Ready to learn how to make a DIY Christmas Village that you’ll have for generations?
Chroma Villages are a Christmas decor classic, and this is one you can make with the whole family. All you need are unfinished birdhouses and a few other supplies from the craft store!
You can even make it a yearly Christmas tradition so your village can grow over the years. Regardless, everyone will be so excited to display their beautiful Christmas house creations on the mantle or a bookshelf.
Why do people set up Christmas Villages?
Christmas villages are often a family tradition! They are exciting to unpack each year and display in a special place in your home. (Keep scrolling for ideas on how to display yours!) They instantly bring the festive charm of a neighborhood decorated for the holidays into your home!
Families often collect houses for their village throughout the years, and in this case, you can make a new house each year! Each family member make their own house and they’ll look so meaningful displayed all together!
You could even throw a Christmas village party and make houses together with friends!
What houses should I use for a Christmas village?
Unfinished bird houses are the secret ingredient to a DIY Christmas village. They come in all sizes, designs and styles and will make your village look like a real town! You can find unfinished bird houses at your local craft store or on Amazon.
You could even use mini bird houses to make a small Christmas village, perfect for an apartment or classroom.
These houses are perfect because they are easy to paint and provide a perfect blank slate for however you’d like to decorate them!
Step-by-Step DIY Christmas Village Tutorial
Once you have all your birdhouses, you’re just about ready to make your DIY Christmas village! Here’s a step-by-step photo and written tutorial:
DIY Christmas Village
Materials
- Wooden Bird Houses/Craft Houses
- Craft Paint in Various Colors
- White Craft Paint
- Paint Brushes
- Glue or Mod Podge
- Clear/Iridescent Chunky Glitter and/or Fine White Glitter
- Other Colorful Glitter (Optional, for trim!)
- Fake Snow
- Bowl for mixing glitters
- Christmas Village Accessories (Small Wreaths, Trees, Etc.)
- Ribbon (Optional, we swapped out the red ribbons on the wreaths for pink!)
- Hot Glue Gun
Instructions
- Paint your bird houses whatever colors you'd like. We planned ours out so we had a variety of colors and they all coordinated.
- If you want to add any colored glitter to the trim of your house, now is the time to do that. Glitter looks pretty on doors and window trim. Add a thin layer of glue over the painted trim and sprinkle coordinating glitter overtop.
- Now, add snow. Paint a thin strip of white paint along the edges of the roof of each house. This makes the snow really "pop" on the edges, where in real life it would pile up the most! Let dry.
- Mix together your various white and clear glitters and fake snow in a bowl or other dish.
- Add a thin layer of glue over the entire roof, and under/around any windows or doors where you want some snow to "fall" and use your fingers to sprinkle your glitter mixture over top of it. Let dry. IF you'd like, you can add a coat of Mod Podge on top of your glitter once try to help keep it from shedding.
- The final step is to add your accessories! You can also add some snow and glitter to these with a little bit of glue. Then hot glue them to the doors, windows or porch of the houses.
Where should a Christmas Village by displayed?
Here are a few ideas for how to display your Christmas village:
- On your fireplace mantle
- On a bookshelf in your living room
- On an entry table or media console
- In the center of a table for Christmas dinner
- Around the base of a miniature Christmas tree
Adding in bottle brush trees or fake snow with your DIY Christmas village display makes it feel even more magical!
More Christmas Crafts to Try
These other projects will quickly become a part of your family’s annual Christmas decor, too!
- DIY Popsicle Stick Gingerbread House Ornaments
- DIY Ornament Pillows
- DIY Wooden Christmas Tree Forest
- DIY Felted Stripe Christmas Stockings
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Craft Production by Theresa Rountree
What do you think, would you paint your DIY Christmas village all at once or add to it each year? Another fun idea is to paint a mini version of your own house! Have fun!
RENEE JOHNSON says
This is SO cute!!
Michelle says
They look absolutely adorable!
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Abby Hunter says
I’m in LOVE!! So good!
LirioNohemy says
OMG how adorable!!! These are so, so good! I’m now mentally rearranging my decor to see where I can fit in a few of these 🤔😂
Kristina B says
These are just the CUTEST!! I love how some of them have a mini wreath or a porch tree!
Also…Samantha doesn’t CRAFT!?!?!? How is that even possible?
Samantha says
Not even a little! Haha. I’m the left brain to Kelly’s right!
Kristina B says
HA!!
Perfect! I think I left my Left Brain somewhere. Maybe my husband has it.
Marike says
I love it!
Did you paint those trees yourself? How did you do it? 🙂
Amanda says
Where did you get all those larger colorful trees surrounding the village? Theyre so cute!! I love this so much and definitely want to try this out.
Sylvie says
This is the most beautiful thing ever!! It puts vague daydreams I’ve had for years and years (and years) into an amazing pink wonderland!! Feeling very excited about this
Ci-san says
It’s beautiful! I love the colors. <3
Marie says
These are so cute. Such a clever idea. Ithink I have some of those wooden birdhouses out in the garage. Merry Christmas and keep those great ideas coming!
Annie says
I have been intriqued by miniature houses ever since I was a little girl. These are so sweet and so affordable and so easy! Definitely see these in my future. Thanks for sharing such a fabulous idea!
Jac Hardy-Heeley says
This little Christmas village is my favourite DIY. I am hoping to make it for this year. Thank you for the wonderful idea🌲
Debra A Wise says
These are absolutely stunning. Love them!
Teresa says
I absolutely adore the colors and creativity! Bravo.
Deepweb says
It’s going to be end of mine day, except before end I am reading this wonderful article to increase my knowledge
Rose Martine says
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Peyton says
I am obsessed with this village!! I am having trouble with the colors though. My local craft store’s paint selection is slim so I am going to try to purchase online, but it’s hard to tell what the color will actually look like. Do you happen to know the brand and color names of some of the paints you used???
Alicia says
I’d love to know the paint colors too!
Jen says
This is adorable! Can you share the colors you used?
Liz says
I’d love to make these, it looks like a lot of the links to the houses are out of stock though. Ive had a hard time finding any others. Do you have any other suggestions?
Morgan says
.
Ash says
Hi,
I LOVE the idea of birdhouses❣ Paper wouldn’t last for years & years, and the $$$$ for ceramic.
I have a question, though…. how do you cover up the hole (bird’s entrance?)
Camden M. says
Hey Kelly! This is adorable!! I am wondering if you reused these the next year. Did the chunky glitter stay intact or was there some fallout?
Pam says
Thank you so much for the recipe card and tutorial for these gorgeous houses. I have wanted to do this but never found a tutorial before. I definitely will be making these.
Kelly says
You’re so very welcome, Pam. I hope you have fun making your village!