Recently, my daughters were given a free dollhouse that has been lovingly passed from neighbor to neighbor in our community. Despite their fight over whose bedroom would be home for the new dollhouse, it encouraged some imaginative play between the two of them. It also brought back some memories from my own childhood when my mom and I worked on my own DIY dollhouse.
Back in elementary school, my best friend and I each received dollhouses for our 8th birthdays. They were the kind of plain wood dollhouse where you could paint the outside and outfit the inside with tiny furniture, wallpaper, and more. I remember a mini Pepsi can cost us 50 cents of our allowance, which was a lot of money in the ‘80s, but were deemed a necessity for our tiny dollhouse kitchens.
Today, similar to the Ikea play kitchen hacks, creative moms are sharing gorgeous and playful dollhouse ideas across TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram. But you don’t have to be super crafty to build a DIY dollhouse for your child. There are plenty of DIY dollhouse kits or unfinished wooden dollhouses you can make your own with a little bit of paint and wallpaper samples. Or if you prefer to add a ready-made dollhouse to your playroom, we have you covered too! Keep scrolling for all the dollhouse inspo you need.
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Why dollhouses are great toys for kids
Not only does a dollhouse encourage pretend play, but working on a DIY dollhouse offers an analog craft project both kids and parents can be proud of.
Whether thrifting an old dollhouse, buying your own, or grabbing a DIY dollhouse kit, here are our favorite dollhouse ideas and decor hacks, including a number of gender-neutral options. Because playing with dollhouses should be fun for everyone!
DIY dollhouse hacks
Just add paint
Paint a thrifted or budget-friendly dollhouse to match your little one’s room or playspace. You may need to sand the surface first to ensure the paint sticks.
Save your wallpaper and flooring samples
A wallpaper or penny tile sample—especially ones that are peel-and-stick—works wonderfully as wallpaper or flooring for a DIY dollhouse. Consider smaller prints and patterns to fit the small space best.
Turn a bookshelf into a dollhouse
Buy or thrift a bookshelf that resembles a dollhouse for a dual-purpose piece of playroom furniture. While one shelf might hold books, other “floors” could include mini furniture and dolls.
One of the most popular DIY dollhouse hacks is to start with the popular IKEA FLISAT dollhouse (pictured below). At under $50, the dollhouse bookshelf can be customized in myriad of ways—remove the backing, paint the chimney, add wallpaper, and more for a personalized dollhouse your kids will love. Plus, you can hang it on the wall or leave it on the floor for playtime.
Get creative with accessorizing
Create a “yard” with faux grass, a “playground” with plastic chains, or use mini succulents as “potted plants.” Create “wall art” by printing out your child’s favorite photos—or have them draw some abstract art you can frame. During the holidays, you can even add some festive details. Thoughtful accessories can make your DIY dollhouse feel like a doll home.
Shop more unfinished dollhouses and DIY dollhouse kits
More of the best dollhouses for kids
If you’d rather assemble a dollhouse for immediate use, here are some adorable dollhouses (many with furniture included!) to add to your little one’s play space.
The cutest dollhouse accessories for kids
Many dollhouses come with basic furniture, but family figurines and other accessories can encourage even more imaginative play. Plus, building your child’s dollhouse collection can be a gifting opportunity for the holidays, Easter baskets, birthdays, and more.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
