Materials

2-3 - 1 1/2″ x 1/4″ x 24″ Aspen, Poplar or Maple
(1)  3 1/2″ x 1/4″ x 24″ Aspen, Poplar or Maple
(1)  5 1/2″ x 1/4″ x 24″ Aspen, Poplar or Maple
Variety pack of Short dowels, ranging from 1/8″ to 1/2″ diameter
5/8″ Dowel (lamp)
3/8″ Square ‘dowels’
Wood Glue *
Paperclips (to create ‘hinges’)
Cardboard/Cardstock
Craft Paint/ Wax / Sealant *

Tools
Hand Saw  & Miter Box*
Drill
Sandpaper -  course grit () to shape wood –  and a fine grit() to  smooth
Clamps*
Wire Cutters

*See Comments Below

Instructions

The number of pieces you’ll want to make may vary so there is no large formal cutlist. Cut are just listed piece by piece.

Chair
(1) 1 1/2″ x 1″
(1) 1 1/2″ x 1 1/4″
(1)1 1/2″ x 1″
Either (1) 1 1/4 x 1/4″ diameter dowel OR
(1) 1 1/2″ x 1/2″ cut to 3/4″ x 1/2″ for support

There are two methods for making this char a little stronger.  Using dowels might be easier if you have a drill press.  Drill a 1/4″ hole 1/8″ deep in both the front and the back of the chair centered from the sides and 1/2″ from the bottom.  Or you can glue the cut wood just under the center of the seat of the chair for support.

Kitchen table
(1) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2″
(2) 3 1/4″ x 2″

Create an X under the table for support.  Sand to make sure it sits flat.

Couch

(1) 5″ x 1 3/4″
(1) 5″ x 2 1/2″
(2) 1 1/2″ x 2 3/8″

Glue the seat and back of the seat together first, 90° apart.  While that is drying shape the sides.  When the center is dry, glue it to the sides, angling the seat so it’s parallel with the angle of the sides.

Loveseat
(1) 3 1/2″ x 1 3/4″
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
(1) 2 1 1/2″ x 2 3/8″

Same as above.

Coffee table
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2″
(4) 7/8″ x 1/4″ dowels

Sand the table to a smooth shape.  Drill 4 1/4″ holes 1/8″ deep spaced ~1/2″ in from each side.  Glue the dowels in place, then after they’re dry sand them so the legs sit flush on the ground.

Refrigerator
Coming Soon

Kitchen Set
Coming Soon

Double Bed
(1) 5 1/2″ x 1 5/8″
(1) 5 1/2″ x 2 5/8″
(1) 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
(2) 3/8″ x 3/8″ Square dowel (supports)

Single Bed
(1) 3 1/2″ x 1 5/8″
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2 5/8″
(1) 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
(2) 3/8″ x 3/8″ Square dowel (supports)

Crib
(2) 3 1/2″ x 3″
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2″
(2) 1 1/2″ 3 1/2″ (check actual width of above board before cutting)

Nightstand
(3) 1 1/2″ x 1 3/8″
(1) 1 1/2″ x 7/8″

Dresser
(2) 1 1/2″ x 2 1/4″
(2) 1 1/2″ x 3″
(4) 1 1/2″ x 3/4″
(2) 3 1/2″ x 3/4″ then cut to 2 3/16″ x 3/4″
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2″ (top)
(1) 3 1/2″ x 2 1/ 4″ (back)
(2) 3 1/2″ x 1 1/8″
(2) Pieces of cardboard
(2) 5/8″ x 3/16″ diameter dowel sanded flat on one side

After the dresser is assembled, check the fit of the drawers prices.  Be sure to check width of the 2 3/16″ drawer back for ease of sliding in the dresser before gluing the drawers together.  On the back of the dresser drawer front, use a thin bladed saw (like a hacksaw) to create a slit just over 1/4″ from the bottom. This is for the cardboard to slide into.   We used pieces cut up cereal boxes for the bottom of drawers. When glued on all edges, they’re actually quite strong.  Assemble the drawers so the slit is just under the bottom of the sides.  After that assembly is dry, glue the cardboard in place.

Desk
Coming Soon

Lamp
(1) 1 1/2″ x 3/4″ cut down to 3/4″ x 3/4″
(1) 3″ x 3/8″ diameter dowel
(1) 3/4″ x 5/8″ diameter dowel

Accesories

Skateboard
Fishing Rod
Cups
Pitcher

TV
(1) 1 1/2″ x 2″
(1) 1 1/2″ x  1/2″

*Comments

The wood glue you choose is very important. This is what keeps your kids from breaking the furniture apart (in addition to the design). From what I’ve read, wood glue needs to be no older than a year to hold properly. Invest in the strongest wood glue you see (but not the biggest bottle – it goes bad, remember).

I used regular acrylic craft paint for color and butcher block wax as a sealant. Pre-painting the pieces individually gives a nice clean lines, but don’t pre-paint the side/section you are gluing. Otherwise the glued joint is only as strong as the paint – not strong at all!  Also, be warned the paint didn’t take the wax at all.  I struggled to find a good, ecofriendly, childsafe sealant. In the end, I found that options used for chopping blocks or salad bowls seemed safest. Waxes wear over time (and possibly rot if done wrong), and can feel a bit greasy at first. Sealants (for salad bowls) would work well, but are toxic before they cure.

Pre-sanding smooth the strip of wood before cutting saved a lot of time. I only had to worry about sanding the edges where I cut later.  Using maple would likely be nice and smooth without any sealing.

We used a basic handsaw and miter box for the project. We made the miter box out of scrap wood following Bob Vila’s tutorial.  Invest in some clamps.  In the long run, the furniture we clamped together with a real clamp are still going strong, but the ones we just ‘held tightly’ in place by hand or with tape fell apart.

Check out the instructions on how to make fabric accessories for your dollhouse here.

Gallary

Make some yourself? Send us your pictures!