Consider curtains for your dollhouse windows. While they can be tricky to make, especially in miniature sizes, there are many blogs and websites with detailed tutorials. This guide will show you how to create simple curtains that enhance your dollhouse's appearance.
Curtains are an important finishing touch for your dollhouse. If you've assembled tab-and-slot dollhouses before, you know how challenging it can be to smooth out the many layered parts and eliminate gaps. While it's impossible to achieve perfection, curtains can effectively hide flaws. They are particularly useful if your interior window trim is painted, as paint tends to highlight defects, while stains can disguise them. Since I can't sew and have no desire to learn, I use a straightforward method for creating curtains.
First, cut wood trim to match the width of your windows. I painted my trim white so it blends well behind the curtains. Attaching the curtains to the trim rather than directly to the windows makes the process easier. I prefer window valances over full drapery because I want to enhance the windows without covering them completely. To achieve this, I purchased various inexpensive fabric trims, typically available for about a dollar each at fabric bins. Each spool contains several yards of trim, more than enough for a miniature house.
Start by gluing lace onto the wood trim using tacky glue or fabric glue. Avoid hot melt glue if you're layering fabrics, as it can create a thick and messy appearance. Use binder clips to hold the fabric in place while the glue dries. Fold the corners inward and glue them to prevent fraying and give the curtains a polished look.
Next, layer sheer trim on top and finish with beaded trim. For added detail, attach corner fabric flowers with hot melt glue for stability. Once completed, attach the "curtain" to the interior of your windows using tacky glue for a permanent fixture. If you think you might want to redecorate later, use repositional glue instead.
For dormer windows, glue the curtains directly to the underside of the dormer ceiling for a dome effect that allows for movement without obstruction. Use low-temperature hot melt glue sparingly for best results.
Keep in Mind
Be aware that tacky glue can stain some fabric trims due to color fastness issues. Always test on a scrap piece first; if staining occurs, switch to hot melt glue. If you notice any staining after assembly, a little paint matching the fabric color can easily fix it.
Optional Trim
Adding extra trim can enhance detail and depth in your dollhouse. While dye-stamped plywood has its limitations, you can personalize your design with different sizes of wood strips from craft stores. For this dollhouse, I added light brown trim around the vertical white corner trim and used thin dark brown trim in the corner notches of all vertical white sections. I repeated this for the mansard roof corners with light brown trim. I also added dowels to both bays — ensure they are straight by stepping back and checking their alignment against the dollhouse structure.
To create corner keystones for areas not included in the kit, I used existing keystone templates from the dollhouse as guides to cut my own from cardboard or foam core (1/8" thick). I filled the edges of these cardboard keystones with spackle and painted them blue. I continued adding corner trim along the back walls of the tower and covered all back wall and floor edges with custom trim since the original kit lacked user-friendly options. Making your own trim ensures smooth edges that fit well together.
I framed the backs of the mansard roof panels and used fancy Victorian trim for decorative touches at various points, including window tops and front steps.
Jewelry caps served as decorative bases for porch posts after being painted in contrasting colors.
Dormer Sills
All windows except dormers have three-tier cascading sills. The kit may include exterior trim pieces for dormers, but I created my own interior sills by applying trim atop two-layered window sills to achieve a three-layer effect.
Bracket Installation
Carefully follow assembly instructions for brackets and double-check their placement before gluing them on. It's easy to make mistakes regarding quantity and positioning. You might encounter issues with bay brackets if they vary in size due to manufacturing discrepancies. To address this, I placed smaller brackets on side walls and larger ones on front walls, creating an intentional variation that complements different porch designs.
If you're missing brackets, use one of those missing as a template to cut new ones from balsa wood. Depending on size, use either balsa strips or slabs. Cut out your new bracket while holding the template in place; this ensures accuracy during cutting and sanding. Balsa wood is soft and easy to work with using a craft knife. Keeping your template steady while cutting helps prevent crumbling and allows for precise curves.
