[Photo Set] Making an Assembled Sylvanian Housing Complex

◾️Updated on 2025/2/10

Transitioned to a dollhouse base

Regarding the assembled Sylvanian housing complex, I have transitioned to using amifa's dollhouse base.
This has improved the ease of assembly and photography.
I have written about the reasons for this transition below, so please take a look if you are interested.

*This article provides information on a Sylvanian housing complex that does not use a dollhouse base.
If you prefer that, please continue reading as is.

Hello!

This time, I would like to write about the assembled Sylvanian housing complex I made.

You might imagine something sturdy when I say 'assembled,' but that is not the case at all! Haha
It is just a set for photography.

The reason is that I have made several buildings in my miniature crafting, but recently I have been thinking something quite seriously.

I have no more space to put them even if I make them

I think. Haha

But since I am currently obsessed with playing with Sylvanian older sisters and brothers, I really, really want to provide a home for everyone... haha

I previously made a Sylvanian housing complex like the one below, but even though the rooms can be taken apart, it is quite large.

Even if I call it a housing complex, making another house like the one above is difficult in terms of size...

After thinking about various things, KanaFett came up with an idea.

'Let's make a set where I can photograph a housing complex!'

I think many people are already using methods like using boards to create room-style photography sets, but I wanted to record how I made my own housing complex photography set here.

◾️Things you need

The main items I used are as follows.

・Bookends
・Styrene board
・Steel sheet
・Magnet sheet or strong magnets

I will explain them one by one.

・Bookends
Used to keep the styrene boards standing during photography.
I use the following steel bookends that I bought at a 100-yen shop.

・Styrene board
Used for backgrounds, floors, etc.
The size and thickness are up to your preference, but I mainly used A4 size, 5mm thick boards.
I don't think it has to be a styrene board, but it's easier to use if it's easy to cut with a utility knife.

・Steel sheet
I use steel sheets because I want the styrene boards to be magnetic.
The Shinwa sheets I used this time are small, so I bought a lot of them.
Actually, I bought a ton. lol
I'm probably the person using the most steel sheets in Japan right now (huge exaggeration).

Larger sheets are fine, but since you'll be cutting them with scissors, these smaller ones might be easier to work with.
※It's best to use a thickness that can be cut with scissors!

・Magnetic sheets or strong magnets
Used for attaching decorations to walls or for fixing walls in place.
The type of magnet depends on what you're using, but I mainly use magnetic sheets and pin-type magnets.

I bought the following magnetic sheets because I was attracted to the fact that they are 0.3mm thin, printable, and strong! lol

I think any magnetic sheet will do! (It seems they are also sold at 100-yen shops)

Also, I bought the pin-type ones at a 100-yen shop.

Use whatever type of magnet you prefer!

These are the main materials I use.

◾️How to make

(1) Think about the floor plan of the house you want to build
First, think about the floor plan.
This time, I imagined a studio apartment-style housing complex where a single Sylvanian can live.
(I want an older sister or brother to live there...!)

(2) Cut the styrene board as you like
According to the floor plan you thought of, cut the door frames and window frames out of the styrene board used for the walls. If possible, I recommend shapes that are versatile so they can be used in various ways.

(3) Stick the steel sheet onto the surface of the styrene board
Avoiding the doors and window frames cut in (2), stick on the steel sheets. (Cut them to the necessary size with scissors as you go.)
In the case of the steel sheets I purchased this time, they already have adhesive on them, so you can stick them on as is without double-sided tape.

I don't think you need to stick it on this densely; having some gaps is fine too.

(4) Attach a steel sheet or magnet sheet to the back
Attach a steel sheet or magnet sheet to the back of the board from (3).
The reason for attaching it to the back is to make it stand up using bookends during photography.

To make the board stand, you need a combination of a steel sheet and a magnet.

If you attach a steel sheet to the back of the board, you can make the board and bookend stick together by attaching a magnet to the bookend side.

Alternatively, if you attach a magnet sheet to the back of the board, it will stick directly to a steel bookend.

Which one is better is a matter of preference, but I decided to attach steel sheets to both sides.
(Because I want to use both sides of the board)

As long as it sticks perfectly to the bookend with a magnet, it's fine even if you don't cover the entire surface.

That is all.

As an aside,the more layers of steel sheet you stack, the easier it is for magnets to stick.
If the magnet doesn't stick well, I think it's a good idea to layer the steel sheets.

◾️ Examples of boards and accessories used for the apartment complex

Before explaining how to use them, I will introduce the boards and accessories I made for the apartment complex this time.
I will give each board a name to make it easier to explain when describing how to use them.

・Floor

This is the floor used for the entrance to the kitchen.
I attached different floorboards so it can be used on both sides.

This is the floor used for the living room.
This time, I made it tatami mats.
The wooden floor and tatami mats are also attached with magnets.

・Wall

・Closet

・Wallpaper

・Furniture and accessory parts

◾️How to use (How to set up)

I will explain based on the boards I made.

(1) Fit doors, etc., into the boards you want to use

For doors that are a bit difficult to fit, set them in place first.

(2) Set the wallpaper
Set the wallpaper onto the styrene board.

Fixing them with magnetic pins as shown above is good, and if you print the wallpaper onto printable magnetic sheets, you can stick them directly onto the boards.

By the way, this door also has a steel sheet embedded in it, and the doorknob is attached with a magnet. Lol

(3) Use bookends to arrange the styrene boards
Use bookends to make the boards stand up.
At this time, also set the floor.

The bookends support it like this.

This is what it looks like from above.

(4) Set up your favorite furniture and decorations
Place furniture, set out small items... arrange it however you like.
For small items you want to set on the walls, it's convenient to attach magnets to them beforehand so they stick firmly to the walls.

The windows, ventilation fan, and the shelf above the kitchen in the image above are also attached with magnets.

*Supplementary note
For decorations with a bit of weight, I recommend using strong magnets like these rather than magnetic sheets.

And that's it, it's finished!

◾️ Layout examples

I will post some installation examples using the walls and floors.

You can also take photos with depth, so I'm personally very satisfied with it!

*Supplementary note
As you can see from the layout examples, wall C has an empty window frame that isn't used for the apartment complex.

If I just put the wallpaper over it as is, the window frames would show through, so I'm covering it with cardboard that has a steel sheet attached.

By the way, it's also possible to take photos from the opposite side like this.

For wall b, I used a snap-in door, but the door in the image above is made of cardboard styled to look like a door.

Since this door has a magnetic sheet attached to the back, it can be stuck firmly to the board.
Also, just like the door used for wall b, a steel sheet is embedded in the surface, so the doorknob is also attached with a magnet.

You're thinking, 'How many times are you going to say "steel sheet" and "magnet"?', aren't you?
Yes, I am the steel sheet and magnet lady...

◾️Trying out a photoshoot

I recently bought some Re-Ment items from the Nekota-san series, so I'm going to use those for the shoot.

The image I have in mind this time is the home of the Toy Poodle sister.

If I can take this many photos just by combining the boards, I'm satisfied.
Also, this Re-Ment set is really great, so I highly recommend it...!

▼ I also tried taking these other shots

◾️ Arrangements, etc.

This time I set up the Toy Poodle sister's house, but depending on your ingenuity, I think it's possible to recreate various rooms with the same boards by changing the wallpaper or the positions of the doors and windows.

・Closet arrangement

The closet arrangements alone are infinite.

This closet can also be used upside down.
It's a lot of fun to build while thinking of ways to use it in multiple ways.

・Floor arrangement

If you make the floor a wider hardwood floor and change the furniture layout, it starts to look like a different house again.

This is what it looks like from above.

You could also place floor b or a closet on the other side of the sliding door to make it a Japanese-style room!
Also, changing the door design or similar details would likely change the atmosphere and be fun.

・Updated on 2024/06/08

I tried splitting floor c.

With this, it's now possible to create a room with hardwood flooring like this.

・Updated on 2024/06/15

I used wall a, wall b, and floor a to create a space with a bathroom and toilet.

Since floor a is the floor used for the entrance, I'm using two styrene boards to create a step.

I placed the wood-paneled one on the hallway side floor and used the base one for the bathroom floor.

Once you make or place small items, the bathroom is complete.

For the bathroom tiles, I printed them on glossy paper and attached a magnetic sheet to them.
Therefore, it is possible to change them to other tile colors as well.

◾️In conclusion

Even after making this photo set, I'm still buying Sylvanian properties, so honestly, it doesn't solve the land issue... lol
I'm satisfied with having a house that I can customize in various ways!

Also, while I used it for photographing the apartment complex this time, I think there might be other uses for it besides the apartment complex.

For example, this motel-style room is also a board photo.

The doors and windows are made of cardboard and are attached with magnets.

I plan to use it for other purposes in the future as well.
I have summarized the applications in the note below, so please take a look if you like.
*Updated as needed

Thank you very much for staying with me for so long!