Toy With Dollhouses for Grown-up Decorating Charm

Confession: I'm a grown woman, and I love dollhouses. This may be on account of an unfulfilled childhood dream, or maybe because I'm an architectural history buff, and many miniature houses are attractive and approachable examples of period architecture. But what I really love is their whimsical decorative appeal. I know I'm not alone, but I'm still comforted to know that, historically, dollhouses weren't even for children, but rather assembled in the 17th and 18th centuries by wealthy European matrons who took their dollhouse decorating quite seriously.

A dollhouse in this London sunroom was made for the owner by her father; it's cherished not only for its sentimental value, but also for the fabulous impact it has on this particular glass-enclosed room. The look is far from childish, on account of the matching gray slip-covered chairs and the minimal decor, which allow the dollhouse to take center stage.


A contemporary dollhouse is a modern decorative element, as well as an inviting play station in this white modern space on the north coast of Belgium. The Eames rocker looks right at home in this minimalist but still family-friendly space.


Space is tight in the sleeping quarters of this Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, vacation home, but a large collectible vintage dollhouse is accommodated for the friendly impression it creates. Not to mention that it works perfectly with the Americana-style decor.


A large-scale one-of-a kind vintage dollhouse in a Sydney home is a unique and playful sculptural element. Its weathered pale blue exterior looks wonderful above the dark wooden floor.


A large vintage dollhouse like this one in an eclectic Montreal house may be just the prop to give your living room a unique touch.

Dollhouses — especially large ones like this, with rooms big enough to easily access — could be a cost-effective way to explore your interest in home design, especially when the "time to redecorate" bug bites.


A simple dollhouse with a red roof fits right into this sweet vintage -tyle bedroom in Portand, Oregon. You can create a similar feeling by sticking to fabric and bedding that are just red and white and furnishings that are primarily light wood. Complete the look with a white or blonde wooden dollhouse with a red detail or two.


Wondering how to include the pink dollhouse of your daughter's dreams into a room she shares with her brother? That challenge was brilliantly tackled in this London house.

First, make sure the dollhouse is a very pale pink, then use it as just one element in a room staged to look like a street scene. Airplanes flying overhead and curtains with city-inspired illustrations bridge both genders, creating a setting any child would enjoy.

See Dollhouses in Person

Interested in historic dollhouses? I'd highly recommend a trip to the Netherlands for a visit to the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam to view Petronella Oortman's 1700s creation.

Also, the Frans Hals museum in Haarlem, also in the Netherlands, has one of Sara Rothe's dollhouses from the same period. Both are amazing examples of incomparable dollhouse craftsmanship that in their time cost almost as much as a simple real-life home.

More: Browse dollhouses in the Products section

URL: Toy With Dollhouses for Grown-up Decorating Charm http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-18306.html