Frequently Asked Questions
here for you
frequently asked questions
- Hi, I’m Lina! Whether you’re a brand-new beginner or you’ve built a dozen dollhouses, this page pulls together the questions I get most often. From how to use the scale converter, to what tools you actually need, to how my digital downloads work. If you can’t find your answer here, send me an email at lina@linasdollhouse.co and I’ll get back to you at my earliest convenience.
About Lina’s Dollhouse Co.
A: Lina’s Dollhouse Co. is a space for all things miniature, where I share dollhouse builds, tutorials, digital downloads, and thoughtfully designed pieces to help you create your own tiny world.
Hi, I’m Lina, owner and founder of Lina’s Dollhouse Co. I design, build, and share miniature creations along with the resources to help you bring your own ideas to life. I started building a dollhouse without really knowing what I was doing, and quickly realized how overwhelming it can be, so I started documenting everything. What works, what doesn’t, what I’d do differently. Read my full bio on my About page: https://linasdollhouse.co/about-2/
Beginner-friendly tutorials, honest trial-and-error stories, tools and materials lists that actually make sense, and a build-in-progress I’m bringing you along with. You don’t need a perfect setup or every tool to start something you love.
Not at the moment, but it’s something I may explore in the future. For now, I focus on tutorials and digital files to help you create your own miniature pieces.
I’m on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/linasdollhouseco/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@linasdollhouseco), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@LinasDollhouseCo), Pinterest (https://pin.it/2fzuJYGWC), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/people/Linas-Dollhouse-Co/61570805734962/). Come say hi!
Just Starting Out (Beginner Basics)
Not at all! When I started, I was a beginner, and I designed Lina’s Dollhouse Co. to encourage other beginners on their journey. My Dollhouse Starter Checklist and Dollhouse Wiring 101 guides were created with first-timers in mind. Shop those free digital downloads here: https://linasdollhouse.co/shop/
1) Understand scale (it’s simpler than it sounds). 2) Print a free scaled ruler for your chosen scale. 3) Plan your colors with the Color Palette Visualizer before you paint anything. 4) Watch one beginner-friendly tutorial all the way through before you start. 5) Bookmark the tutorial index so you can come back to it. Each one has a dedicated tool or page on the site to help you do it.
t depends on the project! A small furniture piece can be an afternoon. A single room takes a few weekends. A full dollhouse takes anywhere from a month to a year, depending on how much detail you want. The hobby rewards slow, patient work, but you can absolutely make something beautiful in a single sitting.
Both work! Kits are a wonderful starting point because the structural decisions are already made for you; you get to focus on finishes and details. Building from scratch gives you total creative freedom but is a longer learning curve. If you’re new, a kit (or a small roombox) is the gentlest way in.
Scale, Sizing & Measurements
For most people, 1:12 is the easiest place to start. It’s the most widely available scale: you’ll find more kits, more furniture, more printables, and more tutorials in 1:12 than any other size. If you want something smaller and quicker (or you have less display space), 1:24 is a lovely alternative. Use the scale converter to see how each scale feels in real measurements: https://linasdollhouse.co/miniature-scale-converter/
It just means one inch on your dollhouse equals twelve inches in real life. So a real-life 72-inch sofa becomes a 6-inch miniature sofa, and a 36-inch table becomes 3 inches. To calculate any 1:12 measurement, divide the real-life size by 12, or let the scale converter do it for you.
The most common ones are: 1:6 (fashion doll / Barbie scale), 1:12 (classic dollhouse scale), 1:18 (model vehicles and action figures), 1:24 (half scale), 1:28 (a slightly smaller half scale popular for European kits), and 1:48 (quarter scale, used for micro-dollhouses and architectural models). My tools support 1:6, 1:12, 1:24, and 1:48.
Yes. The Miniature Scale Converter page (https://linasdollhouse.co/miniature-scale-converter/) includes a full 1:12 Scale Reference Guide with US residential dimensions pre-converted by room: doors and windows, living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and ceilings and stairs. It’s a great starting point when you’re planning a build.
Free Tools on the Site
It’s a free calculator that converts any real-life measurement into its miniature equivalent in seconds, for dollhouses, dioramas, model making, and DIY projects. Type in your measurement, pick your scale, and it does the math. Open the converter here: https://linasdollhouse.co/miniature-scale-converter/
Inches, feet, centimeters, and millimeters. You can also flip the direction to convert from miniature back to real life.
Of course! It’s completely free for miniaturists, dollhouse builders, DIY creators, and hobbyists. No account, no sign-up.
Absolutely. The converter is commonly used for 3D printing, laser cutting (Glowforge included), CNC projects, dollhouse furniture building, and diorama design. It helps you size files accurately before cutting or printing.
A free printable ruler in your chosen scale. Print at home and you have an accurate reference for measuring, planning, and building. No shopping, no shipping. Available in 1:6, 1:12, 1:24, and 1:48. Download yours here: https://linasdollhouse.co/printable-miniature-scale-ruler/
A scaled ruler is the single most useful free tool I can give you. Print one in your scale, bring it along when you’re shopping at estate sales or antique stores, tape it to your workbench, and you’ll stop second-guessing every measurement. (You’ll thank me later.)
A few best practices: set printer scaling to 100% (or “Actual Size”) and disable “Fit to Page” or “Shrink to Fit,” since those settings resize the file and throw off every measurement. Check the verification mark on the printed ruler against a standard ruler before you rely on it. Use the same printer for one project so calibration stays consistent. And if you’ll use the ruler often, glue it to cardstock or laminate it so it stays flat.
A free tool that lets you design your dollhouse’s exterior paint palette before you pick up a brush. Color in each zone of the house: siding, shingles, roof boards, trim, porch, shutters, front door, porch floor, even a chimney, and see how it all comes together. Try the visualizer here: https://linasdollhouse.co/dollhouse-color-palette-visualizer/
There are two ways to use it. 1) Paint it yourself: click a zone and choose a custom color or pick from the paint library. 2) Extract from a photo: upload an inspiration image and pull its colors.
Yes! Name your palette and save it for later. The name will appear on your printed palette card too. You can also save a palette image to share, or print a palette card to take to the paint store.
Always test a paint sample on your dollhouse before committing. Printed and on-screen colors can vary from the real thing, so the visualizer is a planning tool. Use it to narrow down your direction, then confirm with real samples.
Tutorials, Blog & Video Library
Every written tutorial lives in one place, organized by category: Tutorials, Tips & Advice, Electrical, and Vermont Farmhouse Jr. Browse the full tutorial library here: https://linasdollhouse.co/category-index/
Over on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel to catch new builds, demos, and step-by-step videos: https://www.youtube.com/@LinasDollhouseCo
I’m building the Vermont Farmhouse Jr. by RealGoodToys, a wonderful kit and the one I document step-by-step on the blog. You can follow the full series under the Vermont Farmhouse Jr. category: https://linasdollhouse.co/category/vermont-farmhouse-jr/
Don’t binge ten tutorials at once. Pick one beginner-friendly project (faux stone, a porch swing, a planter) and watch or read it all the way through before you start. You’ll learn the rhythm of how a build comes together. Then bookmark the tutorial index so you can come back as you grow.
Mauris eu aliquet nibh. Ut imperdiet eros at augue euismod finibus. Fusce eget massa nec arcu laoreet sodales. Maecenas dictum condimentum est, id feugiat odio consequat eget. Curabitur rhoncus ullamcorper dui ut tempor. Duis molestie magna urna. Maecenas non rutrum augue, sed pharetra turpis.
Tools, Supplies & Materials
Less than you’d think! A craft knife, a metal ruler, a self-healing cutting mat, tweezers, fine scissors, tacky glue, and a few small paintbrushes will get you through your first half-dozen projects. Everything else (clamps, Dremels, laser cutters) you can add later if you fall in love with the hobby. Shop my starter lists here: https://linasdollhouse.co/amazon-affiliate-shop/
Most of mine come from a mix of craft stores, Amazon, and my own scrap drawer. I keep an updated shopping list in the tutorial library, including the specific glues, paints, and tools I reach for most. Browse my Amazon Storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/petiteglimmer) or visit my Amazon Affiliate Shop page (https://linasdollhouse.co/amazon-affiliate-shop/) for curated lists by category (top essentials, tools, building materials, glue and adhesives, lighting and electrical).
No, it’s not a sponsored roundup. Just a curated list of dollhouse-making products I’ve actually used. The page includes affiliate links, so if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me keep creating and sharing projects.
Digital Downloads, E-Books & 3D Files
My 3D printable miniatures come as .STL files for 3D printing. My free guides (the Dollhouse Starter Checklist and Dollhouse Wiring 101) are PDF e-books. Any software requirements or recommendations are noted on each individual product page.
Two free beginner guides: the Dollhouse Starter Checklist (everything you need to build your first dollhouse, from essential tools to must-have materials: https://linasdollhouse.co/product/dollhouse-starter-checklist-your-first-mini-masterpiece-free-e-book/) and Dollhouse Wiring 101 (a beginner-friendly guide to adding miniature lighting: https://linasdollhouse.co/product/dollhouse-wiring-101-how-to-add-miniature-lighting-for-beginners-free-e-book/). Both are free in the shop.
I design original miniature pieces for 1:12 scale: things like planters, bookshelves, coach lights, and more. New designs go up regularly. Shop the latest 3D printable digital downloads here: https://linasdollhouse.co/shop/?orderby=date
Any standard FDM or resin 3D printer can handle them. Slicer software is up to you (Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Cura, etc.). Specific recommendations or sizing notes are listed on each product page.
Orders, Delivery & Refunds
No returns or exchanges. If anything arrives damaged or incorrect, please take a photo and email it to lina@linasdollhouse.co. You can find the full return policy here.
Check your junk or spam folder first! If this is your first time ordering from me, sometimes my emails land in spam. If you still can’t find it, send me a note at lina@linasdollhouse.co and I’ll make sure you get access right away.
Due to the nature of digital downloads, all sales are final. If you run into a technical issue with a file, reach out at lina@linasdollhouse.co and I’ll make it right.
Yes. An account helps you re-download your files later if you need to. Just keep your account information up to date and your password secure.
Sharing & Selling What You Make
Yes, absolutely yes! Please tag me so I can see it: @linasdollhouseco.
These files are for personal use only unless otherwise stated. For personal sales of one-off pieces you’ve made, you can go ahead. For commercial production or bulk reselling, please reach out first so we can talk it through.
No. Files may not be shared, resold, or redistributed in any form. If a friend wants a copy, please point them to the shop instead.
All rights, titles, and interests in Lina’s Dollhouse Co. content (including tutorials, downloads, and original designs) remain with Lina’s Dollhouse Co. Using the site doesn’t transfer any of that to you.
Workshops & In-Person Events
Yes! I’ve hosted hands-on miniature building workshops where we build projects together from start to finish, and I plan to offer more in the future. The best way to hear about upcoming events is to join the email list so you’re always the first to know.
I’ve written about hosting my first workshop on the blog: https://linasdollhouse.co/hosting-my-first-miniatures-workshop/
Newsletter, Contact & Community
The best way is to join the email list (it’s called The Weekly Tiny) and follow along on social. You’ll be the first to know when something new goes live. Subscribe here: https://linasdollhouse.co/subscribe/
A short and sweet weekly email with the latest tutorials, product drops, events, and anything else happening at Lina’s Dollhouse Co. Straight to your inbox.
I’m on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/linasdollhouseco/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@linasdollhouseco), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@LinasDollhouseCo), Pinterest (https://pin.it/2fzuJYGWC), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/people/Linas-Dollhouse-Co/61570805734962/). Come say hi!
Email me directly at lina@linasdollhouse.co or use the contact form: https://linasdollhouse.co/contact/. I respond as soon as possible