Repurpose A Dollhouse For Extra Book Storage In Your Child's Room With This Easy DIY

The next time you come across a dollhouse at an estate sale or on Facebook Marketplace, don't pass it up. Just as bookcases can easily be repurposed as dollhouses, so too can dollhouses be turned into fun book storage that adds even more magic to story time. All you need to do is house books in the rooms (though creativity certainly takes this DIY to a whole new level). First thing's first, assess your dollhouse. If you've found one in great condition and you love the way it looks, you may be able to use it as is. Simply give it a clean, pop it wherever you'd like it to be, and place your books inside. 

However, if you'd prefer to give it a new lease on life, or a theme that'll turn story time into an even more magical experience, it's time to DIY. Remove any details you dislike, whether they're wallpaper or faux roof tiles. Depending on the state of the dollhouse you're working with, this could be an easy task or a tough one. Either way, be gentle to avoid damaging any of the dollhouse itself. Once you're down to the bones, sand everything down, and you're all set to turn an old dollhouse into a stunning bookcase. 

Once your dollhouse has been fully sanded, you can start thinking about how to give it some character. This could mean adding on some sweet roof tiles, which are generally available at your local craft store, or gluing popsicle sticks to the exterior to create a Cape Cod feel. You could also generate interest inside the house, again using popsicle sticks or even toothpicks, to mimic the look of molding on the walls. Keen to give the dollhouse-turned-bookcase a thatch roof? Simply spray paint some fake grass and stick it on securely with tape. 

When you have all the added-on details sorted, you can paint the house. Going for one solid color will give everything a super sleek feel, but you could also paint each room a different hue and play around with whatever works best for you. Alternatively, instead of painting anything at all, you could also use some peel-and-stick wallpaper from Amazon ($26) to make it all a bit bolder. Your (doll)house, your rules! The key is that you and your children have to love how it all looks, so however you decide to add detail, be sure to keep that top of mind. 

Part of the magic of this DIY is that you're not just turning a dollhouse into a bookcase, but a bookcase into an immersive experience for your little ones. With that in mind, when it comes to organizing the bookcase, find ways to bring their favorite stories into it too. For instance, if the majority of your child's books revolve around fairies, there are a ton of downright magical fairy ideas that will only add to the enchantment of their new bookcase. Go with the aforementioned thatch roof and pop in a few fairy figurines or faux foliage for good measure. Really, anything that would add to it looking like a fairy's library goes, so mini ladders are a great idea — and there are tons of reasonably priced varieties, like this $9 one available on Amazon.

If your kids are older and more interested in a franchise like "Harry Potter," you could also use the two-thirds rule while organizing their new bookcase by including any other related merchandise they may already have in the space. Same goes with any franchise — look to the books themselves for inspiration on how to bring their magic into the repurposed dollhouse. However you decide to decorate your new bookcase, this DIY is sure to bring endless joy at story time. Not too shabby for a DIY repurposing project!