Painting your dollhouse

DIY Project Sheet No 1 Painting Your Dollhouse

If you have purchased a doll house kit, we recommend you paint all your component parts prior to assembling the doll house – inside and outside. Correct and careful paint work will ensure that your house is finished to a high standard.

Step 1: Priming and sealing

Lay out all the components of the doll house. Raw MDF or ply will need to be sealed prior to painting.Smooth surfaces should be lightly sanded with fine sandpaper for better adhering of sealer.We recommend “British Paints All in One Sealer, Primer, Undercoat”, or similar. One litre should be ample. This will wash-up with water.Apply the sealer with a small craft roller.Stir sealer well prior to use. Tip a small amount into a plastic tray and apply with the roller, using light strokes, to obtain an even surface, with no ridges. Ensure no sealer gets into the slots or the grooved edges that are to be glued later, as a build up of paint here will not allow a tight join later, and can cause problems when it comes to assembling.Apply sealer to one side of each piece, then allow to dry for 3 hours. After 3 hours turn the piece over and seal the other side. Watch for any paint runs. Wipe up immediately. This may mean your have the roller over-loaded with sealer.Sealing can also be achieved by using a spray gun. After the sealer dries, inspect all slots and grooves to ensure they are clear of sealer build-up. If you find any, it must be removed by sanding with sandpaper by hand.