One of the most visible and enduring features of your dollhouse will be the look and quality of its paint. While you should take the time to enjoy each phase of dollhouse construction and decoration, it is especially worthwhile to use extra time and patience for the painting process.

When to Paint
Once you have carefully done an inventory and correctly marked each piece of your kit, you should consider painting before you begin to assemble too much of the house. It is especially helpful to paint ceilings and trim before assembly. You’ll be able to do a neater, more complete job if you can handle pieces separately. All surfaces should be clean, and sand all wooden surfaces. Wipe them properly to remove remaining dust. 

What Paint to Use
You can choose to use either water based hobby paint or latex interior home paint for your project. Water-based hobby or craft paints typically come in small containers of 2 to 8 ounces and have an expensive per ounce price. You can also use a regular latex paint as you would use on your home’s interior walls. While regular house paint costs much less, you will undoubtedly have much more left over. Some collectors choose to use both regular and hobby paints.  The main exterior color and common interior colors may be areas for which you could use regular latex home paint. Hobby paint might be a good choice for the colors you use simply on accent trim or a small interior room in your dollhouse. It is also possible to use spray paint for very small items because the paint’s thin coating can often preserve detail better than brush applied paint. 

How to Paint
It’s essential to follow all instructions regarding the storage and use of all paints. Make sure to thoroughly stir/mix your paint before using, and always paint in a well-ventilated area. It’s best to wear gloves and a mask, particularly if you’re using spray paint for any of your work.
 
Before painting, use an appropriate primer. Primer is especially important for allowing latex paint to better adhere to metal or plastic surfaces. Careful preparation of the surfaces and appropriate use of primer will often lessen the need for a second coat of paint on many surfaces. If you feel you will likely use two coats, you may want to slightly thin your paint to preserve the level of detail and cleanness of corners and crevices.

Finally, it is worth investing in high quality brushes and applicators.  Good brushes won’t shed their bristles in the painting process and will maintain bristle tautness. Craft stores sell special hobby brush sets that will serve most of your painting needs. You can then supplement your collection with additional brushes as your projects and interest unfold.