Like I mentioned in my introductory post, I furnished the entire dollhouse with things I found around my own house. Junk, recyclables, scraps and other random pieces. Here are the details.
The toilet is probably the piece I’m most proud of in the entire house. It took a long time for me to find the right shapes, but in the end, the solution was easy. I used an empty dental floss container and an oval-shaped shampoo cap (from Pantene). I glued them together and painted it white using a plastic-friendly spray paint. Voilà! Toilet!
The vanity is a wooden stand for a set of coasters turned upside down. The sink is the bottom half of a plastic jewelry box. The mirror is a wood cutout painted white with a piece of metallic foil duct tape layered on top. It’s not completely reflective, but close enough.
For wall art, I decoupaged a grouping of the “take a number” tickets. Like I’ve mentioned previously in this series, I wanted to include small, real-life items to give it that collected or “found” look.
The bathtub is one of those mini ceramic loaf pans they sell at the craft stores around Christmastime. I debated whether to add a faucet to it and the vanity, but ultimately decided they weren’t needed.
See all the dollhouse posts
Before photos >>
Part 1: Whole house after photos >>
Part 2: Living Room / Dining Room >>
Part 3: Kitchen >>
Part 4: Landing / Sitting Room >>
Part 5: Bedroom >>
Part 6: Bathroom >>
Renie Rob says
This is fabulous, quite unique, creative, inventive and downright fun…..I could go on but I know you know that what you’ve created is more than amazing. I like how you used found materials and your thinking process…I love doll houses and when I was teaching had my students make one from the traditional cardboard….lol….but I love your concept. You’ve got my mind rolling…thank you! Job well done!!!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Aw, what a nice comment! Found materials are so much fun to work with!
m soviero says
This is so cool! I make my own doll clothes for my 1960’s doll collection. I have a doll house and furniture that was my mother’s when she was my age. It’s amazing how detailed old furniture was!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Thanks! I bet your vintage dollhouse is beautiful!
Jodi Hay says
This is AMAZING! I’ve been working on a dollhouse for my daughter out of an old bookcase. Like you, I didn’t want to spend a bunch of $ on store bought furniture. Unlike you, I was out of ideas. Thanks to you, I will be able to finish the kitchen and bathroom! You are so clever!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
So glad you found some ideas to work with!
LC says
I just stumbled upon your blog while searching for ideas for DIY miniature furniture! And I have to say, this is brilliant! The whole house is just lovely! You are very creative, and that toilet! So clever!!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
What a nice comment! Thank you. Hope you found some ideas!
Jana Singh says
This is the most beautiful DIY Doll house and the most imaginative one I have seen yet… so going to make one for my girls.. Thank you so much
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Thank you! I’m sure your girls will love it!
Lorrie says
This is amazing! I saw some ideas for suitcase dollhouses and wanted to make one for my granddaughter to take to their cottage. I found an old, old 8 track cassette case to make a mini house that she can carry (she is 3 1/2). I am going to try to replicate some of your furniture ideas for her little house. Thank you so much for sharing.
Erin Heaton says
What a cute idea to put it in an old case! Love that.
Tiziana Rondoni says
Gorgeous…. thanks. It’s a masterpiece!
Erin Heaton says
Thank you!
Jamie says
I’m building doll houses for my two girls and found this page while researching DYI furniture options since store-bought furniture is so expensive. You’ve got some very creative ideas in here and I’ll definitely be using some. Thanks!
Erin Heaton says
Awesome! I’m sure your girls will love them!
Sandra says
This is so amazing … What creativity! I have a very old wooden dollhouse that my great uncle made many many years ago. I am wanting to redo for my twin 2.5 year old girls for their 3rd Bday. I am like you … Why would I pay so much money for the dollhouse furniture when they will destroy! My only problem is finding the time!
Erin Heaton says
It is time consuming, but just work at it piece by piece, I’m sure your girls will love it!
Cara@theProjectAddict says
The toilet is genius! Love the whole house.
Erin Heaton says
Thanks!
portlan says
My daughter found an old doll house, Barbie size and I want to furnish it without spending a mint! Thank you! You have my wheels spinning like crazy! This is for my granddaughters and I want them to LOVE IT! THANKS AGAIN!!!! YOU ARE WONDERFUL
Erin Heaton says
Oh, thank you! There are so many things you can make for free or very cheap!
Sara says
I normally, actually never comment on things I find on the internet, but I just can’t pass it up this time. I am absolutely floored, amazed, and delighted at your ingenious and creative mind! This is by far the most clever, stylish and practical diy doll house I have ever seen. Thank you for the inspiration as I am currently building my own doll house from scratch with little to no money. This was just what I needed to see to keep going. I was ready to give up thinking that I wouldn’t be able to make it the way I wanted without a ton of money while not having it look cheesy and cheap from using everyday, household items.
Erin Heaton says
What a nice comment! Thank you! You can definitely do a lot with items from around the house!
Nicole says
Thanks for sharing all your great ideas with us! I’m working on a house I got for under 10.00 and your repurpose ideas are exactly what I am looking for. I have hopes of making several, I,d like to give them to kids with nothing. I’ve always wanted a project where ingenuity could work around financial limits and I think this is it! Just wanted to tell you I’m grateful for the willingness to openly share your ideas….thanks! Ps. We call ours a ” mouse house” cause growing up we disliked dolls. We had a family of teeny stuffed mice in it. ( I still have that house, was my mother’s….has been done over several times, must be from the 30’s or so) . Maybe a mouse themed house would be cool….hmmmm, yes, your ideas definitely get wheels turning!
Erin Heaton says
I was never much of a doll girl either, Nicole. I think a Mouse House sounds perfect!
Hannah Rose says
This is so cool. I never had a dollhouse when I was a kid, so I decided to make my own. Thanks for the ideas. Specially, on how you made those furniture.
Erin Heaton says
I never had a dollhouse either, Hannah! Have fun making yours!
lily says
i loved your doll house-so creative
Erin Heaton says
Thank you, Lily!
Nancy says
Love these ideas!! Thank you so much for sharing. I am using an ice cream bucket for the bath tub on mine and for the bed I am using pencils, duct tape, a cereal box, scrap of fabric and scrap of batting. The toilet was one I could not get my head together on, thank you!!! Love the laptop idea!!
Erin Heaton says
You’re welcome, Nancy. Ingenuity wins!
Jennifer says
oh my.. .this is amazing! Thank you for taking the time to share you wonderful, creative ideas with us! You’re like the Tinkerbell of bloggers 🙂 I’m really excited to make my 3 and 5 year old a dollhouse for Christmas but I didn’t want it to just be more ‘stuff’ they would trash and lose since it’s easily replaceable. I’m thinking of getting them involved in the process of filling the space once I have a good foundation in place so their even more vested.
Thanks again for sharing and I’m so glad I found your post!
Erin Heaton says
Right there with you about kids trashing things! 🙂 I’m sure your kids will love creating along with you!