Toy Shop - Help & Guides

Welcome! You are interested in starting a miniature collection but you still have some questions. This Section will address those questions and help you to choose the dollhouse which is right for you.

WHAT SCALE SHOULD I CHOOSE?   You should know that there are several scales for miniatures but only one which is very popular. This is the "Inch" scale, meaning that 1" in the dollhouse world is equal to 12 " in the real world (1:12). This is the most popular and the most common in most shops, over 99% of all dollhouse related items are this scale. This means that by choosing this scale you will always be able to find lots of little goodies which will fit in your house.

HOW MUCH CAN I SPEND?   The next thing you need to decide on is a budget for your dollhouse project. Don't feel pressured to do everything at once. Many miniaturists enjoy doing little bits at a time.

Dollhouse kits start around £40.00 and go up over £2,000.00. There is a wide variety of styles, sizes and qualities to chose from within that spectrum and it can all seem overwhelming at times. The answers to the next few questions should help you decide on a budget.

WHO IS THE DOLLS HOUSE FOR?    A small budget house is fine for a young girls first playhouse while many adult collectors prefer the larger, better quality houses. If the house is to be a family project then you might want to get a larger house that everyone can work on. If a young boy is interested in miniatures you might consider a Firestation, garage, Log Cabin or farmhouse.

HOW BIG SHOULD MY DOLLS HOUSE BE?    If this is your first house a small budget kit might be the way to go. But you also need to think about the future. Budget kits are difficult to add on to, while the better quality kits have special add-on rooms available. If you start off with a smaller house, you can always move into a larger one later and save the small one for another child or grand-child when they are ready. This is what many new miniaturists do.

If you decide to get a larger house, remember that you don't have to fill it with miniature furniture right away. Do a little at a time.

SAVING MONEY.  For many of us saving money is a way of life so while miniatures and dollhouses can be an expensive hobby, it does not have to be so. One way to save money is to semi-finish the interior in the beginning by painting all the walls and staining the floors. This costs hardly anything and gives the house a realistic look, then you can wallpaper and carpet or tile one room at a time.

Instead of doing everything all at once, start with a simple house and add on to it as time and money allow. Replace the kit windows with working windows or at least some better looking pre-assembled windows. Paint the roof brown for now and shingle it later. Paint the house for now and add siding or stucco later.

You can also save money by starting off with some basic furniture, a budget furniture kit or make some of your own furniture out of scrap wood and fabric. As time and budgets allow remodel one room at a time and add carpets, tile and wallpaper and replace your furniture in that room.

When you start to grow out of your house add on some rooms or upgrade to a larger house. Your first house can be sold at a garage sale or given to a relative or friend, then just move your furniture into the new house and continue on or get all new furniture.

DO I WANT LIGHTING?   Even if you don't want lights in the beginning, a small investment of about £30-£50 can get your house wired so that you can more easily put lights in later. We recommend this because it is much harder to go back later and try to run the wiring and then camouflage the wires after the house is finished. Then if you want electric lights later, you can always pick up a transformer at PINOCCHIO'S and plug it into your dollhouse.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ASSEMBLE?    Most dollhouse kits can be assembled in a few hours. You can even put one of the larger kits together in a few days working a few hours a day. But this is only the shell of the house, meaning the un-painted wood pieces. The things that take time are waiting for paint and glue to dry, putting in electric lighting systems, and of course painting and wallpapering. These stages of construction can take as little or as much time as you like. Remember, this is supposed to be fun, there is no need to rush things.

WHAT IS A ROOM BOX?   Room boxes are exactly that, one room in a box. Many people prefer doing a room box when they only want to create one room instead of the whole house.

Which Kit Should I Pick?  This is a question that only you can answer but WISHES-COME-TRUE.COM can certainly make the choice difficult for you. We carry house kits from several manufacturers and in all styles, qualities and price ranges. From around £50 all the way up to... "it's how much?"

WHAT IS MDF?   MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard.  MDF is a process where wood fibers are taken from younger, faster growing trees, turned into wood pulp, and mixed with hardening resins. MDF is showing up more and more in home improvement centers and in furniture factories across the country largely due to environmental concerns as it helps to save our forests.  The completed product is a compact, durable wood product that is just as durable if not more durable than regular plywood. It also finishes beautifully with ordinary paint. The only draw-back is that it is more difficult to cut than plywood unless you have power tools. Unless you are planning major modifications to the structure of the house, then MDF is a great alternative. Also, please note that MDF is nothing like particle board or press-board.  MDF is a high quality material.