Barbie Collectibles

Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Wooden Doll House

A wooden doll house is one of the nicest gifts you can purchase for your daughter. Doll houses let little girls explore their imagination and if you are planning to purchase an unassembled or DIY kit for a wooden doll house, it will develop your child's patience and creative skills as well as giving your family precious time to bond with each other.

To help you buy the ideal wooden doll house for your little girl, here are several tips to keep in mind.

Scale
The standard scale for doll houses, whether wooden or not, is 1:12. Simply put, the size of the doll house is twelve times smaller than it would be in real life. This is also the ideal size if your little girl intends to use the doll house for her Barbie dolls.

Of course, there are some models that use smaller or larger scales. You can use that, too, if you deem it preferable for any reason.

Types of Wood
The two major types of woods used for doll houses are plywood and MDF. Some models, however, use other types of woods.

MDF is a compressed, man-made form of sawdust and glue. It is a popular choice for wooden doll houses because it's durable and affordable, it's easy to cut, and its smooth surface is paint-friendly. The fact that it doesn't splinter is also a plus for your children's safety.

Some people, however, dislike using MDF because it's not genuine or top-quality wood and it working with it also generates a huge amount of dust.

Plywood is thinner than MDF, which makes it less durable. It has a somewhat rough surface and even with a layer of paint, the grain of the wood can be still visible. You’ll see it mostly used with collector's edition of doll houses because they're perfect for fancy doll house trimming and other small elements. Plywood comes in large sheets and because of their lightweight quality, they're easy to transport from one workplace to another.

An example of rarely-used wood for doll houses would be oak. They are rarely painted when used for making doll houses because their natural look is worthy of appreciation already. Besides, with the price you'd be paying for such materials, you should let people know that you’re using oak for your doll house, don't you think?

Style
Lastly, consider the style of doll house you intend to purchase. This is especially important if you are planning to purchase a DIY kit rather than a finished one. Consider the level of difficulty involved.

Remember these tips when you go shopping and you'll come home with a wooden doll house that's sure to bring a smile to your daughter's face.

About the Author

Find out the important considerations for buying a wooden doll house. DollHouseGifts.com offers a wide variety of top quality wooden doll house.

Barbie and Her Baby

Savannah Dollhouse $149.99 Beauty and imagination come together on a grand scale with our new Savannah Dollhouse. Perfectly sized for most fashion dolls this large dollhouse is filled with wooden furniture and is finished in the classic style found among the stately homes of Savannah Georgia.

The Fairfield Dollhouse $64.99 Picture this table center-a beautifully detailed .5 inch scale dollhouse no bigger than a placemat. Make it perfectly Victorian in every aspect even including a tower chamber four fireplaces and a wrap-around porch.

Finished Lighthouse 12 Inch Scale Dollhouse $168.99 A dream for the dollhouse builder who really does NOT want a project! Finished and ready to play. Painted interior trim door walls floors and stairs.

Finished Colonial 12 Inch Scale Dollhouse $168.99 A dream for the dollhouse builder who really does NOT want a project! Finished and ready to play. 1/4 inch floors finished with stained hardwood. Painted interior trim base and crown moldings door staircase and landing rails.

Finished Farmhouse Dollhouse 12 Inch Scale $195.99 A dream for the dollhouse builder who really does NOT want a project! Finished and ready to play. 1/4 inch floors finished with stained hardwood. Painted base and crown molding. Painted interior trim door and stairway with landing rails. Painted interior walls.

Melissa and Doug Victorian Dollhouse $102.99 Elegant Victorian style has never been so affordable! No detail has been overlooked in the design of this easily assembled wooden dollhouse. Excellent quality and distinctive detailing throughout the interior and exterior of this house will make it an heirloom to be cherished for years to come! Scale 1:12. For ages 6 years and up.

The Dollhouse $49.99 Gina Bernardini The Dollhouse - Giclee Print

Barbie Fairy Doll $8.99 Discover the Barbie Fairytale Magic with this sweet adorable 8-inch-scale Barbie Fairy Doll! With big, beautiful glittery wings and a royal tiara, girls can create enchanting stories for this magical fairy. This doll looks absolutely exquisite! Doll cannot stand alone, but it makes for great fun! Ages 3 and up.

Barbie $19.99 Barbie - Wall Decal

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Nursery Furniture Set $32.95 Beautifully furnish your dollhouse with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Nursery Furniture Set. Featuring a cradle, crib with bedding, rocking horse, and a rocking chair, this set includes everything your doll's nursery needs! The handcrafted, wooden furniture features period details and a practical, cozy design. Perfect for all 1:12 scale dollhouses. Design a doll's dream home with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Nursery Set!

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Living Room Furniture Set $32.95 It's easy to decorate your dollhouse with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Living Room Furniture Set! Featuring camelback sofas and chairs, a delicate ''glass-front'' display case, a coffee table, and side table, this set includes enough pieces to completely furnish a living room! This handcrafted, wooden furniture features period details and upholstery. Pieces include working doors and drawers to add to the realism. Perfect for all 1:12 scale dollhouses. Design a doll's dream home with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Living Room Set!

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Bedroom Furniture Set $32.95 The Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Bedroom Furniture Set adds a touch of style and elegance to any dollhouse! Featuring a bed, bedding, 2 nightstands, an armoir, and a vanity with a safety mirror, this set includes everything you need to completely furnish a bedroom! This handcrafted, wooden furniture features stylish and elegant details. Pieces include working doors and drawers to add to the realism. Perfect for all 1:12 scale dollhouses. Design a doll's dream home with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Bedroom Set!

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Bathroom Furniture Set $32.95 The Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Bathroom Set features everything needed to furnish a full bathroom! This elegant 4-piece set includes a sink, tub, toilet, and towel rack. The handcrafted, wooden furniture features period details and a clean, white design. Perfect for all 1:12 scale dollhouses. Design a doll's dream home with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Bathroom Set!

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Dining Room Furniture Set $32.95 Your dolls will dine in style with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Dining Room Furniture Set! Featuring a pedestal dining table, 4 velvet upholstered armchairs, and a ''glass''-front china cupboard, this set includes everything you need to fully furnish a dining room! The elegant handcrafted furniture features carved floral details. Real working doors and drawers add to the realism! Perfect for all 1:12 scale dollhouses. Design a doll's dream home with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Dining Room Furniture Set!

Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Nursery Accessories Set $28.95 Add the perfect finishing touch to any doll's dream house with the Melissa & Doug Dollhouse Nursery Accessories! This charming 11-piece set includes miniature versions of popular Melissa & Doug toys, a little red wagon, lots of good books, a toy basket, and more! The beautiful hand-detailing and colorful design of each piece will add a fun, playful touch. The Nursery Accessories are suitable for any 1:12 scale dollhouse.

Melissa amp; Doug 2580 Victorian Dollhouse $149.16 Elegant Victorian style has never been so affordable No detail has been overlooked in the design of this easily assembled wooden dollhouse. Excellent quality and distinctive detailing throughout the interior and exterior of this house will make it an heirloom to be cherished for years to come Scale 1:12.

Barbie I Can Be Playset Case $89.99 This Barbie I Can Be Playset Assortment Case contains 3 individually packaged playsets. Assortment breakdown not available. With these playsets you can have all kinds of fun with Barbie! With these nurturing play sets, girls can explore the roles of a newborn baby doctor or an arctic rescuer. To nurture and care for newborns, the Barbie I Can Be Newborn Baby Doctor play set features two babies, a scale, rocking chair, changing table with mobile, hamper, stethoscope and baby accessories, including bottles, and a diaper package. For added realism, a button on the changing table moves the babies up and down when pushed, and Barbie doll can really rock them when girls press a lever on her back. Barbie I Can Be Arctic Rescuer can ride her snowmobile to animals in need, treat them on the pull-out tray and shelter them in the igloo. Comes with a baby seal and baby polar bear. With these nurturing play sets, girls can explore the roles of a zoo doctor and newborn baby doctor. The Barbie I Can Be Zoo Doctor play set includes everything needed for girls to nurture and care for zoo animals, including a baby monkey and baby koala, each with their own bottle. There's a scale, laptop, giraffe-shaped desk, bed with mosquito netting, tub, brush, stethoscope and otoscope. There's even an x-ray that flips by pressing a lever to reveal three different images. To nurture and care for newborns, the Barbie I Can Be Newborn Baby Doctor play set features two babies, a scale, rocking chair, changing table with mobile, hamper, stethoscope and baby accessories, including bottles and a diaper package. For added realism, a button on the changing table moves the babies up and down when pushed, and Barbie doll can really rock them when girls press a lever on her back. Girls can be a preschool teacher and go back-to-school with Barbie doll and Chelsea doll! Just set up the playground for fun with a swing, jungle gym and slide, a tricycle that Chelsea doll can really ride and a table for art activities and snack time, too! Barbie doll and Chelsea doll included. Girls can also be a newborn baby doctor and take care of two precious newborn baby dolls who have arrived in the nursery! Both come bundled in soft cuddly blankets and can rock in Barbie dolls arms. Playset includes dreamy nursery furnishings with a double bassinet, rocking chair, stork scale, and all the essentials girls need to nurture the beautiful twins.

Welcome to the Dollhouse $19.99 Welcome to the Dollhouse - Poster

Illustration of dollhouse $29.99 Illustration of dollhouse - Giclee Print

MY FIRST DOLLHOUSE - DS $14.99 MY FIRST DOLLHOUSE - DS

Greenleaf 9301G Corona Dollhouse Kit $43.94 GREENLEAFCorona Concepts Collection: The Orchid. This unique turn of the century Victorian doll house features ornate trim; fixed double hung style windows; and a bay window. Each floor has a divider wall that can be places where you choose or left out completely for larger rooms. The detailed trim and decorative front porch add to its charming authenticity of this house. Features: true miniature scale; 1 in.= 1 ft.; Openback design; shingles included; tab/slot assembly; unfinished wood; Siding not included. Measurements: Kit: 17x22x2 inches; Setup: 21x21x14 inches. Made in USA.

The House That Jack Built Dollhouse Kit: Cassie - Limited Time 20% Off Sale! Price shown reflects discount. $89.94 Your dollhouse designer will say 'home sweet home' when Cassie comes to your neighborhood with her super cute gabled windows! It features pre-assembled door and windows, slotted sidewalls to help simplify assembly, and carefully handcrafted components with tremendous attention to detail. The interior features 3 charming spaces to decorate and a 9" floor-to-ceiling height. This dollhouse measures 20-1/2" x 23-3/4" x 19" assembled and is 1:12 scale. This kit contains all the pieces to assemble the house and instructions. Paint, shingles, and tools not included. Recommended for ages 8 and up. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years of age.

The House That Jack Built Dollhouse Kit: Gum Drop - Limited Time 20% Off Sale! Price shown reflects discount. $42.94 Your little home designer will surely say 'Goody, Goody, Gum Drop' when presented with this compact shadowbox dollhouse. It features pre-assembled door and windows, slotted sidewalls to help simplify assembly, and carefully handcrafted components with tremendous attention to detail. The interior features 2 charming spaces to decorate. This dollhouse measures 18-1/2" x 15" x 9" assembled and is 1:12 scale. This kit contains all the pieces to assemble the house and instructions. Paint and shingles and tools not included. Recommended for ages 8 and up. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years of age.

BARBIE FASHION TABLET $57.99 BARBIE FASHION TABLET