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.

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 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.

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.

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.

It still looked streaky and patchy. Maybe I was sanding too hard? Maybe I was taking paint off of the wall?

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

Sharing is caring!

Leave a Comment





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.