Creating a dollhouse might seem like nothing more than a fun hobby, but it has the potential to teach so much more than how to decorate a tiny little house. It requires a level of attention to detail and proportion that aids greatly in the design process. Plus, because everything must be made to scale, you learn how to design with intent rather than simply throwing a bunch of stuff together to see what works. You begin moving through the process more slowly and thoughtfully, rather than rushing to meet a deadline. Even when the deadline is one you’ve placed on yourself, you learn to move with purpose rather than simply hurrying to get done.
Building in miniature also makes a large and daunting task seem easier to accomplish. What feels like an entire house full of decorating decisions becomes just one little room. What feels like a whole lot of money to potentially waste on a decorating experiment becomes a much more manageable sum. You’re able to experiment more freely, practicing your decorating and building skills without the risk of losing a lot of money in the process. This, in turn, makes you feel more confident in your abilities and more likely to continue practicing and improving.
Working in miniature also aids in improving your critical thinking skills. Because things don’t always work the same way in miniature as they do in full size, you’re forced to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to unexpected problems. You learn to approach a road block as merely an opportunity to improve upon your original idea, rather than as a frustrating waste of time. In turn, you become more willing to experiment and try new things, both in your miniatures and in your every day life.
Learning to work in miniature helps you to improve your sense of patience and timing. You cannot rush the building process without sacrificing the quality of your finished product. As you work, you begin to focus less on how quickly you can get done and more on how well you can build. In the end, you wind up being much happier with what you’ve accomplished. Eventually, this will begin to carry over into other areas of your life and other skills you wish to master. You will become a more patient person, less concerned with finishing as quickly as possible and more concerned with doing things well.
Finally, working in miniature simply makes you a better builder and decorator. You learn what works well together and what doesn’t, how different materials interact with each other, and how to bring a design successfully from concept to reality. Plus, because you’ve had to slow down and think more about your process, you wind up with a product that you can be truly proud of. The same will be true of other projects and skills you master throughout your life. As you practice and build your skills, you will become more and more accomplished, producing beautiful results that you can be truly proud of. So the next time you see a dollhouse, don’t just think of it as a whimsical little trinket or an interesting hobby. Remember that the person who built it has gained valuable skills that will serve them well throughout their entire life.
