Turn a shelf into a Doll Bed with Clothing Storage (for 18 inch dolls)

And because it was originally a shelf, it hangs on the wall…….nice and out of the way. 

Ella can sit from her little perch during the day while not being played with……..and then be layed down to sleep at night.

And with a few scraps from the stash, Ella has a little blanket and pillow to sleep with.  Lucky thing. 

Just don’t go asking for a mattress pad or anything……..because that’s where your luck runs out. ;) 

(The blanket is just a mini version of this one.)

After adding the hanger rod (the dowel), I added fabric covered buttons to each end, to keep any of the doll accessories from sliding off.  (And to help polish off each end of the dowel.)

Oh my word, I thought human baby hangers were cute……until I got baby doll hangers.

These things are itty-bitty mini.  And perfect.  (found hangers here.)

The outcome?  A dolly success.

Ready to make one?

Supplies Needed:

• A wooden shelf that is big enough to fit your doll that also has two vertical supports underneath.
• A wooden dowel, thick enough to hold your doll hangers.
• Doll hangers (I found mine here. 10 for $5.95.)
• Hot glue
• Power Drill
• Sand Paper
• Paint
• Fabric Button Cover Kit, 2 bigger than your dowel circumference are needed (just like these here)
• a piece of scrap fabric to cover the button covers

 First of all, there are probably many shelves that would work for this project.  I found this bare wooden shelf at Hobby Lobby.  They always have things on sale for 50% off.  If they don’t have what you want on sale, wait a week or two.  So this shelf was originally $10 but I got it on sale for $5.  It measures about 20 inches long and about 7 inches deep.  Perfect for the standard 18 inch dolls (American Girl Dolls and the knock offs).

First, I cut my dowel to be slightly shorter than the width of the shelf.

Then I used a large drill bit and drilled holes in the vertical supports underneath the shelf top.  Be sure that you drill them in a good spot so that your hanger can fit up and over the dowel.  And also that the hole isn’t too far back so that the hanger hits the wall and can’t hang straight.  (Hold your hanger up and measure before drilling.)

Then, with a smaller drill bit, Idrilled out little holes on both ends of the dowel for my button cover backs to fit into.

Then I slid the dowel through the holes in the shelf, used a bit of hot glue to secure the dowel in place (wood glue would work great too) and then sanded the entire shelf to smooth down the rough spots.  (If your shelf wasn’t a bare raw shelf to begin with, you won’t need to sand it.)  Then I pained the entire shelf white, with some leftover interior paint from this project. 

Then I let the shelf completely dry for a day.

(Spray paint would work too.  And would dry faster.)

Next, I covered 2 button covers with some fabric.  (Same as the ones used here.)

And then inserted the back nub (with a little hot glue) into the holes I made at each end of the dowel.

And then hung the whole shelf/bed on the wall.

This could be any where. Above a bookshelf, by the toy bins, in a toy room, near the closet, anywhere.  And if you have a doll that lives in your house that comes with even 2 or 3 extra outfits, you totally understand the crazy mess of doll clothes strewn everywhere.  So make it fun and let your little girl keep her doll things all together and organized.  And off the stinkin’ floor.

Source

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