Before you attach the closet door, ensure the interior is finished, including the flooring, wallpaper, and trim. Start by gluing the left side and top trims.
To ensure the top trim aligns with the right trim, dry fit it in place but do not glue it yet. Use a binder clip to hold it temporarily. This will help achieve a perfect fit when you are ready to glue. Once the left and top trims are dry, finish the edges of the door opening since they will be visible when the door is open. Sand, fill gaps with spackle, and paint everything white to match the trim.
Next, dry fit the actual door to check its fit in the opening. Sand it down as needed for a slightly loose fit, allowing for any alignment issues once hinged. A tight fit may cause problems later. This closet door will be hinged on the right side so that the interior is visible. Hinges for this simple door are easier to install than those for heavier front doors made from multiple laminated wood pieces. Choose a door trim with vertical wood grain rather than horizontal for added strength. Ensure that the trim is solid and not crumbling or delaminating. Mark where you want your hinges to go by using a push pin or thumbtack to create tiny holes in both the door and trim. Avoid using pencil lead as it is too thick for these small holes.
After marking, remove the hinge and push the thumbtack deeper into the holes to create starter holes. Be careful not to make them too large; they should be just deep enough for the tiny hinge pins to fit without bending. Once your starter holes are ready, reattach the hinge and begin inserting the hinge pins using a nail setter and mallet. Dip each pin in tacky glue for a strong hold. Allow everything to dry thoroughly before gluing the trim with the hinged door into place. To clamp the hinged door trim, use hot glue sticks and binder clips. This method lets you open the door fully while applying spackle between the trim and door opening without stressing it. After spackling, paint over it for a finished look and let everything dry overnight.
I only installed a doorknob on the outside since it's a closet. If you also want an inside knob and installed it before hinging, place your door on a roll of masking tape to keep it flat without obstruction from the knob.
Important Considerations
Be gentle with your hinges; these doors are not factory pre-hung. You are attaching delicate hinges to heavy plywood doors that can warp with moisture. The success of hinging may vary and is rarely perfect. Sometimes hinges work well when off but can snag once glued due to slight bends in your dollhouse wall or trim. This may cause your door not to close fully or move smoothly, which is common in tab-and-slot dollhouse assembly. Applying hinge pins can also misalign or damage them slightly, leading to friction. Remember that hinging allows access to areas otherwise closed off; while it's nice to have a moving door, they aren't designed for heavy use like real house doors. Avoid forcing your hinges or doors to move against their natural position, as this can pull out hinge pins or bend hinges beyond repair. If damage occurs after assembly, you'll need to start over, which can lead to further damage and require new trim since old hinge pin holes cannot be reused. My advice is simple: don’t fiddle with it too much. If you've dry fitted correctly and checked your work thoroughly, any imperfections should be minor and hardly noticeable.
Since you’re still working on your dollhouse, consider using masking tape on your door to keep it from swinging if you need to turn or move it.
