DIY Wooden Christmas Village
If love getting creative during the holiday season, then check out this super easy DIY wooden Christmas village! It makes a stunning table centerpiece for your Christmas decor, plus they double as candlestick holders!
With just a few simple supplies, you can add this charming piece to your DIY farmhouse Christmas decor and have a beautiful holiday display in no time! This project is perfect for all skill levels, so even if you’re new to crafting, you can still make this adorable wooden village.
I love how easy these were to make. You can easily make a couple of houses, or you can make a ton of houses for your village! It’s up to you! Plus they double as candle stick holders, but they look great without candles too!
I first got this idea from AngelaRoseHome on Instagram, who had seen this idea on The Navage Patch. I loved them so much, I had to make my own set! And you can too – just follow this simple guide and get crafting!
So gather some friends or family for a fun crafting day to make these beautiful wooden houses and create a cozy and festive Christmas village. Not only is it a great way to spend time together, but you’ll also have unique and personalized decorations to display in your home!
Supplies Used for DIY Wooden Christmas Village
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- 4″ x 4″ x 8′ Lumber
- 1″ Drill Bit and Power Drill
- Miter Saw
- Sandpaper / Power Sander
- Paint / Stain (see below)
- Copper Couplers
How to Make a DIY Wooden Christmas Village
Our Christmas village is mainly made up of wooden houses, so we’ll start by making those. The process is quite straightforward. First cut the 4×4 piece of lumber in half so you’re only working with 4′ long pieces.
Drill Chimney Holes for Wooden Christmas Houses
Then, using a 1″ drill bit, drill a hole on the top edge of the 4×4.
I clamped my 4×4 onto my table with a couple of clamps first. And then I drilled my hole a little off the center, so the chimney would sit on one side of the roof. I drilled probably 1.5″ to 2″ deep.
It’s easiest to drill the hole for the chimney when the surface is flat, so that’s why we drill before we cut the roof lines. Once you cut the roof lines, it’s slanted and doesn’t sit flat for drilling. So be sure to drill the hole first.
NOTE: Some of the houses didn’t get a hole for a chimney. I just left their roofs plain.
Cut Wooden Christmas Houses
Then mark the middle point of your 4×4 (at around 1.75″) so you know where to line up the miter saw. Then put your miter saw at a 45 degree angle and cut your roof line.
Line the miter saw up to cut from the middle of your block to the edge. Then flip over the block and cut the other side of the roof. Then cut the 4×4 at a regular 90 degree angle to make your house. Repeat this process for as many houses as you want to make.
I cut some longer than others, and some pretty short. I wanted a variety of house sizes for my village. You can choose to cut your houses all the same size or mix it up like I did.
Sand Wood Christmas Village Houses
After all of your houses are cut out, sand your house down with some 220 grit sandpaper or your power sander. Sand them enough to remove any splinters so you have a smooth surface as well as not hurt yourself while working on the wooden houses.
Paint or Stain DIY Christmas Village
Then paint or stain them as you wish! You can go with traditional Christmas colors like red and green, or go for a more neutral and rustic look with browns and whites. You can also follow your own color scheme and even get creative with patterns or designs.
For my village, I used:
- Fusion Mineral Paint’s Pressed Fern
- Fusion Mineral Paint’s Cathedral Taupe
- Homemade Stain (see below)
Homemade Wood Stain Recipe
For the stain, I used a homemade stain made from watered down Valspar Antiquing Glaze. Literally, I mixed a small amount of the glaze with a bunch of water until it was a really really thin consistency. Then I tested it to make sure I liked the shade of stain.
I love using a homemade waterbased stain so I don’t have to worry about fumes. But it also dries super fast. You can use regular wood stain though! Check out the best wood stain options here if you want to go the traditional route.
Either way, let the stain/paint dry completely before moving onto the next step. You don’t want any smudging or smearing when you start adding the finishing details!
Put Coupling into DIY Christmas Village Chimneys
Place your copper coupling into the hole you made for the chimney. You can use some hot glue to secure the coupling a little better if you need to. Or you can also leave it unglued so you can remove the chimney later if you want.
Mine fit well without any glue. Then you can put candles in some of the chimneys! Don’t they make the cutest and coziest candle holders? You can even put in candles in different colors or scents to add even more life and charm to your village.
Display DIY Wood Christmas Village
You’re all done!! Some ideas for where to put your DIY Christmas village:
- On your dining table as a centerpiece
- On an entryway table or sofa table
I decorated around my village with some bottle brush trees. And I sprinkled some regular table salt and rock salt on the table as fake snow. This village would look perfect paired up with small wooden Christmas trees and DIY wood Christmas trees to complete your unique winter wonderland.
There are so many options and inspirations for your DIY Christmas village decorations that are festive but still affordable. You can also add some more rustic Christmas decor for the perfect cozy and warm ambiance.
If you want more, here you can build your own Christmas village with your family using simple materials! You can use card stock to make your DIY Christmas village and decorate however you want! Consider these Christmas village houses to paint for a fun activity and unleash your creativity.
If you want ready made decor, heck out our charming selection of Christmas village houses, each one a delightful addition to your seasonal decor, inviting joy and wonder. Here are wooden Christmas village houses in all sorts of styles and sizes, so you can mix and match to create a collection that’s your vibe.
More DIY Christmas Decorations
- Farm Fresh Christmas Tree Sign
- Merry and Bright Wooden Sign – Dollar Tree Decor
- Christ the Savior is Born Sign
- Homemade DIY Christmas Village
- DIY Merry Christmas Wood Sign
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