Choosing the Right Location
Ideally, your assembly area should be separate from your main living space. Since you might not work on your dollhouse every day, having a designated area that you can close off is beneficial. This way, you can take breaks without needing to clean up or worry about losing small parts. Remember, dollhouse assembly can be messy, noisy, and dusty, with tools scattered around that could pose safety risks.
While it’s best to have your assembly area away from high-traffic areas, avoid using a garage or basement unless they are temperature-controlled. Humidity and extreme temperatures can hinder material adhesion and affect wallpaper application. To speed up drying times for glue and paint, consider running a fan during assembly.
Setting Up Your Assembly Area
Regardless of the location you choose, the setup for building a wooden dollhouse remains consistent.
Table Requirements
You will need a sturdy, large table. Depending on your dollhouse size, two tables that are at least four feet long may be necessary. One table will be for assembling the dollhouse, while the other will be used for finishing parts and assembling sub-assemblies that will later be attached to the main structure.
Folding banquet tables are an affordable option and provide enough support for large tab-and-slot dollhouses. However, they are not waterproof and can be damaged by moisture. To protect your table, take a few minutes to waterproof it.
Waterproofing Your Table
You can waterproof your table by covering its surface with vinyl or shelf liner paper, which comes in various colors and styles. For example, I use wood grain shelf paper that matches my table’s original design. Since the shelf paper roll may not be wide enough to cover the entire table at once, apply it in two sections. Start with one half of the table (lengthwise), then cover the other half. The seam where the two pieces overlap will be nearly invisible once finished.
Having someone assist you with this process will make it easier, but it can be done alone. It's best to stick the paper to the table slowly as you unroll it. Smooth it down at the same time to avoid bubbles. The best way to do this is to use a small hand towel to rub it down while unrolling. Remember to read and follow the manufacturer's suggested application method along with these tips.
After covering one half of the table, trim the excess paper off the edge with a craft knife, then cover the other half. The paper makes it easy to clean the table with a damp cloth, and you can wipe off spilled paint and glue without difficulty. If the paper gets damaged, simply remove it and apply a new layer. This method ensures you always have a fresh craft table.
Be aware that removing the shelf paper will damage the top layer of the table. Only do this if you plan to recover it with new shelf paper. In addition to shelf liner paper, you can use a shower curtain to cover your table. Secure it in place with masking tape.
Plastic utility tables are also suitable for assembling a dollhouse. Although they are more expensive, they don’t require shelf liner paper since they are already waterproof and easy to clean. However, these tables fold in half rather than just having folding legs, making them less sturdy than banquet tables, especially at the folding joint. The advantage of both types of tables is that they can be easily folded and stored when not in use.
If possible, arrange your tables in an L shape for easier access to your dollhouse shell and finished parts. If space is limited, position them side by side with enough room in between for your chair. This setup provides easy access to both work areas.
Lighting
A spotlight is essential for assembly, especially when finishing the interior of a dollhouse. It provides ample light to easily see details in your work. A spotlight allows you to focus light where needed and can be easily moved into your workspace. Use a fluorescent, low-energy, cool-burning bulb to avoid excessive heat, allowing you to work closely without the risk of burns.
Power
Keeping a power strip on your table makes it easier to plug and unplug tools like hot glue guns and rotary tools without bending over to find an outlet. If you connect your power strip to a wall switch, you can turn your tools on or off with a single push.
Chair
A wheeled chair, whether it has a backrest or not, is more comfortable for assembly than a stationary chair.
Keeping Things Organized
Plastic utility shelves are great for organizing materials and tools. They save space and can fit in a closet or corner of a room, plus they are easy to clean.
Office supply trays help organize small items, such as wooden caps and fabric flowers.
Using snap hooks to hang your power tools from a wire shelf keeps them easily accessible and organizes their power cords. Use zip ties to hang the tools to prevent the metal snap hooks from scratching the wire shelves.
Plastic cups from the dollar store are useful for storing items like brushes, markers, and rubber bands. Small plastic bins are also helpful for larger items, such as fabrics, that won't fit in the cups. These bins fit perfectly on closet shelves or in cube organizers. You can label both the cups and bins with masking tape.
Always store items you rarely use on the lower shelves and the items you use frequently on the higher shelves. Hand weights should always be kept on the bottom shelf to prevent accidental falls and injuries.
Outside of your closet, a wooden shelf can hold items for current projects, such as windows, wallpaper, and flooring. It can also store dollhouse instructions, parts, and sub-assemblies. Cube organizers are useful for storing small items, like miniature furniture or fabric that you plan to use later in your project.
Your Supplies Should Move With You
The best purchase for a dollhouse builder is a wheeled caddy. Among the many craft caddies available, a wire caddy is the most suitable choice. Wire caddies are inexpensive and easy to clean. You can store all your frequently used items in it and easily wheel it to your workspace, wherever it may be. This eliminates the need to constantly get up and retrieve supplies from your closet or shelf.
When you finish for the day, simply wheel the caddy out of the way. This keeps your worktable clear, providing more space for your project and reducing the need for constant cleanup and organization of tools. With this easy mobility, any area can become your workspace.
I organize my caddy like my closet shelves, placing my most used items on the top and less frequently used items on the bottom.
I put all my paint bottles on the bottom shelf and added a foam core piece for support. This keeps the small bottles from tipping over due to the caddy's wires.
I put the paintbrush container on a foam bowl to keep water from getting on the caddy and other supplies on the lower shelves.
You can use smaller snap hooks on the caddy to hold items like a dust mask, measuring tape, and safety goggles. Always hang the snap hooks with zip ties to avoid damaging the caddy's wires from the metal rubbing against them.
I placed cups with my most-used items, such as sanding boards and utility and craft knives, on the caddy.
You can enhance your caddy by adding more organizing features. I attached two shower caddies from the dollar store, made of the same white wire, to the sides of my caddy. They provide additional storage shelves and hooks. I secured them with zip ties.
I placed my glue bottles upside down for easier flow. I also found another plastic organizer tray that can hang on a hook. In this tray, I organized my doorknobs and hardware. However, do not put your brads in this organizer because it hangs vertically, and the brads may fall out.
Brads and small beads can be stored in these tightly sealed containers, which can be kept on a shelf in your caddy. They can be found at the dollar store.
Be aware that removing the shelf paper will damage the top layer of the table. Only do this if you plan to recover it with new shelf paper. In addition to shelf liner paper, you can use a shower curtain to cover your table. Secure it in place with masking tape.
Plastic utility tables are also suitable for assembling a dollhouse. Although they are more expensive, they don’t require shelf liner paper since they are already waterproof and easy to clean. However, these tables fold in half rather than just having folding legs, making them less sturdy than banquet tables, especially at the folding joint. The advantage of both types of tables is that they can be easily folded and stored when not in use.
If possible, arrange your tables in an L shape for easier access to your dollhouse shell and finished parts. If space is limited, position them side by side with enough room in between for your chair. This setup provides easy access to both work areas.
Lighting
A spotlight is essential for assembly, especially when finishing the interior of a dollhouse. It provides ample light to easily see details in your work. A spotlight allows you to focus light where needed and can be easily moved into your workspace. Use a fluorescent, low-energy, cool-burning bulb to avoid excessive heat, allowing you to work closely without the risk of burns.
Power
Keeping a power strip on your table makes it easier to plug and unplug tools like hot glue guns and rotary tools without bending over to find an outlet. If you connect your power strip to a wall switch, you can turn your tools on or off with a single push.
Chair
A wheeled chair, whether it has a backrest or not, is more comfortable for assembly than a stationary chair.
Keeping Things Organized
Plastic utility shelves are great for organizing materials and tools. They save space and can fit in a closet or corner of a room, plus they are easy to clean.
Office supply trays help organize small items, such as wooden caps and fabric flowers.
Using snap hooks to hang your power tools from a wire shelf keeps them easily accessible and organizes their power cords. Use zip ties to hang the tools to prevent the metal snap hooks from scratching the wire shelves.
Plastic cups from the dollar store are useful for storing items like brushes, markers, and rubber bands. Small plastic bins are also helpful for larger items, such as fabrics, that won't fit in the cups. These bins fit perfectly on closet shelves or in cube organizers. You can label both the cups and bins with masking tape.
Always store items you rarely use on the lower shelves and the items you use frequently on the higher shelves. Hand weights should always be kept on the bottom shelf to prevent accidental falls and injuries.
Outside of your closet, a wooden shelf can hold items for current projects, such as windows, wallpaper, and flooring. It can also store dollhouse instructions, parts, and sub-assemblies. Cube organizers are useful for storing small items, like miniature furniture or fabric that you plan to use later in your project.
Your Supplies Should Move With You
The best purchase for a dollhouse builder is a wheeled caddy. Among the many craft caddies available, a wire caddy is the most suitable choice. Wire caddies are inexpensive and easy to clean. You can store all your frequently used items in it and easily wheel it to your workspace, wherever it may be. This eliminates the need to constantly get up and retrieve supplies from your closet or shelf.
When you finish for the day, simply wheel the caddy out of the way. This keeps your worktable clear, providing more space for your project and reducing the need for constant cleanup and organization of tools. With this easy mobility, any area can become your workspace.
I organize my caddy like my closet shelves, placing my most used items on the top and less frequently used items on the bottom.
I put all my paint bottles on the bottom shelf and added a foam core piece for support. This keeps the small bottles from tipping over due to the caddy's wires.
I put the paintbrush container on a foam bowl to keep water from getting on the caddy and other supplies on the lower shelves.
You can use smaller snap hooks on the caddy to hold items like a dust mask, measuring tape, and safety goggles. Always hang the snap hooks with zip ties to avoid damaging the caddy's wires from the metal rubbing against them.
I placed cups with my most-used items, such as sanding boards and utility and craft knives, on the caddy.
You can enhance your caddy by adding more organizing features. I attached two shower caddies from the dollar store, made of the same white wire, to the sides of my caddy. They provide additional storage shelves and hooks. I secured them with zip ties.
I placed my glue bottles upside down for easier flow. I also found another plastic organizer tray that can hang on a hook. In this tray, I organized my doorknobs and hardware. However, do not put your brads in this organizer because it hangs vertically, and the brads may fall out.
Brads and small beads can be stored in these tightly sealed containers, which can be kept on a shelf in your caddy. They can be found at the dollar store.
The best thing about this type of caddy is that it can hold wood trim of all shapes and sizes, which can be difficult to store. These trims often break or get lost when they fall off shelves and end up behind other items. Using this caddy helps prevent those issues.
To use it, place a cup on the bottom shelf of the caddy and run your trim through the wires so that the ends rest in the cup. This keeps your trim safe and organized, making it easy to access when needed. This tip was shared with me by Casey from Casey's Minis.
All of these storage items are inexpensive and can be found at a dollar store. You may even have some at home already. Just find a space to set them up. They can be used for one dollhouse project or multiple ones, and you can always find new uses for them.
Small Dollhouses and Miniature Assembly
If you're not assembling a large wooden dollhouse but are working with smaller miniatures, your setup will be different. Since you won’t need to store large tools, you can arrange your work area more conveniently. You can still use the same table and cover tips mentioned earlier, but now your materials can be placed closer for easier access. For small projects, consider using a desktop craft organizer to keep your materials handy.
Rotating desktop organizers can be costly, but you can use makeup organizers as an alternative. I found these makeup organizers at Target for $3 each. They are stackable and compact, taking up little desk space while offering plenty of storage compartments. Some of these organizers are round and can be placed on a turntable.
You can buy compartmentalized food party trays at the dollar store. They help keep small items organized and easily accessible while you work.
To use it, place a cup on the bottom shelf of the caddy and run your trim through the wires so that the ends rest in the cup. This keeps your trim safe and organized, making it easy to access when needed. This tip was shared with me by Casey from Casey's Minis.
All of these storage items are inexpensive and can be found at a dollar store. You may even have some at home already. Just find a space to set them up. They can be used for one dollhouse project or multiple ones, and you can always find new uses for them.
Small Dollhouses and Miniature Assembly
If you're not assembling a large wooden dollhouse but are working with smaller miniatures, your setup will be different. Since you won’t need to store large tools, you can arrange your work area more conveniently. You can still use the same table and cover tips mentioned earlier, but now your materials can be placed closer for easier access. For small projects, consider using a desktop craft organizer to keep your materials handy.
Rotating desktop organizers can be costly, but you can use makeup organizers as an alternative. I found these makeup organizers at Target for $3 each. They are stackable and compact, taking up little desk space while offering plenty of storage compartments. Some of these organizers are round and can be placed on a turntable.
You can buy compartmentalized food party trays at the dollar store. They help keep small items organized and easily accessible while you work.
Pegboards are a great way to organize small items in your craft room and keep your worktable clear. Although pegboards and pegboard furniture can be expensive, there are still affordable options available.
I found a large pegboard at Home Depot for $12. It was so big that I had to have them cut a foot off to fit it over my table. I ordered accessories from Amazon for about $15 and spent an additional $5 at Home Depot on mounting hardware and extra hooks. You can customize your pegboard with accessories for any craft materials you want to store.
Since the edges of the pegboard were rough, I bought a ribbon for $1 and glued it around the edges to create a frame. I think it looks good. Fortunately, the pegboard is already painted white, so you don't need to paint it yourself, though you can spray paint it if you prefer another color. There are many creative and inexpensive ideas online for accessorizing and decorating your pegboard.
When working with DIY miniature kits, you often have leftover items that can be used in future projects. I recommend keeping all leftover pieces because these kits sometimes miss small items or you might lose them during assembly. Having spares will save you from needing to search for replacements at craft stores, where similar items can be hard to find.
A great way to store these small items is to use sealed containers from the dollar store. I put my containers in a pencil holder caddy, which allows me to easily turn it and find the container I need.
Since the edges of the pegboard were rough, I bought a ribbon for $1 and glued it around the edges to create a frame. I think it looks good. Fortunately, the pegboard is already painted white, so you don't need to paint it yourself, though you can spray paint it if you prefer another color. There are many creative and inexpensive ideas online for accessorizing and decorating your pegboard.
When working with DIY miniature kits, you often have leftover items that can be used in future projects. I recommend keeping all leftover pieces because these kits sometimes miss small items or you might lose them during assembly. Having spares will save you from needing to search for replacements at craft stores, where similar items can be hard to find.
A great way to store these small items is to use sealed containers from the dollar store. I put my containers in a pencil holder caddy, which allows me to easily turn it and find the container I need.
