American Girl Dollhouse

If you have an American Girl Doll, or any 18″ doll, it’s nice to have a place to store all the things you accumulate for the doll.  It’s also fun to have a place where you can play with your dolls.  This American Girl Dollhouse is nice because not only does it have four rooms to play in and decorate, it has storage cubbies, a closet, and a bookshelf on the back!

When making this American Girl Dollhouse project I suggest not trying to get it all done in one day.  Do this in a place where you can easily keep it out while working on it.  You will want to sand it down and prime it before painting it the color of your choice.

Shopping list:

3 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 4’ x 8’ Sheets
1 – 3/8’’ Dowel @ 22 inches 
Wood Glue
Kreg Jig <<Don’t know what a Kreg Jig is?  Click on it to see what you will need.  It comes in handy for MANY projects!
1’’ Kreg Jig Screws  
1 1/4’’ nails ( use 18 gauge nailer)
Lightweight Spackle

Cut List:

1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 48’’ x 21 3/4’’ – Bottom
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 48’’ x 21 1/4’’ – Middle & Top Floors
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 50’’ x 48’’ – Back
6 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 24 1/2’’ x 21 1/4’’ – Middle beams & Walls
4 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 6’’ x 10 1/2’’ – Storage Walls
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 6 1/2’’ x 12 3/4’’ – Back Wall of Storage
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 12 3/4’’ x 10 1/2’’ – Ceiling of Storage
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 10 1/2’’ x 12’’ – Closet Walls
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 22 1/2’’ x 10 1/2’’ – Ceiling of Closet
1 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 22 1/2’’ x 12 1/2’’ – Back of Closet
2 – 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 10 3/4’’ x 6 1/2’’ – Book Ends
1 – 3/8’’ Dowel @ 22’’

Tools: 

Tape Measure

Kreg Jig 

18 Gauge Nailer

Miter Saw or Circular Saw

Hearing Protection

Safety Glasses

Pencil

Sanding Block

Jig Saw

Step 1:

If you want windows on your house, cut them out first.  Cut each window 6″ x 12″ big. There will be a total of four windows, one on each piece of  1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 24 1/2’’ x 21 1/4’’.  See diagram below.

Step 2:

Cut the doorway for the walkthrough on main floor.  You will use the 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 24 1/2’’ x 21 1/4’’ and cut a 21 1/2″ x 14 1/4″ opening.  You can skip this step if you don’t want an “open concept”. 

Step 3:

On the four walls that you cut out windows, you will now add your Kreg Jig holes.  The holes will be on the inside of the wall.  Four at the top and four at the bottom.

Step 4:

On the wall that you cut out the walkthrough, you need to add your Kreg Jig holes.  You will only need to add the pockets to one side.  Three at the top, two at the bottom.

Step 5:

This piece is the equivalent to the walkthrough wall you have been working on.  It is the divider wall for the upstairs rooms.  Use your Kreg Jig and create four pocket holes on the top and four on the bottom.  Again, this only needs to be done on one side.

Step 6:

Get the two pieces that are 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 48’’ x 21 1/4’’ – (Middle & Top Floors) and create your Kreg Jig pocket holes.  You will place these holes on the underneath part, only on one side.  See diagram below.

Step 7:

Now we are ready to place pieces together.  Get your bottom floor piece (1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 48’’ x 21 3/4’’ ) and screw in the two bottom outside walls.  Once they are in place, add the second level floor (1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 48’’ x 21 1/4’’) and acre in place.

Step 8:

Now you can screw in the two top outside walls.

Step 9:

Add the ceiling and screw it into place.  This is the 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 48’’ x 21 1/4’’ piece that you have already made pocket holes for.  

Step 10:

Now that the frame is complete, let’s add the walls on the inside.  Take the wall that you made a walkthrough on and screw it into place.  See diagram below.

Step 11:

Now add the upstairs wall to divide the two rooms.

Step 12:

Now add the back of the house.  This is the 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 50’’ x 48’’ sheet.  Make sure to secure it by using all the pocket holes you already created.  

Step 13:

Check that you secured it on both floors.

Step 14:

These are the storage cubbies.  Use two of the 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 6’’ x 10 1/2’’, create pocket holes at the bottom of both, and screw them on the top of the house.  See the diagram below for placement measurements.

Step 15:

Take the two remaining storage cubby walls and create the pocket holes with the Kreg Jig just like the last step.  Screw them into place on the opposite side.

Step 16:

Now you will add the closet walls.  Before you screw them into place, be sure to make the holes for the closet rod to fit into. They will be 3/8’’ hole drilled 1/4’’ deep.  See step 17.

Step 17:

Step 18:

This is just showing you the dimensions.

Step 19:

Add the dowel for the closet and the two top pieces for the storage cubbies.  These pieces are 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 12 3/4’’ x 10 1/2’’.  

Step 20:

Attach the top of closet.

Step 21:

Now you can add the backs to the closet and the storage cubbies.

Step 22:

If you want to add a wall to make a bookshelf on the back, add the 1/2’’ (Plywood) @ 10 3/4’’ x 6 1/2’’ pieces on the side.  

You are done!  Now sand away and paint it pretty!