Once you have assembled your dollhouse shell with tacky glue, unclamp it and apply wood glue to all the joints. Since the dollhouse is small, it may be difficult to reach the joints with your fingers, so I recommend using a foam brush. If you plan to stain the floors, be cautious because wood glue does not take stain. However, if you intend to use a floor covering or faux stain like I will, you won’t need to worry about this.
After everything dries, prime your dollhouse as you would a one-inch scale model before adding wallpaper. If you're using a floor covering, prime the floors with a paint that matches your flooring choice. If staining the floors, be careful not to get primer on them; I use white craft paint as a primer. One coat of paint is sufficient for priming the walls, while two coats are needed for the ceilings if you want them to be white like mine.
I haven't started on the third-floor attic yet. Typically, die-cut dollhouses with attics have complex wall layouts, so focus on finishing the lower floors first.
This dollhouse has window mullions that need to be painted before applying wallpaper and exterior paint. I’m painting mine white, but you can choose any color. The mullions are thin and delicate, making them tricky to paint without clumping or caking. One coat of craft paint usually suffices, but for this dollhouse, two coats are necessary due to the dark burnt edges from the laser cutting.
To achieve the best results, start by painting all sides of the mullions without worrying about any blobs. Once dry, gently sand them with a fingernail file to remove imperfections. Apply a thorough second coat of paint and sand again once dry. You should see better coverage with good-quality craft paint. Touch up around the mullions carefully this time and, after drying, use your fingertips to smooth out the paint on all sides; this method is surprisingly effective. You'll need to use this technique for every painted component of the dollhouse, so be prepared for some tedious painting. Ensure you remove any excess paint from every nook and cranny to maintain sharp details on your dollhouse parts.
So far, I have painted the exterior window trims and the widow's walk as well.
