Ready to make a DIY Christmas village that will be treasured for years? These colorful Chroma-style villages are classic holiday decor—and a great family project. With unfinished birdhouses and a handful of craft supplies, you can create a charming display to put on your mantel, a bookshelf, or a table centerpiece.
This project works well as an annual tradition: add a new house each year or have every family member paint their own house to create a meaningful, growing village. You can also turn it into a party and craft houses together with friends.
Why set up a Christmas village?
Christmas villages are a nostalgic tradition for many families. They’re fun to unpack each season and bring a cozy, festive neighborhood vibe into your home. Over time you can build a collection of houses, each one tied to a memory or a year. Displaying them together creates a meaningful, colorful scene that feels personal and joyful.
What houses should I use?
Unfinished wooden birdhouses or craft houses are ideal. They come in many sizes and shapes, creating the look of a real little town when grouped together. You can buy them locally at craft stores or online. Mini birdhouses work well for apartments, classrooms, or smaller displays. The unfinished wood provides a perfect blank slate for paint, glitter, and embellishments.
Step-by-step DIY Christmas Village Tutorial
Gather all your birdhouses and supplies, then follow these simple steps to transform them into a sparkling Christmas village.
DIY Christmas Village
10 mins
2 hrs
2 hrs 10 mins
1 Christmas Village
$15 per house
Materials
- Wooden bird houses / craft houses
- Craft paint in various colors
- White craft paint
- Paint brushes
- Glue or Mod Podge
- Clear or iridescent chunky glitter and/or fine white glitter
- Optional: other colorful glitter for trim
- Fake snow
- Bowl for mixing glitters
- Christmas village accessories (small wreaths, trees, etc.)
- Ribbon (optional)
- Hot glue gun
Instructions
- Paint each birdhouse in the colors you choose. Plan a mix of hues so the houses coordinate but still vary.
- If adding colored glitter trim, apply a thin layer of glue to doors and window trim, then sprinkle matching glitter over the glue.
- Paint a thin strip of white paint along the roof edges to simulate snow buildup. Allow to dry.
- Mix white and clear glitters with a little fake snow in a bowl to create a snowy glitter blend.
- Spread a thin layer of glue over roofs and around windows/doors where you want snow. Sprinkle the glitter mixture on top and let dry. Optionally seal the glitter with Mod Podge once dry to reduce shedding.
- Attach accessories with hot glue. Add a touch of fake snow and glitter to wreaths, trees, or porches before gluing for a cohesive look.
Where to display your Christmas village
A Christmas village looks lovely almost anywhere you want a festive focal point. Consider these display ideas:
- On the fireplace mantel
- On a living room bookshelf
- On an entry table or media console
- As a centerpiece for a holiday table
- Around the base of a small Christmas tree
Add bottle brush trees, extra fake snow, or twinkle lights to enhance the scene and give it more depth and magic.
More Christmas crafts to try
If you enjoyed this project, try other festive crafts to expand your holiday decor collection. Simple projects like popsicle stick gingerbread ornaments, ornament-themed pillows, wooden tree forests, or felted stockings make great companions to your village and are fun to create each year.
Photos by Jeff Mindell | Craft production by Theresa Rountree
Would you paint your whole village at once or add a new house each year? You can also paint a mini version of your own home for a personal touch. Have fun creating your colorful Christmas village!