The Dollhouse Paint Job from Hell Learn From My Experience
The Dollhouse Paint Job from Hell Learn From My Experience
I just finished the dollhouse paint job from hell, and honestly, I hope you can learn from my experience. If you’re a new dollhouse/miniaturist, use my faults and get it done right the first time.
Sometimes, You Jump In and Paint
I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to painting the interior of a dollhouse. So I decided to use some white acrylic paint. But not before I primed it using a white primer and paint in one spray paint.
I painted the entire house with it.
It was cold outside.
When I was done, I could tell right then that I was going to experience some issues. The outside feels textured. Which could have been several things:
- cold
- I didn’t sand it
- crappy paint
Like the impatient person I am, I went straight in with some white acrylic paint. I didn’t sand after the primer.
It didn’t look too good. It was super streaky.
The Paint I Chose for My Dollhouse
I asked around on Instagram which paint I should use to paint the interior of my dollhouse walls. I honestly didn’t want wallpaper. I wanted this house to feel more modern.
One of the more popular options that people told me to try was chalk paint. I had never used chalk paint before, so I did a little reading and purchased the Rust-Oleum Chalked paint in linen white.
But after the first coat of chalk paint, I was so upset. It didn’t look good at all. It looked really streaky.
I took to Instagram again and asked what I could be doing wrong?
I was advised that the best method to use chalk paint was to water it down a little bit and sand in between each coat with a fine-grit sandpaper.
I went to JoAnn, and I picked up some sandpaper and a better brush too.
Chalk Paint Gone Wrong
I followed those instructions, and after three coats, I wasn’t impressed.
It still looked streaky and patchy. Maybe I was sanding too hard? Maybe I was taking paint off of the wall?
I walked away for a week. I left it all alone. I’m almost positive the lack of sanding after priming and the acrylic under the chalk paint was my downfall.
I am no quitter. But I really did want to give up. I am quite the perfectionist, and when something doesn’t go the way I want it to in my head, I would typically toss it and start over.
I Did What Any New Miniaturist Would Do
I did it. I bought a dollhouse. I know what you’re thinking, “Holly, you aren’t even done with the one you have!”
Yes, I know this. I do. And, I will finish it. But I knew that I was in love with this idea of a dollhouse and decorating that I had to start researching what my next project would be since a dollhouse room would finish much quicker.
Or so I thought. I should be decorating inside by now, according to the timeline I had in my head.
I digress.
I purchased the Real Good Toys Vermont Farmhouse Junior. I didn’t expect it to arrive so quickly. I thought it would take a few weeks. But it showed up on Thursday.
It’s taking all I have not to open that baby up and start building.
Painting the Room Box Interior For the Last Time
It’s Saturday, and I helped my mom do some work on her things in the basement. After that, I came up to my office to clean up. I looked at my room box, and I decided to give it one more chalk paint coat and call it done.
I used an actual house interior painting brush. And it covered nicely. Though it’s still streaky. I don’t care anymore.
Where Things Stand With My Room Box
I had to remove the flooring I installed after putting the board and batten wall in a few weeks ago. It had warped from wiping the walls down after I sanded them.
I will need to re-print and put that in again.
I also wanted to cut out the door. Last weekend I tried cutting it out and dry-fitting it, but it was slightly too big.
But the bad news is that a belt on the laser cutter needs to be replaced, so no cutting until we get a new one. Why they don’t have one on their site to purchase it beyond me. I’m left at the mercy of Glowforge to respond to my support ticket so I can order a new one. It’s quite frustrating.
I don’t want to put the baseboard in until the door is in, and I have that trim up around it.
So my to-do list right now is:
- Cut a new door
- Paint the door
- Install the door and the trim
- Add replacement flooring
- Install baseboards
- Touch up paint
- Clean the windows
Looking at the outside, I should sand it and paint it. And, I just might. But I’m still not sold on that idea.
After all of that, I can start working on decorating. But since I don’t have a laser cutter to use, I could start building my couch. Maybe?
What I Would Advise on How to Paint a Dollhouse
This really applies to those building from scratch, I think. I built my room box from MDF that I cut from my laser cutter. And, being this is new to me, I didn’t know what I was doing. Sometimes I went with whatever idea I had that day. My plan wasn’t perfect.
This is the order I would do things next time:
- Sand the walls and flooring after it’s cut
- Prime the walls and flooring
- Sand with a fine-grit sandpaper
- Glue the walls together
- Paint the interior using light coats and sanding in between
- Paint all windows and trim separately
- Install the door and windows
- Install trim and baseboards
What recommendation or advice do you have? I’d love to hear if my new idea of the order I should follow would have been the best route.
As for the Farmhouse, I will certainly do things differently!