Simple Modern Doll House

diy modern dollhouse free plans
Difficulty
Intermediate
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Build your own modern dollhouse with free plans from Ana-White.com  Cost was about $30 for materials.  It's a joy to build and a joy to give!

A Blank Slate Dollhouse for Creative Play

This doll house is a blank slate to encourage creative play.  Instead of following out the set things a store-bought playset does, let their imaginations bloom.

  • Rooms can be furnished and rearranged as a real house
  • Play with any doll, action figure or animal - my toddler is playing with ponies with it
  • Can be painted or stained any color
  • Beautiful and simple enough to leave in the living room

Save $200 by Building it Yourself

This dollhouse is inspired by this dollhouse costing $229.  You can build your own all for around $30 in materials.

And building it is the fun part!  This was a joy to build, building therapy I call it!

What About the Doll House Furniture?

The dollhouse furniture is all DIY made out of scrap wood pieces.  I will be posting the plans in the next couple weeks, so stay tuned and save your scrap wood!

Video of Building this Modern Doll House

Please take a second to watch the build of this project - it goes together pretty easy.  

The free plans for this dollhouse are below.  Thank you for using my plans!

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Simple Modern Doll House

Dimensions
Modern dollhouse dimensions diagram
Modern dollhouse dimensions - sized for 1:12 scale dolls

Preparation

Shopping List

1 - 1/2" plywood panel, 2 feet x 4 feet in dimension

1 - 1/4" plywood panel, 1 foot x 2 feet in dimension

1-1/4" and 5/8" brad nails

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Drill
Circular Saw
Jigsaw
Miter Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander

Instructions

Step 1

From the 1/2" piece of plywood measuring 2 feet x 4 feet, rip into two strips that are each 7-1/2" wide x 48" long.  Save the remaining strips (about 9" wide) for the roof panel.  Rip using either a table saw, a circular saw with a straight edge, or have your home improvement store make the cuts for you.

Then cut from those pieces the following:

From the 7-1/2" wide rips:

  • 2 @ 23" - floors
  • 1 @ 8" - bottom floor interior wall
  • 1 @ 13-3/4" - top end cut at 10 degrees off square, long point measurement (short outside wall)
  • 1 @ 18" - top end cut at 10 degrees off square, long point measurement (long outside wall)
  • 1 @ 7-1/2" - top end cut at 10 degrees off square, long point measurement (upper floor interior wall)

From the 9" wide strip

  • 1 @ 25-3/4" - roof

For the back

  • 1/4" plywood @ 12" x 24" (may not need to cut at all)

Step 2

Attach the bottom floor to the side walls, making sure the side walls are orientated correctly, so the top angles angle in the same direction.

Use 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue.

Then set the bottom floor interior wall (shown in red in the diagram) inside the dollhouse and place the middle floor on top.  

Attach with 1-1/4" brad nails.  Repeat for the second side of the middle floor.

Step 3

Attach bottom floor interior wall centered on the two floors with 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue.

Step 4

Center the roof on the exterior walls and attach with 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue.

Step 5

Switch nails to 5/8" nails.

Apply glue to the back edges and place the 1/4" plywood on top.

Force the dollhouse walls square to the 1/4" plywood panel and nail on.

Cut holes out with a jigsaw.  You'll need to use a drill and drill bit to start the jigsaw in the centers of the windows/doors.  I used a Kreg Jig bit.

Step 6

Place the upstairs interior wall and nail and glue in place.

Finishing Instructions
Preparation Instructions
Sanding is a huge part of the success of this project. I sanded each piece before assembly. Then a filled holes with wood filler and sanded again using 120 grit sandpaper. Finally I did a fine sanding of 150 grit to make it super smooth.
Vacuum off sanding residue before finishing.
Finish Used
I used a combination of white paint and black paint for painting.
Clear coat over top is recommended for longer durability.

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