DIY Front Opening Dollhouse

Learn how to make a front for your dollhouse and still be able to access the inside.

If you like dollhouses as decorations or you want to give one as a gift, you can have the front of the house intact and still be able to move things around inside it. Since doll house displays on a shelf should be able to show the miniatures inside of them as well as show off the outer craftsmanship of the house. A front panel that opens like a door allows you to have both of these features. Find the supplies you need where specialty craft supplies are sold.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4-inch-thick plywood or 1/4-inch-thick medium density fiberboard (MDF)
• Table saw
• Tape measure
• 1-inch-high metal hinges
• Power drill
• 1/8-inch drill bit
• No. 10 Phillips screws
• No. 2 Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Draw up the plans for your dollhouse and note the measurements on all four outer panels. Cut out the shapes of all four panels of the dollhouse from 1/4-inch plywood or medium density fiberboard (MDF) according to your drawing with a table saw.

2. Build all four outer panels of the house and fit them together as if they will be one miniature, closed house. Glue the edges of the back, left and right panels together with wood glue and wait 12 hours for the glue to dry.

3. Measure down the right edge of the opening and mark the point 2 inches below the top edge and 2 inches above the bottom edge. Measure and mark the point directly between these two points. These points are the locations where the left sides of the hinges will be placed.

4. Measure and mark the same points along the left inside edge of the front panel, the panel that will open. Place the left side of a 1/2-inch-high to 1-inch-high metal hinge near the top edge of the opening where you made the mark.

5. Hold the right side of the hinge straight along the left edge of the panel and trace or color in the holes on the hinge with a pencil to mark where they will be on the wood. Do this on the middle mark and bottom mark along the edge of the front panel. Do this along the right edge of the opening of the house as well.

6. Drill a hole through the marks you made through the holes of the hinges. Use a drill bit that is 1/16 inch smaller than the holes of the hinges. Drill holes through hole markings you made along the right edge of the opening.

7. Place the right sides of the hinges on the left edge of the front panel so the holes once again align with the holes you drilled in the wood. Attach the hinges by running screws into the holes of the hinges.

8. Hold the hinged front panel to the right edge of the opening of the doll house. Make sure the edges all the way around the front panel align with the edges of the opening and run screws through the holes to finishing attaching the hinges. You now have a front panel of your dollhouse that will open like a door.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a latch to the left edge of the opening and the front panel. Create a split door by cutting the front panel down the middle and using the same process to add hinges to both sides of the opening.

References

• Let's Build a Dollhouse: Final Assembly