The front-opening, boxy design of this dollhouse is ideal for placing it on legs.
When you're planning to place a front-opening dollhouse on legs, the first step is to measure the base of the dollhouse. Take these measurements to your local hardware store and have them cut a sheet of plywood to size. Ensure the plywood is no thicker than 3/8 inch, as thicker sheets can make it difficult to attach the legs. Avoid using MDF; instead, choose a sturdy plywood sheet. This plywood will be attached to the base of your dollhouse to provide enough support for its weight when filled with miniatures.
I found some wooden table legs at my local hardware store. They are slightly different from those I used on the Gloucester Dollhouse, but they are the right height. Dining room table legs are ideal for a dollhouse, while coffee table legs would make it too low. You want to be able to sit comfortably in front of your front-opening dollhouse to view it properly.
These table legs came with screws that need to be removed. Use a wrench to hold the screws in place while you unscrew them. Also, remove any staples in this area with the wrench. If you choose a thick enough plywood sheet and can drill screw holes into it, you could attach the legs directly using screws, but I decided against this method.
After removing the screws and staples, I applied wood glue to the legs and positioned them at each corner of the plywood sheet. I then used nails to secure them, placing five nails per leg. Having an extra pair of hands for this step is helpful.
Now I have four legs supporting my plywood sheet, and the dollhouse base will sit on top of it. The structure is a bit wobbly at this stage, but that’s fine; it will become sturdy once completed. In my previous assembly, I built the dollhouse directly on this structure. This time, I'm considering constructing the dollhouse separately and then attaching it fully assembled later. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so it will be interesting to see how this different approach works out.
