the staircase was dry, so I could start wallpapering it. I began by priming the surface. The staircase needs to be wallpapered all around since there are no walls against it. As I mentioned earlier, I will use two different wallpaper patterns because each side of the staircase leads to a different room. It’s important to dry fit the staircase in place first to ensure you know which side faces which room and to avoid mixing up the patterns. I wallpapered the staircase in sections, and since patching is unavoidable, I recommend using heavily patterned wallpaper to help conceal any patches.
I started with the dining room side and then moved on to the back of the staircase, where I needed to wrap the paper around the edges. I continued wallpapering in sections until I finished. The last area I wallpapered was the inside of the small closet.
Next, I needed to attach the door hinges. I took a strip of chamois and glued one half to the interior of one side of the closet door opening. It’s better to do this inside so that the chamois is hidden, even though it would be easier on the outside.
While that dried, I glued the post caps in place. Remember not to put anything on top of the posts yet—only apply glue to the middle and bottom ones. I also stained some basswood strips and trimmed the top edges of the wallpaper around the staircase for a nicer transition between the wallpaper and stringer.
After staining the closet door, I installed the doorknob. To do this, I made a small hole with a nail where I wanted the doorknob to go, then tapped it into place. It’s a good idea to place a piece of cardboard between your hammer and the doorknob to avoid damaging it.
Next, I glued the other half of the chamois strip to the door while it was open. If you glue it while closed, you won’t be able to open it later. Make sure not to get glue on the edge between the door and opening, or it will stick shut permanently. Keep in mind that chamois hinges are meant for display dollhouses only. Since my dollhouse is for display purposes, this hinge will last as long as the dollhouse itself, and it was easy to install.
I haven’t glued the staircase to the floor yet; I just positioned it there for now. Dry fitting is always a good practice as it allows you to identify any potential issues ahead of time.
