Common Miniature Scales

Scale Ratio Description Best For
1:12 1”:1’ Dollhouse scale. Very common and detailed. Standard dollhouses, room boxes.
1:24 1/2”:1’ Half scale. Good balance of detail & size. Smaller dollhouses, book nooks.
1:48 1/4”:1’ Quarter scale. Small, less detail. Dioramas, architectural models.
1:144 1/12”:1’ Micro scale. Fits inside a dollhouse. Projects requiring tiny details.

Essential Tools & Materials

Category Items Purpose
Cutting Craft knife, cutting mat, small saw, scissors. Precision cutting of materials.
Assembly Wood glue, super glue, hot glue, tweezers. Joining and placing small parts.
Painting Acrylic paints, small brushes, primer. Colouring and adding detail.
Structure Basswood, foam board, chipboard, MDF. Building the box and main structures.
Scenery Flock, static grass, texture paste, pebbles. Creating realistic ground cover.

Base Construction Materials

Material Pros Cons Best For
MDF Strong, stable, smooth surface. Heavy, requires power tools to cut. Sturdy book nook boxes.
Foam Board Lightweight, easy to cut. Dents easily, can warp with paint. Internal walls, scenery base.
Basswood Easy to cut and sand, takes stain well. Can be expensive. Furniture, flooring, trim.
Chipboard Inexpensive, good for layering. Not very strong, can delaminate. Walls, creating texture.

Miniature Scenery Techniques

Technique Description Materials Needed
Aging Wood Making new wood look old and weathered. Steel wool, vinegar, black tea, paint.
Brick Walls Simulating a brick texture. High-density foam, carving tool, paint.
Water Effects Creating realistic ponds, puddles, or rivers. Epoxy resin, water effects medium.
Rust Effects Making metal objects look rusted. Cinnamon, brown/orange paint, texture paint.
Miniature Books Crafting tiny books for shelves. Paper, cardstock, glue, leather scraps.

Lighting Your Miniature World

Lighting Type Pros Cons Notes
LED Strip Lights Easy to install, even lighting. Can be too bright, less focused. Use a dimmer to control intensity.
Fairy Lights Flexible, creates a magical effect. Wires can be hard to hide. Battery-powered options are common.
Individual LEDs Precise lighting for lamps, fireplaces. Requires basic wiring/soldering. 3V coin cell batteries are a good power source.

Storytelling & Composition

Element Tip Why It Matters
Focal Point Create a main area of interest to draw the viewer’s eye. Guides the narrative and creates visual impact.
Depth Use layers (foreground, middle ground, background) to add dimension. Makes the scene feel more immersive and realistic.
Implied Story Add small details that hint at a story or characters. Engages the viewer’s imagination.
Lighting Use light and shadow to create mood and highlight key features. Enhances the atmosphere and drama of the scene.