When it is time to finish the walls, you can either paint them or cover them in dollhouse wallpaper. Wallpaper will give your house a finished look. This background will help your furnishings and accessories stand out. Select wallpaper or room colors that match the style of your house, as well as the furnishings you wish to use in that particular room. If you can’t find the perfect dollhouse wallpaper or want to save time, you can paint the room first and return later to wallpaper.
Whether you are painting the walls or wallpapering them, it’s easiest to do this before the walls are fully assembled. That way you’ll be able to reach into the corners to spread glue or paint. It is far easier to paint each piece separate rather than the completed dollhouse. Your blueprints or dollhouse kit will provide measurements to help you determine exactly where the visible section of each wall will be. This is the part that you’ll need to cover in paint or paper. However, if you’re adding electricity, you’ll need to wait to wallpaper or paint the walls until after the dollhouse is assembled and the wiring has been done.
For wallpaper, you can either purchase special dollhouse wallpaper and borders, or choose a specialty paper, like those used for scrapbooking. You can find dollhouse wallpaper to replicate styles used in the 1800s, or more modern designs. You will probably need 3 sheets for each room, unless it’s a very small room, like a bathroom. Purchase one more sheet than you think you will need to leave some room for trial and error.
Dollhouse wallpaper is not typically glue-backed like the type you would purchase for your own home, although some papers are now being made with this backing. While you can use glue to attach the wallpaper, consider buying dollhouse wallpaper gel, which will not be as likely to wrinkle the paper once you spread on the glue.
To install the wallpaper, first lightly sand the walls so that they’re smooth. Before you glue in the wallpaper, apply a coat of white paint to the walls. This will help keep the glue from soaking into the wood. Then cut the paper to size, using the directions in your kit or blueprint to determine exactly where the visible section of the wall will be, or measuring the actual wall if it is already assembled. Use a metal ruler and x-acto knife to get nice, crisp edges, double checking against your wall to make sure it will fit. If you are using a paper with a pattern, make sure that you fit the pattern appropriately to your wall space.
Then spread a thin layer of glue on the back of the dollhouse wallpaper using a foam brush, and move it into position. Don’t use very much glue or it will soak through the paper, causing it to wrinkle. As you install the paper, press gently in one direction with a credit card or similar object to smooth any air bubbles. Finally, trim door or window openings with a sharp X-acto knife. If you haven’t assembled the walls yet, lay the wall flat, and stack a few books on top of it to make sure the paper sticks well and doesn’t warp.