Heal Your Inner Child by Collecting Dollhouses

Whether you grew up enhanced by the intricate details of your grandmother's collectible dollhouse or remember your own Barbie Dreamhouse fondly, you can ask anyone: there's nothing more magical than a beautiful dollhouse. Every item that goes into those mini buildings is chosen with care, from the minuscule dollhouse accessories to the stylish miniature furniture pieces. If you've ever wanted to explore this passion as an adult, now's your chance. 

It's time to unlock your inner childlike wonder and buy collectible dollhouses. Use our helpful guide to learn about the ins and outs of collecting and find a few tips for upcycling a miniature dollhouse!

The 3 Main Reasons People Love Collectible Dollhouses

What's not to love about adorable dollhouse accessories and amazingly crafted miniature dollhouses? Find inspiration in the three main reasons collectors love it so much: 

1. Miniature Dollhouses Remind People of Simpler Times

Playing with a dollhouse brings back strong, sentimental memories for many of us. Life was easier when all we had to worry about was setting the scene for afternoon tea with dollhouse accessories and miniature furniture. Nowadays, in the hustle and bustle of adult life, it's nice to slow down and invest time and energy into a nostalgic passion. 

2. Collectible Dollhouses Can Be Accurate to the Historic Architecture

Some collectors curate their miniature dollhouse collection based on their passion for history. From the iconic Queen Mary's Dolls' House inside Windsor Castle to replica 1700s Georgian homes and more, there are plenty of collectible dollhouses on the market that are designed to look like different homes throughout time:

• Colonial

• Saltbox

• Federal

• Greek Revival

• Mansard

• Queen Anne

• Cape Cod

3. Some Miniature Dollhouses Are Financial Investments

As with any collection, from Hot Wheels collectors’ items to rare coins, some collectors enjoy buying dollhouses for financial gain. Whether they've been given a rare heirloom collectible dollhouse from a family member and are looking to sell it or become a vendor, miniature dollhouses can carry incredible value, making every purchase an investment. And the best collectors know that the miniature furniture and dollhouse accessories can be just as valuable! 

How Much are Vintage Collectible Dollhouses Worth? 

The value of a collectible dollhouse can be affected by a myriad of things, from age to condition and everything in between. Certain vintage or antique miniature dollhouses have been sold for thousands of dollars, while others may be worth less than a hundred. With such a varying range of worth, it's always a good idea to do your research on the different types of models and get your dollhouses, miniature furniture, and dollhouse accessories authenticated. 

Who Can Collect Miniature Dollhouses?

Whoever said playing with dolls is just for kids was a fool—anyone at any age can have fun with collectible dollhouses! Whether you're looking for ways to connect with your children or are interested in reliving your youth, miniature dollhouses are fun to collect at any stage in life. Plus, they make the best backdrop for your collection of antique dolls.

Types of Miniature Dollhouses Throughout the Years

All dollhouses, whether made as a one-of-a-kind historical replica or filled with handmade miniature furniture and dollhouse accessories, have some sort of emotional or monetary value. Take a look at how dollhouses have changed over the years and discover a few tips and tricks on identifying and valuing each type:

Rustic Nuremberg Kitchens

Though miniature furniture and figurines can be seen throughout history, the first version of a collectible dollhouse appeared as far back as 1572 in Germany. Most commonly known by their English name, Nuremberg kitchens were a popular single-room dollhouse decorated floor to ceiling with kitchen appliances and accurately scaled dollhouse accessories. They functioned much like a diorama, with a floor, three walls, and no ceiling to allow for easy access for playing and decorating. 

Nuremberg kitchens remained a popular children's toy until the start of the 19th century when bigger and better models started taking over. While modern versions are still made to this day, the vintage ones carry the real value. The next time you're shopping at an Indiana vendor mall, keep a look out for any machine-produced or homemade sets, as well as the miniature furniture and dollhouse accessories.

Nuremberg Kitchen Dollhouse Accessories

No dollhouse is complete without the finishing touches that make a house a home! Nuremberg kitchens may have been small, but each one was decorated with miniature furniture and an array of accessories, such as: 

• Candlesticks

• Curtains

• Stovetops

• Salt cellars

• Pots

• Pans

• Silverware

Elegant 19th-Century Baby Houses

The late 18th-century and early 19th-century Baby Houses took all the best ideas from Nuremberg kitchens and made them even better, adding more rooms, elaborate décor, and often closeable exteriors. In this era, owning a collectible dollhouse was a luxury reserved mainly for the daughters of only the wealthiest families. In fact, most of the collectible dollhouses of this time were actually specially designed to be small-scale replicas of the doll owners' homes, complete with elegant dollhouse accessories and matching mini furniture. 

Many of these have been passed down from generation to generation as priceless family heirlooms or sent to museums for expert handling. But, if you're lucky enough to find a model, the miniature furniture, or dollhouse accessories from this era at your local thrift store or an American antique mall, scoop it up! Depending on the condition, style, and accessories or dolls that come with it, you could have struck antique gold! 

Colorful 1950s Tin Lithograph Dollhouses 

When Marx (the largest toy manufacturer in the world at the time) began brainstorming how to make affordable and fun toys, the miniature dollhouses hit a new rise in popularity. Colorful, creative, and fun-for-all, these new dollhouses let families choose between a variety of models, such as split levels, ranches, colonial, and more. 

The structure of each collectible Marx dollhouse is made entirely out of tin, with each panel specifically lithographed with designs of a room’s interior. Each one also came with a set of plastic miniature furniture.

Lithographed tin collectible dollhouses were a popular choice for families around the globe for the next couple of decades. With hundreds of thousands made in that time span, they are often at found flea markets, garage sales, and family-storge units! If you find one in the stock of vintage collectibles, do a little research on the value, as they can be worth anywhere from $25 to over $500.

Pro tip: even the miniature furniture from this era can be worth purchasing, whether it's in a complete set or not! It could be the missing piece to someone's whole miniature furniture collection. 

Vintage Barbie Dreamhouses 

Barbie has been the most recognizable name in the doll business for years—and who is Barbie without her vibrant and creative Dreamhouse? Since her introduction to the toy world in 1959, Barbie and her friends have wowed little girls and boys with their fashion, dream jobs, and inspiring personas. With so many adoring fans around the world, it's no wonder that there have been so many sought-after iterations of the Dreamhouse and its matching dollhouse accessories!

Barbie dollhouse accessories and miniature furniture can be found just about anywhere, but the original collectible dollhouses could take some effort to track down—especially with the recent resurgence that came with the movie! If you find one at an Illinois antique mall, take it home with you—either you, a family member, or the highest bidder will love to own it. 

Popular Collectible Barbie Dreamhouses

The toys of the ‘70s and onward strike a sentimental chord. While there are still Dreamhouses produced to this day, many collectible dollhouse collectors prefer these original and vintage designs:

• 1962: Barbie's First Dreamhouse was an eclectic and colorful studio apartment made entirely from cardboard. This miniature dollhouse had a huge impact, as it was released only a few years after Barbie in an era when it was incredibly rare and shocking for a woman to own her own home. 

• 1964: Barbie's New Dreamhouse included a few more cardboard rooms, complete with a patio, kitchenette, closet, and more. It even had some interactable features, like a sliding door and cabinets that could be opened and closed.

• 1965: Barbie and Skipper Deluxe Dreamhouse was their first collectible dollhouse made of plastic. It was designed to be folded together as a carrying case, making playtime accessible on the go!

• 1979: the Reimagined Barbie Dreamhouse came after a few variations of case houses and motor homes and is most commonly thought of as the classic style today. With an iconic A-frame shape and separate moveable-sections, this collectible dollhouse is still a favorite. 

• 1986: the Pink Barbie Dreamhouse used the exact same molds but changed the colors of the walls, miniature furniture, and dollhouse accessories to classic Barbie pink, giving it an all-new iconic collectible dollhouse look!

• 1995: this Barbie Dreamhouse is reminiscent of Victorian 2-story homes, complete with stained glass windows and a balcony. And the elevator was battery operated!

• 1998: The Dreamhouse Deluxe was an updated version of the Victorian style. It came with a couple more pieces of miniature furniture and many more dollhouse accessories—and even a porch swing!

How to Upcycle a Vintage Collectible Dollhouse in 5 Simple Steps

If you come across a blank or shabby (from years of love and use!) miniature dollhouse during an antique mall event, there's no need to cast it aside. With a few simple steps and added dollhouse accessories, you can upcycle it to look however you like:

Step 1: Start By Cleaning and Sanding

The first step to transforming a miniature dollhouse is much like renovating a real home—you want to start as close to “from scratch” as possible. For collectible dollhouses, this means sanding every surface completely flat, so take some sandpaper and get to work on the walls, floors, and roofs. Once smooth, use a mild dish soap or a delicate cleaning solution to wipe down the entire house. 

Step 2: Paint the Entire Miniature Dollhouse

After the miniature house has been stripped down, it's time to let your creativity shine! Painting is a crucial step for the overall aesthetic of your house (although there is more decorating to come). If you're going for a specific vibe, such as a cottagecore style bungalow or an Art Deco hotel, the color scheme will help solidify the aesthetic before any miniature furniture is added. Make sure every surface, from inside to outside, has at least one or two coats before moving on to the next step. 

Pro tip: If you opted to take apart the structure, paint all panels of the miniature dollhouse before reassembling. 

Step 3: Carpet, Wallpaper, and Tiles

Some dollhouse renovators stop after painting, which can be the perfect home for young children to play with. But, if you want to really bring your miniature dollhouse to life, consider adding carpets, tiles, and wallpaper to each room of the house before placing any dollhouse accessories. This bonus step can help dictate which room the bathroom, living room, dining room, and bedrooms are in, giving the whole miniature a cohesive look. 

Head to your local craft store to find some stylish paper patterns, carpet squares, fun tiles, and more. With a little bit of crafting glue, an X-acto knife, and a few tips on how to wallpaper a dollhouse, you can transform the look of your collectible dollhouse.

Step 4: Buy or Make Miniature Furniture

Once your miniature dollhouse is all dressed up, it's time to fill it! With endless possibilities, many collectors say that searching for your own unique antique miniature furniture or crafting your own is half the fun of the hobby. Consider buying miniature furniture such as: 

• Dining room tables

• China cabinets

• Sofas

• Bedframes

• Desks

• Bathtubs

• Vanity tables

• Chairs

Step 5: Complete with Dollhouse Accessories

Before the dolls are ready to move in, you must add the finishing touches! Search online and in Florida vendor malls for adorable and tiny dollhouse accessories for each room of the building. This could include just about anything, from tiny ceramic plates with food on the kitchen table to fake bubbles and a rubber ducky in the bath—you can even add holiday décor throughout the year to match your real festivities and vintage Christmas blow molds! Taking the time to curate these small details is what makes miniature dollhouses oh-so-fun for all ages.

Whether you're looking for a rare 18th-century dollhouse to keep on display in your home or searching for the perfect unique gift of dollhouse accessories to complete your kiddo's collection, you're not alone. Join the world of miniature dollhouse collectors and stop by a Florida antique mall to get a hands-on experience today!