If you are fascinated by dollhouses and want to get in on collecting and creating your own miniature paradise, there are some things you need to know. Believe it or not, math, or at least numbers will become very important to you as this hobby is pursued. Scale is something you will need to understand and pay attention to if you want your final collection to look as uniform and realistic as possible.

Scale is nothing more than a way to represent the size of a miniature in relation to the actual, full-size object. It is generally referred to as a ratio. For example, standard dollhouse scale has one inch equaling one foot, which is written as 1:12 or 1/12 scale on items purchased for a dollhouse. If a book, for example, would normally measure 12 inches, or a foot, in length, the miniature would be created to match it in appearance, but would only be an inch in length itself.

Understanding scale and selecting a measurement to stick with is important in the world of dollhouse collecting for a number of reasons. The most important is the fact that once a scale is selected and stuck with all items in a dollhouse will match more readily. When scale isn't adhered to, pieces within a dollhouse can look out of kilter and ruin the illusion of realism. If, for example, a collector starts out with a 1:24 scale and then adds in some pieces at 1:12, the additions will look huge in comparison. Nothing can wreck the illusion of perfection created in a dollhouse faster than having cups on a table that are almost as big as the table itself! Scale helps collectors avoid this eventuality.

Doll house enthusiasts have been assigning scale to pieces since the 1970s. The move toward standard scales began as a way to keep uniformity in the hobby. There are a number of standard scales used in dollhouse creation. The most common is 1:12, but other scales can also be selected. They include 1:6, 1:24 and 1:48. The 1:48 scale is often referred to as the quarter scale and will typically be the smallest collectors will find with pieces readily available. The 1:6 scale is typically used in children's toys. It is the scale for fashion dolls and their accessories.

Before buying or building a dollhouse, it's important to set the desired scale at the start. This consideration really should start with the house itself if a more lifelike final dollhouse is desired. When dollhouse scale and the items within the house all match, the effect can be truly stunning. Select a dollhouse in one scale and go with a different scale on the dolls and objects and the appearance will be off.

There is more to dollhouse collecting than meets the eye. If an illusion of realism is truly desired, scale will matter a great deal. Once you pick scale, everything you buy or create for your collection can be readily crafted to fit and maintain the appearance of uniformity.