Purchased dollhouse furniture can be quite expensive, but you can easily make your own accessories using items from around your home. Creating paper dollhouse furniture is an excellent way to start furnishing a special place for your favorite dolls.
Making Paper Furniture for a Dollhouse
This collection of paper furniture uses modified origami techniques and specially designed printable papers. To make the furniture, you will need access to a color printer, several sheets of white copy paper or lightweight cardstock, scissors, clear tape, and a glue stick.
How to Make a Paper Dollhouse Nightstand
Print the graphics and instructions for this project. Click on the image below to download a PDF file that can be printed on copy paper or cardstock. Carefully cut out the needed shapes.
Fold your square paper in half horizontally. Unfold. Fold the paper in half vertically. Unfold. Fold each corner into the middle. In origami, this form is called a blintz base.
Fold the top and bottom sides into the center. Unfold. Fold the left and right sides into the center.
Partially unfold the paper. Lift up the top flap and push the sides in. Add a bit of glue to secure the model. Repeat this process with the bottom flap. In origami, this model is referred to as a masu box.
Turn your masu box into a nightstand by flipping it over and standing it up on one of the thin sides next to your doll's bed.
How to Make a Paper Dollhouse Chair
Print the graphics and instructions for this project. Click on the image below to download a PDF file that can be printed on copy paper or cardstock. Carefully cut out the needed shapes.
Complete the instructions for the paper nightstand project. This will be the base of your doll's chair.
Cut out the rectangle paper. Fold it in half and glue it closed. Place your masu box in front of you with the open part of the box face down. Tape or glue the folded rectangle to the back of one side of the box to make a finished chair.
How to Make a Paper Dollhouse Bed
Print the graphics and instructions for this project. Click on the image below to download a PDF file that can be printed on copy paper or cardstock. Carefully cut out the needed shapes.
The bed is made using the same basic technique as the doll's nightstand. However, instead of folding both the top and bottom flaps of the box, you're going to complete only the bottom flap. On the top flap that has a wood grain pattern, make two cuts and fold the flaps created by these cuts into the middle. Secure with clear tape. Fold the point of the top triangle down and glue it in place.
Flip your model over. Push the rectangle portion upward to create a headboard for your dollhouse bed.
How to Make a Paper Dollhouse Desk
Print the graphics and instructions for this project. Click on the image below to download a PDF file that can be printed on copy paper or cardstock. Carefully cut out the needed shapes.
Fold your paper in half horizontally. Fold this rectangle in half once more. Unfold this previous fold, then fold the left and right sides in to meet the middle crease. Open the pockets on the left and right folds and push them flat with your finger. In origami, this form is called an organ base. The organ base can also be used to create a two-room paper dollhouse.
Fold the middle flaps up to make two triangles as shown in the photo below. Bring the entire rectangular center portion upward, creasing well.
Fold the left and right sides in once more. Bring the top portion of the paper down to create the writing surface for your desk. Add a bit of clear tape beneath the writing surface to keep the sides of the desk stable. Make a chair for your doll to sit on, if needed.
How to Make a Paper Dollhouse Table
Print the graphics and instructions for this project. Click on the image below to download a PDF file that can be printed on copy paper or cardstock. Carefully cut out the needed shapes.
Fold your paper in half along one diagonal. Unfold. Fold in half along the other diagonal. Unfold. Fold in half vertically. Unfold. Fold in half horizontally. Unfold.
Bring the left and right sides into the middle. Bring the top and bottom sides into the middle. Unfold the top half of the paper and made diagonal creases along each side to create a roof-like shape. Repeat this process on the bottom of the paper to make what is known as an origami boat base form. This video tutorial can help if you are having trouble with this step of the project.
Lift the top left flap so it stands straight up. Put your finger inside the flap and press it down to make a square. Do the same thing with the other three flaps.
Fold the corners of the four small squares you just created in, so that they meet along each small square's diagonal line. Fold each corner of the larger square in towards the center, as indicated in the photo below.
Unfold the each flap you created in the previous step and pull up the bottom corner as you press in the sides to flatten the paper. This creates the legs of your table. The folding motion is very similar to what is used to make an origami crane.
Turn your table over and add a paper chair or two to complete your dollhouse scene.
Adding Your Own Finishing Touches
These dollhouse furniture designs provide the basic furnishings for your doll's home. You can make additional accessories by cutting scraps of pretty patterned paper to use as floor rugs, fashioning curtains from scraps of fabric and ribbon, and using tiny stickers to make custom wall art. Have fun creating a dollhouse that is as unique as you are!
