No dollhouse kitchen is complete without food and cookware, and this 22-piece set from Melissa & Doug is the perfect starter kit. It includes everything a tiny chef needs: pots, pans, a kettle, a roasting pan with a turkey, and various pantry staples. The pieces are mostly wooden, giving them a satisfying, durable feel.

Our Experience: The moment we unboxed this set, the storytelling began. Our kid testers immediately put the kettle on the stove, put the turkey in an imaginary oven, and started setting the table. The scale is perfect for 1:12 houses, and the wooden construction feels far more premium than plastic alternatives. We especially loved the little details, like the removable lid on the pot and the classic design of the food boxes, which adds a charming, retro feel to the dollhouse pantry.

A house isn’t a home without a furry friend! This adorable pet set from Hape includes a dog, a cat, and a bunny, each with its own little house, food bowl, and treat. Made from wood and fabric, these little critters are designed to perfectly complement Hape’s doll families but work wonderfully in any 1:12 scale setting.

Our Experience: This set was an absolute runaway hit. The animals are charmingly designed, and their little fabric ears and rope tails add a delightful tactile element. Our testers spent hours creating narratives around feeding the pets, taking the dog for a walk, and tucking them into their little houses at night. The quality is what you expect from Hape—solid, smooth wood with non-toxic paint. These aren’t just static figures; they are characters that instantly deepen emotional and nurturing play scenarios.

We found that adding these pets to the dollhouse immediately created new avenues for storytelling, focusing on responsibility and empathy as the dolls “cared” for their animals.

Of all the accessories, the dolls themselves are the most essential. A good doll family needs to be posable, durable, and relatable. This set of four figures (often including a mother, father, brother, and sister) is perfectly scaled for 1:12 houses and features bendable limbs that allow them to sit, stand, and interact with furniture realistically.

Our Experience: The posable nature of these dolls is a game-changer for play. Our testers could have them sit down for dinner, lie in bed, or lounge on the sofa, which made their stories feel much more real. The dolls are made of a soft-touch plastic with fabric clothing that feels durable. We were impressed by the friendly, neutral expressions on their faces, which allow children to project a wide range of emotions onto them. Many brands now offer diverse family sets, which is a fantastic and important step for representation in toys. This type of family set is the true heart of any dollhouse.

Want to take your dollhouse to the next level? Add lights! This simple upgrade has a massive impact, adding warmth, realism, and a touch of magic. This set of battery-operated LED lamps is a fantastic way to get started without complex wiring. Each lamp has its own tiny battery and switch, so you can place them anywhere.

Our Experience: Flipping the tiny switch on the base of the floor lamp and seeing the room fill with a soft glow was a genuinely magical moment. Our kid testers were mesmerized. It transformed daytime play into cozy evening scenes, opening up new stories about bedtime and nighttime routines. The lamps have a classic design that fits most decor, and the LED bulbs stay cool to the touch, making them perfectly safe. While the batteries are tiny and can be tricky to replace, the effect they produce is more than worth the effort. It’s the one accessory that elicits a “wow” from kids and adults alike.

Play shouldn’t be confined to four walls! An outdoor or patio set extends the dollhouse world into the yard, creating new settings for stories. This Hape set comes with a grill, a patio table with an umbrella, lounge chairs, and even a few potted plants to set the scene. It encourages kids to think about the world outside the house.

Our Experience: This set was a fantastic addition. We set it up on a green felt mat next to the dollhouse to create a “lawn,” and it was an instant success. The dolls hosted barbecues, sunbathed, and watered their plants. The quality is typical Hape excellence: sturdy wood, clever design (the umbrella fits into the table), and thoughtful details. We found that this accessory was particularly effective at sparking stories about weather, seasons, and outdoor family activities. It’s a brilliant way to double the play area without buying a second dollhouse.

Adding a baby to the dollhouse family opens up a whole new world of nurturing play. This classic wooden nursery set from Melissa & Doug provides all the essentials: a crib with a mattress, a changing table, a high chair, a rocking horse, and an adorable baby doll in a cloth diaper. The pieces have a timeless, hand-painted look.

Our Experience: This set was a powerful tool for empathetic role-playing. Our testers took to the caregiver role instantly, feeding the baby in the high chair, rocking it to sleep in the crib, and playing with it on the floor. The wooden construction is chunky and perfect for little hands. The inclusion of the baby doll itself is a huge plus. This set facilitated countless stories about family dynamics, being a big brother or sister, and the basics of caring for someone smaller.

It might sound mundane, but accessories for daily chores are a surprisingly popular and important part of dollhouse play. This miniature cleaning set, typically including a vacuum, broom, dustpan, and bucket, adds a layer of realism and encourages role-playing of everyday life. It’s a wonderful way for kids to imitate the world they see around them.

Our Experience: We were genuinely surprised by how much our testers loved this set. The 5-year-old immediately grabbed the tiny vacuum and started “cleaning” under the miniature sofa, mirroring activities she sees at home. This kind of imitative play is crucial for development. The sets are usually made from a mix of plastic and metal, and while they can be delicate, they offer incredible detail. It’s a fantastic, affordable accessory that validates the importance of daily routines in the world of play.