How to Make a Barbie Doll House

Every little girl wants a doll house - and building a custom doll house for your tiny princess will add magic and memories for years to come. The original design for this Barbie House was built by my Dad out of a discarded plywood sheet after doing a heavy cargo drop from a military aricraft! The picture shown isn't the actual doll house my Dad built - but it's as close as I could find to give you an idea. All the descriptions below on building a doll house will make you one that looks exactly like the one my Dad built. This Barbie house has two stories with an attic and stands about three feet tall including the roof.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 sheet 1/2 in thick Plywood
• 1/4 in thick Plywood
• 1/4 in bosslewood dowels
• Bosslewood
• Screws
• Wood Glue
• Leather
• Cloth
• Wood Stain
• Paint
• Sturdy string
• Piano Hinges

1. The sheet of 1/2 in. plywood needs to be cut into pieces - Back piece = 4ft. by 2ft.; Front piece = 4.5ft. by 2ft.; Right Side piece = 2.5ft. by 2ft.; Left Side piece #1 = 1ft. by 2 ft.; Left Side piece #2 = 1.5ft. by 2 ft.; Left Side piece #3 = 6in. by 2ft.; Base = 2.5ft. by 4.5ft.; Second and Attic Floor pieces = 4ft. by 2.5ft.; Balcony piece = 6in. by 1.5ft.; Five interior wall pieces = 2ft. by 1ft.; Two Roof pieces = 2ft. by 4.5ft.; Three Roof Side pieces = (triangle) 2.5ft. by 1.5ft. by 1.5ft.; Three Elevator Sides = 6in. by 1ft.; Two Elebator Base/Top pieces = 6in. by 6in. Three Doors will be cut out of the 1/4 in. plywood measuring 11.8in. by 4in.;

2. Cut out the windows, measuring 4in. wide by 5in. tall, in the Back - 4 on top and 3 on the bottom; Right side - 1 on top and 1 on bottom. Left side piece #2 - 1 on top and 1 on bottom (bottom window measures 5in. by 5in.); Cut out the doors, measuring 4in. wide and 11.8in tall, in the Back right hand corner and Left Side piece #2 - 1 on the bottom and another right above it. One of the Roof pieces, cut out two holes measuring 1.5ft. by 1ft. Leave 1/2in. around all sides of the holes and 1/2in. between them.

3. Glue the Back and Right Side pieces together, making a corner, and then screw together with a screw every few inches. Glue and screw Left Side piece #2 to the Back, making another corner. Glue and screw to the Base, the Left side will not be flush with the edge of the Base but the Right side needs to be. Glue and screw Left Side piece #3 to Left Side piece #2, making a corner. Left Side piece #3 will extend out longer than the Back to the edge of the Base. Glue and Screw Left Side piece #1 to Left Side piece #3 making a corner. This piece will be flush with the edge of the front of the base.

4. Glue and screw two interior walls to the Base. From the Left Side the walls are set at 2ft., and 3.5 ft. Slide the Second Floor piece exactly in mid-hieght of the walls. Glue and screw. Glue and screw the remaining interior walls to the second floor. From the Left Side, the walls are set at 1.5ft., 2.5ft., and 3.5ft. Glue and screw the Attic Floor piece to the top of the walls. Glue and screw the three traingle Roof Side pieces - one on each edge and one in the middle. Glue and screw the Roof piece without holes to the Back and the one with holes to the front.

5. Glue and screw the elevator pieces together, making a box with on open side. Screw a hole in the top of the elevator and secure a sturdy string (or tough shoelace) in the hole. Drill another small hole at the top of Left Side just under the Roof piece. Sand the elevator then put it in the "elevator shaft" at the front, left side of the house. Run the string up through the hole you drilled. Then attach a ring to the end of the string. Pull the elevator up then put in a nail to hold the ring to keep the elevator at the second floor when wanted. (If needed you might need to add a small strip of wood to the underneath of the second floor to secure the elevator to stay in the shaft.)

6. Sand the entire house, including the Doors, the two pieces cut out of the Roof piece, and the Front piece. Clean all the sawdust off the house before continuing. Using four piano hinges, attach the two pieces cut out of the Roof to the roof to act as "doors". Hinges are on the top so that the roof doors swing up and are able to rest on the point of the roof. (Great for storage!) Attach the Front to the Base, using 3 or 4 piano hinges. The Front should swing down to lay flat on the floor when the house is "open." Use magnetic strips to hold the Front closed. Using small pieces of leather or jewelry box hinges, attach the three doors.

7. Cut out small pieces of basslewood for the shingles on the roof. Glue them on. Do not screw or nail. Start at the bottom, then overlap the next row of "shingles" over the one before it. You can use putty to fill in the space between the last row of shingles at the point of the roof for vanity purposes but it's not needed. Glue and screw the Balcony piece to the Left Side, 1ft up, so that it matches the the "porch" area of the base.

8. Cut the 1/4in. dowel into lengths of 1.5in. and a pieces in length of 1.5ft, another piece 1ft, and two more 6in. in length. Glue (do not nail) the 1.5in. pieces to the Porch and the Balcony. (Make sure on the porch you leave a space for the people to get to the door.) Then glue the "railing" pieces to the top.

9. You can use printed pattern fabric for "wallpaper", textered fabric or real carpet scraps for the "carpet". If you want "hard wood" floors, simply use wood stain in the shade you choose. Paint the outside and interior of the house, including the roof in your choise of colors.

10. Now you can furnish and enjoy your Barbie house for years to come. Being made out of the plywood and using screws instead of nails make this extra sturdy - your kids can literally sit on the roof and the house will still stand! Trust me - my Barbie house looks almost brand new (just a few missing shingles) and it's almsot 15 years old!

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use nails to secure the railings. If the railing came loose there could be exposed nails. This is also another reason for using screws instead of nails when assembling the house.
• If you don't have access to your own saw, Home Depot or Lowes has a service to cut the pieces in the measurements you need.
• If you would like to add handles to the doors you can use small pieces of the 1/4 in. dowel or a small gold bead for a door knob.
• Be careful when using power tools, paint, and sharp objects around children!!
• Always use proper safety equipment!
• When painting inside, make sure the space is well ventilated.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 1/23/2009 THANK YOU! I really appreciate all of your details and instructions. THis is one of the best articles I've seen. 5* (a lot more if I could) RRRC & marked as a favorite.

[GreenLeader]

on 1/22/2009 Building a doll house with your daughter(s) is a great bounding experience and the memories last forever. Nice article.

[Geargirl113]

on 1/16/2009 I loved Barbies when I was growing up. This sounds like something that will be able to become a cherished heriloom for your child.