After priming the walls, finish the floors before applying wallpaper to avoid accidental stains. I used a mix of craft paint and gloss varnish to stain the floors, then lightly sanded them once dry. Once the dollhouse is complete, I will apply gloss varnish for added shine. If you plan to use a floor covering that isn’t paper, wait until later to install it. You need the bare floors to fit the staircase properly, as you will have to cut the flooring around it later.
I applied the wallpaper next. Since this dollhouse has mullioned windows, cut out the window openings before applying the wallpaper. To do this, hold the wallpaper against the wall, shine a light from outside, and mark the window outline with a pencil. Cut along this outline with scissors. Start by bending the paper slightly to create a small hole in the center of the window outline, and then make your cuts from there. After cutting out the windows, you can apply the wallpaper. Door openings can be cut with a craft knife once the wallpaper is dry. Your window cuts don’t need to be perfect because interior trim will cover any imperfections.
Now that the wallpaper is dry in this room, I can start installing the staircase. I decided on a two-toned design for it. Make sure to finish all parts of the staircase before assembly. Assembling this staircase is somewhat challenging. Follow the instructions carefully; otherwise, you may struggle to complete it successfully. The staircase will be assembled inside the dollhouse, which is particularly tricky in this smaller scale model. You’ll need access through the door opening to reach the back of the staircase. I added trim around the back and sides of my staircase for a nicer appearance since the tabs and slots can look rough from behind. The trim effectively hides these details.
