Miniatures: Room Boxes

Room boxes are small and usually made of wood. They can be any measurement you choose. Miniaturists use room boxes to create a scene. The scene usually has some sort of theme to it. Before beginning your room box, you need to decide the specifics.

What type of scene are you doing?

Will it be a castle or Victorian Painted Lady? Is it a residence, shop, barn or other building? What does history have to say about these types of rooms? Do your research and have a plan.

Lighting

Unique to the period. Nowadays, there are so many wonderful people making period lighting that you won't have any problems finding a 17^th century chandelier. On the down side, that type of lighting can be pricey and not really light the box up. It will depend on your personal preference.

Static lighting that lights up the whole box. Using a central light source can really make the difference. Using a small tube light in the 4-6 inch range can really brighten a box. It could make the difference between people seeing the details inside your box or not.

Furniture

If you want quality, period miniature furniture look around. The are some very talented artisans out there making miniature furniture. All of it is carefully handmade with a keen eye to detail. It's well worth the investment.

Mass produced. You can find mass produced of anything you're looking for. It's cheap and one item looks like the next. The upside is you can alter it and make it your own. It can be painted or stained or anything else you want to do to it.

People

When starting out, you need to decide if people are going to be a part of the scene you're trying to create.

There are many options when it comes to finding occupants for your box.

You can find characters of every shape, size, and ethnicity. All you have to do is decide what you want and take a look around.

There are many miniaturists that are now making characters that can occupy your room box. They are made out of polymer clay and other materials. The detail that can be achieved with a hand made original is amazing. You could even get custom made maidens for your castle.

Décor

Are you going to pain the walls? You need to decide if it'll be paint, wallpaper, or masonry work. You also need to consider window coverings. Will there be paintings on the wall?

This is where you can add as many details as you want. You can put lamps on the tables and fan pulls on ceiling fans. It all depends on the level of detail you want the box to have.

Developing a plan will make building your box easier. You'll know ahead of time what you need to do and what direction you want to go in.

But, always know that the plan could change. This is a creative adventure, so it's ok to change things. And most of all, have fun and make it an expression of you.