Building a House Model with Your Child Using Everyday Materials
Looking for a fun and creative weekend activity with your child? Why not build a house model together?
It’s a fantastic way to encourage creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and spend quality time as a family. Best of all, you can use simple materials found at home.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a house model, complete with furniture.
Materials You’ll Need:
Cardboard (cereal boxes, old shoeboxes, or shipping boxes)
Scissors and glue
Colored paper or magazine cutouts
Popsicle sticks
Fabric scraps
Cotton balls
Bottle caps
Small plastic containers (for bathtubs, sinks, or tables)
Markers, crayons, or paint
Step 1: Plan Your House
Start by deciding on the type of house you want to build.
Will it be a simple one-room home or a multi-room masterpiece? Draw a rough sketch with your child and decide on room placements.
Step 2: Build the Structure
Cut cardboard pieces to create the walls, floor, and roof. Use glue or tape to hold the structure together. If you want a more open-concept look, leave one side open or make cutout windows.
Step 3: Decorate the Walls and Floor
Decorate the walls with coloured paper, fabric scraps, or even hand-drawn wallpaper designs. If you have magazine cutouts, glue them to resemble framed pictures or windows.
Step 4: Create Miniature Furniture
Now comes the fun part—designing the interior!
Tables & Chairs: Use bottle caps as stools and a small box lid as a table.
Beds: Cut a small cardboard rectangle and glue cotton balls on top for a comfy bed. Cover with fabric for a blanket.
Sofas: Fold a small rectangular piece of cardboard in half and attach armrests made of popsicle sticks.
Shelves & Counters: Stack small cardboard pieces and secure them with glue.
Step 5: Add Final Touches
Markers or crayons can be used to add details like windows, doors, and rugs. Small toys or figurines can bring your tiny home to life. If you have LED tea lights, place them inside to create a warm glow.
Here are some of our window and door templates for you to print, cut and glue on your model as you wish:
For windows, click here, and for doors, click here.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Creation!
Please encourage your child to play with their new house model, rearrange furniture, and even create a story about it. This hands-on activity fosters creativity and spatial awareness while upcycling household materials in an eco-friendly way.
Have fun building and creating memories with your child!
If you make a house model, share your pictures with us—we’d love to see your designs!