Despite the young connotation associated with its name, a dollhouse is not just for children. There are many dollhouse collectors around the globe and while they all have different styles and tastes, they all agree on one thing: dollhouses are not toys.Dollhouses are a serious collectible and are rarely intended for play. Men and women of all ages can get involved in this fun and rewarding hobby.
New dollhouse collectors must choose whether they would rather purchase a preassembled dollhouse or a kit that will allow them to do the assembly themselves. Both methods are very popular and are based primarily on used preference.The benefit of a kit is that they often cost less, but the risk is that it may suffer from low quality construction if a new collector doens’t have any building experience.However, sometimes the best part of the process is building the house oneself.
After choosing which avenue they would like to pursue, a collector has to select which style of house he or she would like. The most popular styles include Victorian, Tudor, Georgian, Contemporary and Southwestern. Each style is representative of an era or style of architecture in real houses. There are many accessories available to compliment and enhance each style of miniature doll house.
One mistake that new collectors often make is being fooled by the words “vintage” and “antique.Often times, the products are classified as “vintage”.” This usually refers to the style and appearance of the product, rather than its actual age. Don’t be confused into thinking that the miniature book or the tiny record player was CREATED during a certain era rather than REPRESENTATIVE of that era.
Upon purchasing or building a miniature doll house, collectors then turn to furnishing and accessorizing their new houses.You can look online and in physical retail stores to find and purchse these things. Typically, a collector will continue the theme of the home with the accessories to create an authentic look.Somtimes collectors like the look of miniature dolls in their houses and sometimes they don’t. Dolls and accessories are often available wherever dollhouses are sold.
When it comes to furnishing the house, there are many options, depending on the house. Some doll houses are nearly empty when purchased and a collector much do everything from carpet, to window treatments to furniture. Other houses come more complete and the collector must only look for furniture and other accessories. Once again, this is something that is bases solely on a collector’s preference.
As a new collector, if you are ever confused about the hobby or need somewhere to turn for advice, there are plenty of options. There are clubs and groups in all areas of the world dedicated to buying and selling miniature dollhouses and their accessories, as well as help people get involved.Recently there has been vast increases in the amount of Internet doll house communities.Blogs and chat rooms are becoming a very popular way to communication sales, ideas and product information with other collectors. Another place to gain insight is via magazines.Miniaturists have access to collectors’ and hobby magazines.
Clearly, there are many, many options available in the world of miniature dollhouses.Any type and any age person can enjoy miniature collections because of the wide selection of options available. The recent surge in popularity is likely due to both increased options and availability, and online presence.