Dollhouse Makeover: Second Tiny House Update

You asked for an update on our large-scale (and delightfully small-scale) renovation, so here’s progress on our second dollhouse. If you missed our first tiny house makeover, check out that project for more inspiration.

This little house has a clear resemblance to our real house, which has made the project extra fun. Our nine-year-old has been the general contractor, interior designer, and architect—helping to pick colors, arrange furniture, paint, and brainstorm future additions. Watching her lead the process has been a joy, and I’ve happily filled the role of assistant and budget realist.

This dollhouse will probably evolve for years as we add more furniture, working lights, and maybe even a spiral staircase to the attic. For now, the transformation is impressive. The exterior mainly received a fresh coat of white paint, since our daughter wanted it to match our house, and we painted the roof gray. We may try a slate-look roof later with shiny paint and small shingles.

The back of the dollhouse arrived as a blank canvas. We painted the walls and floors white to create a bright backdrop that allows bold furniture colors—navy, turquoise, red—and patterned fabrics to pop. That choice makes adding colorful pieces much easier and helps small decorative elements stand out.

The kitchen is one of my favorite spots. We transformed a broken toy refrigerator into an island and covered the top with a printed pink marble image glued in place. We painted the appliances and cabinetry a soft light blue, except for one shelving unit that our daughter requested in navy. Tiny shelf brackets that came with the secondhand furniture ended up being an adorable detail.

Many of the accessories were secondhand finds from lots of dollhouse furniture—an affordable way to build up a collection. Buying secondhand lots can yield dozens of pieces for a fraction of the cost of new individual items, and they’re perfect for painting or repurposing.

For a subway tile backsplash, we printed scaled images of white subway tile until we found the right fit and glued them to the wall with a glue stick. It’s a simple trick that gives the look of tile without the fuss.

We created a small potted plant by trimming a faux sprig from a desk plant and planting it in a tiny bucket from the secondhand furniture lot, painted gray to resemble a planter. Small handmade touches like that add a lot of charm.

In the living room, built-ins and a fireplace make the space feel special. We styled the shelves with tiny folded magazine cutouts, little shells, thimbles, and any small objects that fit. A mini version of real art we made earlier works perfectly here and inspired more tiny projects.

We reupholstered an old sofa seat using fabric from our stash—no sewing required: stretch, secure with tape underneath, and glue. Small touches like a magazine-cut mirror and a burlap rug made from frayed fabric rectangles give the room texture and personality.

Upstairs, tiny clothespins clipped magazine-clipping art to create a playful gallery in the foyer and landing. Gifts from crafty friends—mini plants, small furniture, and hand-crafted accessories—have elevated the look and sparked even more DIY ideas. Many of our small wooden artworks are simply magazine clippings glued to paper or wood scraps.

Bedrooms feature tiny lamps, miniature books made from blocks of wood wrapped in paper, and reupholstered beds using fabric wrapped and taped underneath. We added more handmade art, fabric accents, and tiny pillows—some sewn, some taped—depending on the piece.

The attic includes repainted secondhand furniture, a painted fireplace, and three cozy setups, each with its own small rug and accessories. We made a tiny notebook by folding small sheets of paper for pages and gluing a magazine-clipping cover—simple and delightful.

The bathroom on the top floor is a favorite: a vintage-style toilet with a pull chain, a navy vanity with gold hardware, and a tiny burlap rug. Beads make convincing bath “water,” and small towels are made by folding fabric loops and stitching them together.

Overall, this project has been a joyful way to make things with the kids and encourage their creativity. It’s practical, inexpensive, and surprisingly satisfying to find clever ways to repurpose everyday objects into tiny home details. We’ll share another big update if we tackle a major change like a slate roof, spiral staircase, or working lights.

P.S. These projects are a wonderful way to show kids that most ideas can be brought to life with simple materials and a little imagination—often far faster and cheaper than the full-size versions!

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