Wallpaper
This dollhouse comes with original wallpaper from Real Good Toys. If your edition didn't include the wallpaper but you want these designs, you can purchase them directly from Real Good Toys using the provided link.
You might think that wallpapering square, easily accessible rooms would be simple, but there are challenges. While accessibility helps with application, it also means that any flaws are more noticeable. The original patterns are mostly stripes, which can be tricky to apply perfectly. If you're a perfectionist, like I am, you may find this process a bit frustrating. Your top priority should be to keep the stripes straight. Fortunately, the square shape of the rooms makes it easier to achieve this. Joining the pattern at the corners can be more challenging, but do your best.
Don't let minor imperfections ruin your enjoyment of assembling the dollhouse; rarely does anything turn out perfect. Aim for an overall good look without obvious flaws like crooked lines or patches. Most people won't notice slight defects unless they have experience with dollhouse assembly themselves. I encountered a few issues with my wallpaper that are unrelated to the dollhouse itself, which might be helpful for you to know in case you face similar problems during assembly.
Running Out of Wallpaper
The wallpaper that came with the dollhouse includes two sheets of each pattern, which is usually enough to cover the rooms and leave some for repairs. However, I had a problem - the Red Gingham pattern I wanted for the kitchen only included one sheet. This was insufficient for even a small room. If you're missing any part of your store-bought dollhouse kit, you can contact Real Good Toys for replacements, but I didn't want to go through that hassle for just one sheet. I tried to find gingham scrapbook paper at local craft stores but had no luck, so I ended up printing more of the wallpaper.
The best approach is to take the original wallpaper to an office supply store and have them make a color copy on paper similar to the original. Depending on how much you need, you can choose letter-sized or legal-sized paper. Keep in mind that the copy won't be an exact match; it will have a slightly different hue. Use this print on a side wall where doorways or other architectural features are located. Once applied, the hue difference will be hard to notice due to varying light conditions in the room. Ideally, join different sheets at wall corners rather than in the middle of a wall. Unfortunately, I didn't print enough paper to cover an entire wall and had to make a joint over an interior doorway, which is less than ideal but not too noticeable.
Running Out of Paste
Along with running out of wallpaper, I also ran out of wallpaper paste. While it's best to avoid such situations, they can happen. Yes Paste used to be readily available at Michael's Craft stores, but I haven't seen it there since they went on clearance months ago. It's also unavailable at other craft stores I've visited. Although you can find it online, I didn't want to wait for delivery while working on my project. Instead, I searched for alternatives. Hobby Lobby carries wallpaper mucilage, but it's quite far from me. Mod Podge is widely available but difficult to work with. Tacky glue is better than Mod Podge and is likely already in your supplies. Plain white glue can also work.
When using tacky glue, apply it sparingly and spread it evenly with a foam brush so it covers the entire back of the wallpaper piece. This method works but can be challenging since tacky glue dries quickly on paper. If applied too generously, it can soak through and cause wrinkles before you even place it on the wall. Because of its quick drying time and need for careful application, tacky glue can make wallpapering difficult since you won’t have much time to adjust the paper once it's applied. This is why I don’t recommend using this type of glue if you're new to dollhouse assembly; just because it works doesn't mean it's ideal. I’m currently using tacky glue because I've wallpapered many dollhouses before and understand its challenges. However, if you're new to this hobby, make sure you have enough wallpaper paste before starting your project; if not, consider buying some from a hardware store as it works well for miniature projects. Using tacky glue has its drawbacks; keeping pattern lines aligned at corners is tricky due to limited maneuverability after application. Nonetheless, my results turned out reasonably well despite working with striped patterns.
Finally, always wait until the wallpaper is completely dry before cutting out windows and door openings; cutting while wet will cause rips in the wallpaper.
Interior Doors
I purchased working interior doors for my dollhouse from Hobby Lobby. These doors come with trim for both sides of the doorway and are pre-hinged with pin hinges. You can also buy interior doors directly from Real Good Toys.
To prevent the doors from snagging or getting painted shut, use paint sparingly and allow each section to dry before moving on. A thinner, lower-quality paint will work better than a thicker, higher-quality one. It’s best to apply thin coats in sections rather than one thick coat, which could interfere with the door's operation. The doors may not fit perfectly; some sides might sit closer to the frame, causing snagging. If this happens, simply sand down the problematic areas. Always sand lightly between paint coats. You can use fine-grit sandpaper or the crumpled paper bag method used earlier for the exterior siding—just use a smaller piece for the doors.
Door Knobs
These doors are thick enough to allow doorknobs to be tapped in on both sides at the same location. However, creating the starter hole can be challenging because the doors are quite hard.
Troubleshooting
The doors are about 1/8 inch shorter than the door opening, which creates a small gap between the threshold and floor. This gap can easily be concealed later with trim.
Interior Trim
I used store-bought strip wood to trim the ceilings and floors, opting for a slightly thicker width than usual since these dollhouses are larger, and the thicker trim looks better. You can also use real miniature interior moldings in one-inch scale. These moldings are designed to complement cabinet-grade dollhouses, so they won’t appear oversized. As mentioned in a previous post, this dollhouse has an optional pre-cut interior molding set available from Real Good Toys.
Back Edge Trim
The back edges of the walls and floors in this dollhouse are very smooth, which might tempt you to finish them by painting. However, I recommend using back edge trim instead. The edges of your ceiling paper and wallpaper can make smooth back edges difficult to finish properly and may result in a rough appearance. I used the same strip wood for trimming the back edges as I did for the interior trim; it matches the thickness of the walls and floors perfectly. Applying trim to the back edges will definitely provide a nicer finish than simply painting them.
