This is the story of my $2 thrift store dollhouse makeover and how I furnished it for nothing.
That’s right, I didn’t spend a dime on furniture or decor.
After spending so little on the house itself, I couldn’t bring myself to throw a bunch of expensive dollhouse furniture inside. Especially not for a less-than-careful three year old. So I challenged myself to furnish this fixer upper using only things I found around the house: junk, recyclables, scraps and whatever materials I already had.
This isn’t one of those fancy, fussy, grown-up lady dream doll houses. It’s meant to be played with, but that’s probably obvious. I ruled out making any pieces out of cardboard. Apparently, this is very common in the world of homemade dollhouse furniture, but I didn’t like the idea of putting so much time and energy into delicate things that won’t withstand my daughter’s blows.
Once again, it will be revealed just how much of a junk hoarder I am, but I am confident anyone could pull something like this off with a few months of saving recyclables.
The exterior went from the haphazard Disney contact paper look to a clean and fresh coat of aqua paint. (See more before photos. >>) I shingled the roof using 2×2 inch cut pieces of some leftover window blind slats.
Truthfully, that was the most tedious part of the entire makeover process. I am digging the white roof for wintertime, but may end up spray painting the roof a darker shade next spring or summer.
The inside got a coat of bright white semi-gloss paint before I wallpapered with fabric and Mod Podge. Due to the dimensions of this house (and the odd angles on the second floor), pieces of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper just weren’t going to cut it. The walls were too long or too tall and I didn’t want to tile the paper. But that’s OK, because using fabric works so much better for projects like this.
Fabric can be applied and re-positioned it if needed. After cutting around all those doors and windows, I think I earned a black belt in decoupage.
I put many, many hours into this house. More than I care to admit. If there is a reason for my decreased posting frequency (besides being pregnant and having a non-napping three year old), it’s this. But it has been such a fun exercise in creativity to repurpose items that would otherwise be thrown out.
See more!
Part 2: Living Room / Dining Room >>
Part 3: Kitchen >>
Part 4: Landing / Sitting Room >>
Part 5: Bedroom >>
Part 6: Bathroom >>
Corinne says
Erin this is awesome! I love all of the mini artwork on the walls. I can’t wait to hear all the details.
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Thanks, Cori! I had a lot of fun making everything. Well, except for the roof. 🙂
MsChilePepper says
The toilet tank is a dental floss package, isn’t it??? I love it! I can’t wait to find out how you made all the other things!
When I was little, one Christmas my parents and my auntie collaborated to create a totally awesome dollhouse for him, and I loved it SO MUCH! The dolls I had were the hippie Sunshine Family from Mattel, so it had to be bigger than the standard dollhouses.
ANYway, I loved nothing so much as creating accessories and furniture and things for the dollhouse. I decorated it for Christmas (tree, stockings, tiny gift packages) and other holidays. I remember being THRILLED that I could scavenge scraps of wood and tiles and other bits from my uncle’s construction site and use them for my dollhouse projects.
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Wow, you were studying that closely! Yes, it is dental floss! More details to come next week.
There’s a lot of fun in challenging yourself to make things from scraps and junk. My daughter’s a little young, but hopefully it will inspire her to do the same.
jodi says
Great job Erin! It looks amazing!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Thanks, Jodi!
Nadia says
Wow, that’s just amazing 😀 I love the idea, and the finished product! Well done!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Glad you liked it! Thanks!
Vicky Nardone says
This is awesome! I spent so many hours in my teen years redecorating the dollhouse that my dad made me as a kid but I spent a to more money on it than you did and I think yours turned out a lot cuter. Any ideas on making people to go in the doll house? I always thought the ones they sold in stores were not that good looking.
-Vicky
http://veryvic.blogspot.com/
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Hi Vicky, I didn’t make any people for the dollhouse because my daughter has like a thousand plastic figurines (think Mickey Mouse and friends) that I figured she would use anyway.
You could always paint up some simple peg dolls that are available at craft stores like I did here. They come in different sizes and shapes depending on where you buy them. They probably wouldn’t be to scale, but I’m not all that concerned with that.
Miranda Burton says
Hi, you have really inspired me. I saw a headboard at my local Habitat for Humanity Restore for $15 and thought it would make an excellent dollhouse. I also keep odds and ends and make them into things. My dollhouse isn’t finished yet but I made a posting for it on my local Bookoo page. I have plans to add a second story and wire in some LED lighting. Here is the link in case you’re curious. I keep updating the pictures as it progresses. 🙂
(broken link removed)
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Thanks! Using an old headboard with a bunch of cubbies is a great idea!
Susan Higgins says
When we got to the stove, my 7 year old exclaimed, “That looks like something you could sell in a store!” High praise.
This is really amazing, you have inspired us to get our old doll house out of the basement and revamp it.
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Ha! Thanks!
You’re going to have so much fun working on it together!
MAC says
This is SO awesome.
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Thank you!
Jaime says
You are a genius. I may be stealing your fabric wallpapering idea for my little girl’s dollhouse, which also came from the thrift store. Everything in my life comes from the thrift store. Check out my blog at thriftaesthetic.wordpress.com if you get a chance. Genius!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Genius is a strong word, but… I’ll take it! 😉 Thanks!
Michelle says
Just found this through a Google search for dollhouse furniture for toddlers. I never would’ve looked at that house with the contact paper and envisioned what you were able to accomplish — wow!
Erin @ Lansdowne Life says
Yeah, it was pretty rough. I can see exactly why someone donated it!
julia says
Thanks for the inspiration. I was looking to make a shoebox dollhouse with my 5-year-old and you gave me great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Erin Heaton says
So glad you found some ideas! Have fun making your house!
maryian says
this is an awesome art project way of having fun and dollhouse
Erin Heaton says
Thank you!
Keri says
I love your dedication to using things you’ve found around your home, your dollhouse looks like it belongs to The Borrowers! The measuring tape border is my favorite.
Erin Heaton says
Thanks! It was a lot of fun repurposing everything!
Hannah says
I love it! It’s almost like my dream house! I would love to know how you did it! 🙂 Even though I’m a teen, I still want to make a doll house. My boyfriend and I were planning to make a dollhouse and spend hours looking at it, imagining our lives together in our dream house. It sonds corny, I know.
Erin Heaton says
Hi Hannah,
There are some other posts detailing what everything is made out of. Links above!
Marie says
Very helpful! Thanks tons!
Erin Heaton says
You’re welcome!
Kate says
Wow, I love, love, love your skilled use of color and the fuss-less miniaturization of everyday objects. My daughter and I have plans to make a dollhouse from “junk”/recyclables this winter, so I’ll be thinking back on this often. Meanwhile, if you have any similarly brilliant brainstorms for squeezing more use out of an outgrown learning tower, I am all ears…
Erin Heaton says
Sounds like a great winter project!
Sorry, no ideas for a learning tower right now. (I actually had to look up what it was!)
Kathy W. says
I am LOVING this house! I have a very similar house that I need to remodel. I plan on stealing LOTS of ideas from you! Thanks for the inspiration.
Click on my name for a link to the house I did. The outside will remain the same, but i’m going to copy you on some of the interiors!
Erin Heaton says
So glad you found some ideas to use!
Gillian sinclair says
I love your dolls house I got about 9 dolls house I think a church a school a church hall a pud and others things I have made some of the things did you make everything in the house
Erin Heaton says
Hi Gillian,
Thank you! Yes, I made everything in the house!