Fairy Doors Unlock Magic at Home
Provide an enchanting touch of mystery with a miniature door for the baseboard or garden. (Adults, you can have one too)
You may have read about fairy houses — those magical miniatures tucked in backyard gardens or in the Maine woods — but what are the poor indoor fairies to do? Wee fairy doors offer a fun indoor alternative that can easily tuck into any room in the house.
Personalizing Your Fairy Door
Hang a wee sign. If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at painting your own miniature sign to welcome the fairies, and attach it to the door using craft glue. It doesn’t have to be fancy — this door and sign are made of popsicle sticks, and the doorknob is a button. If you’re not in the mood for a DIY project, ready-made miniature accessories abound at hobby shops and miniature specialty stores.
Find miniatures and fairy doors
Hang a wee sign. If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at painting your own miniature sign to welcome the fairies, and attach it to the door using craft glue. It doesn’t have to be fancy — this door and sign are made of popsicle sticks, and the doorknob is a button. If you’re not in the mood for a DIY project, ready-made miniature accessories abound at hobby shops and miniature specialty stores.
Find miniatures and fairy doors
Add a petite flowerpot. A tiny topiary or pot of flowers would make a charming addition to any fairy door. Using the style of the fairy door and accessories to mirror your own (big) home’s style is a nice touch, so why not choose mini planters similar to what you would put on your own front porch?
Paint it a fun color. Just because the door you chose out of the box is plain beige doesn’t mean you can’t give it a little personality. Just as you would with a new full-size door, do any painting before you hang it up and apply hardware to be sure every bit is covered (and no stray paint ends up on your wall).
Add a miniature window. Want to take it a step further? Add a dollhouse window to the wall above the door. Just know that since the window won’t actually be looking out on anything, you’ll need to line the glass to give the illusion of curtains. And because the window will be sitting flush against the wall, there isn’t much room for an actual fabric curtain. Try lining the glass with a bit of leftover wallpaper, scrapbooking paper or even an image of curtains printed on copy paper.
Where to Put Your Fairy Door
In a child’s room. Children have a natural sense of wonder and are delighted by all things that suggest magic may be afoot.
If you’re moving to a new home, adding a secret fairy door can be a special touch that helps your child get excited about his or her new space.
In a child’s room. Children have a natural sense of wonder and are delighted by all things that suggest magic may be afoot.
If you’re moving to a new home, adding a secret fairy door can be a special touch that helps your child get excited about his or her new space.
Tucked into a nonworking fireplace. Instead of filling your nonworking fireplace with potted plants or candles, give it a new purpose … as imaginary portal to the fairy world.
And while this fairy door is in a child’s room, you could easily adapt it (minus the butterfly decals, perhaps) to fit into a more grown-up space.
And while this fairy door is in a child’s room, you could easily adapt it (minus the butterfly decals, perhaps) to fit into a more grown-up space.
Suspended on the wall. The fairy door in this space is actually a sculpture by artist Guillaume Lachapelle, but the placement and the addition of a tiny staircase are both ideas that would translate well to a DIY fairy door installation.
Miniature staircases and ladders are readily available in hobby stores and make a charming touch whether your fairy door is positioned near the floor or halfway up the wall.
See more of this Montreal home
Miniature staircases and ladders are readily available in hobby stores and make a charming touch whether your fairy door is positioned near the floor or halfway up the wall.
See more of this Montreal home
In the garden. Although these examples are here to show that fairy doors deserve a spot inside the house, there’s nothing stopping you from putting one outdoors too. A door affixed to — or in this case, cut out of — a garden gate or fence makes a delightful addition to the yard that’s sure to spark conversation with the neighbors. According to the builder’s notes on this Washington, D.C.-area project, “Cats are permitted as well.”
Your turn: Show us your magical miniature door in the Comments!
Your turn: Show us your magical miniature door in the Comments!
Installing a fairy door is surprisingly simple. All you need is a dollhouse door kit (readily available at craft stores) and craft glue.
Not sure you want the fairy door to be a permanent fixture? Attach it with mounting putty or removable tape instead.
If you have baseboards, simply install your fairy door above the baseboard, as shown here.