Dollhouse Windows

December 22nd, 2006

Dollhouse windows and doors come in all sizes. When building from plans or when modifying a kit, keep in mind that there is no standard size for these parts. Every manufacturer will vary a little bit in what they offer. Be sure to buy at least one of every size dollhouse windows you are going to use, and any doors you will be installing before you start. This will allow you to cut the openings to exactly the right size for the window or door you have chosen.

Install after paintingIt is much easier to get a neat looking finish if the exterior of the dollhouse is painted and the dollhouse windows and doors are be pre-painted before they are installed. This keeps the exterior color separate from the trim color, and you dont have to worry about trying to keep one color off the other one.

If your dollhouse windows have plastic panes in them, see if there is an easy way to slide it out. If the plastic wont slide out, paint as carefully around the edges as you can. When the paint is dry, you can scrape it off the plastic panes with another piece of plastic (like a small plastic drafting triangle). Plastic against plastic should not scratch the pane, but be very careful anyway and dont scrape too hard.

The plastic panes can be removed and left out if that gives a more pleasing appearance to you. Sometimes the plastic gets dirty or scratched, and doesnt look like real glass. Windows without the panes are always nice and clear.

Put a couple of coats of paint on all the visible surfaces of the dollhouse windows and doors. A good semi-gloss water soluble paint works well. You can use interior house paint from the local paint store, although you will tend to have a lot of paint left over.

Finish the inside of the windowOnce the dollhouse windows have been installed, they need to have trim installed on the inside. This is easily done using some scale trim pieces . First, be sure that the inside of the dollhouse windows and the inside of the adjacent wall are flush. The trim needs to fit straight across from the side of the window or door to the wall. If needed, install a thin strip of wood on the window frame, or the wall, which ever needs to be built up. Be sure that this strip is even with your trim edge to blend in with the entire installation of dollhouse windows.

As with the outside, paint(or wallpaper) the interior walls and paint the trim before you install it. This is much easier to get a neat job by painting before you assemble.

Painting and installing the dollhouse windows and doors and making the interior trim for all of them is a very time consuming job. It helps if you break it down into several small steps and complete each step before you move on to the next one. Work consistently and you will be installing your last window trim piece before you know it.

Entry Filed under: Replacement Windows