Childhood Dollhouse Makeover Inspiration: Colorful Kids Attic Bedroom & Playroom

The Calico Critters that live in my childhood dollhouse have four(!) children, luckily they have the the entire attic space to enjoy. One side of the attic is a bedroom, the other side is a playroom. Both rooms are full of colorful touches and lots of DIY projects. Read on for some inspiration for your own dollhouse makeover!

Childhood Dollhouse Makeover: Kids Bedroom

The left side of the dollhouse attic space is the kids bedroom. At some point in the past there was yellow wallpaper and a piece of leftover wall to wall carpet, but when I started the makeover the space was a blank slate.

I took off as much of the old wallpaper as I could and removed the crusty carpet square

For the back feature wall, I used a piece of scrapbook paper. The colors of the butterflies inspired the color palette for the whole room. I painted the two side walls with acrylic paint and used a solid piece of cardstock for the flooring. The polka dot rug is a designer’s fabric sample and fits in so well.

dollhouse bedroom with butterfly wallpaper with green beds and two Calico Critters baby bunnies playing on a pink polka dot rug

The jack in the box is vintage from my original collection of accessories in the 1970s

The bureau was originally dark wood that I painted with magenta acrylic paint and replaced with knobs with little beads. I made the lamp using:

button on the bottom for stablility
bead for the base of the lamp
painted skewer, cut to length
toothpaste cap, painted with acrylic paint

Ever since I made this lamp I can’t throw away a fluted toothpaste cap–just in case I need to make something with it lol.

dollhouse lamp on a pink dollhouse dresser lamp is made from a bead buttons and a toothpaste cap — The bead was originally another color so I painted it to match the room

While the older bunnies each have a bed, the twins also needed a place to sleep. Due to space constraints, I chose to make them a cradle using mat board. I looked at a few inspiration photos and then sketched a design. The pieces are glued together with my favorite tacky glue and the cradle is painted with acrylic paint. Butterfly appliques and a flower add some sweet decorative touches. The mattress is just a piece of foam core wrapped in fabric, secured with glue. The twins don’t mind sharing the cradle because they’re tiny.

green diy dollhouse cradle with decoupage butterflies

The bed with the bed knobs is a favorite of mine, purchased years ago for $1 at AC Moore. I wish I’d bought like 6 more! Alas, I did not so I hacked a small Dollar Tree wooden bed instead. I ended up taking it apart, cutting it apart in the center and gluing in a piece of scrap wood to make it the same length as the other bed. Once I added bedding, I was quite happy with it.

For the bedding, I used scraps of fabric to make bedspreads, throw blankets, and pillows. I found this pillow tutorial very easy to follow. Ironing the bedspreads really gives them a crisp, finished look that I love.

Childhood Dollhouse Makeover: Playroom

The other side of the attic features a playroom for the children. The ‘before’ photo highlights peeling contact paper on the sloped wall and a piece of yellow (why??) carpet.

Once again I used a brightly patterned piece of scrapbook paper on the sloped rear wall and painted the side walls. Lots of little details bring this space to life.

vintage dollhouse wooden table and chairs with painted red hearts in a colorful kids playroom with pink walls — The fun artwork is from my collection of scrapbooking ephemera

Every playroom needs a game table and this game table is part of my original collection of furniture from the 1970s. I love the nostalgia–and the hand painted pattern.

This toy is another holdover from the 1970s

The toy chest is a new addition that I purchased as an unfinished box. I painted it with acrylic paint and used Mod Podge to glue on the fun & games letters (cut from a magazine). The area rug is another designer fabric sample.

childhood dollhouse playroom toy chest painted gold with toys and games spelled out with cut out magazine letters — The wooden dog tile is a game piece and the bunny in the background is an eraser

It was hard to photograph in the room, but if you look closely you can see the PLAY pennant over the playroom door. I made it using felt, glue, and letters cut from vintage books. I think it’s adorable :-).

tiny wall pennant made from yellow felt with cut out letters spelling play accented with a pink felt heart

Along the back wall of the playroom I used a block of wood with faux, glued on “doors” to mimic a built in cabinet. It’s a great space to hold all sorts of playroom essentials including a book, a Chinese checkers board, and a record player (from the cake decorating shop lol).

And that’s a wrap on the tour of the kids’ bedroom and playroom in my updated DIY Childhood Dollhouse. I hope you found some ideas and inspiration for decorating your own dollhouse!

Did you miss the tour of the other rooms in my dollhouse? See them here:

Dollhouse Kitchen | Dollhouse Living Room & Dining Room | Dollhouse Bathroom | Dollhouse Bedroom | Dollhouse Reading Nook

xo,

Jen

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