Dollhouse enthusiasts are on the rise, with more people than ever taking to miniature art as a hobby during quarantine. Miniatures can range from shoeboxes stacked together to million-dollar structures showcased in museums and galleries. Every little detail is accounted for, from floor tiles to ceiling.
For miniature creator Marina Paredes, the passion for miniature art sparked long before Covid. A dollhouse expert, over the years she has amassed more than 50k followers on Instagram. Rather than realistic recreations, Paredes’ work has a naive quality to it—the sort of dollhouse you might’ve dreamed of as a small child.
Working mainly with wood, Paredes uses both softwoods like balsa and hardwood like linden. “I like to use it because it is a very versatile material,” she shared about her creative process with The Daily Mini. For added interior details, Paredes uses clay. She then paints the finished piece with acrylic paint.
According to, Paredes she finds inspiration in architecture, design, colorful objects, and decoration. But her original source of inspiration comes straight from her childhood when she used to play with Polly Pocket sets.
“The first miniature I made was when I was around 10 years old,” she recalled. “I made it with toothpicks and it was a little house with small furniture. I remember that in order to open and close the door, I used a piece of cloth. I still keep it with much affection.”
