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How to make a Christmas village

By Bunnings magazine /

A windowsill display featuring four small white timber houses decorated with string lights.

Overview

There’s nothing more magical than a homemade windowsill Christmas village display – it’s a delight for you, your family and anybody who walks past and peeks at the scene. This D.I.Y. mini Christmas village can be put together by making your own houses – use timber offcuts and leftover primer and paint to keep it budget friendly. You can also add off-the-shelf kits to make the village as big or small as you like, depending on the space you have.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.  

Follow the instructions below to make as many pine offcut houses as you need, varying the heights. We also used an off-the-shelf Boyle kit to make more houses for the village. Assemble the two parts of the plywood house, prime and paint. Allow to dry, then slot together.

Steps

1Mark the timber

On scrap timber offcuts, use a pencil and steel rule to mark straight lines for the base of the house and a triangle roof. Cut the base line using a mitre box and handsaw.
Hands holding a ruler and pencil, marking measurements on a small piece of timber.

2Cut the timber

Clamp the timber house to your work bench to cut the angled roof lines with a handsaw. Sand the cut edges using 120-grit abrasive paper, then sand all faces of the timber house using 180-grit paper; wipe away dust.
Hands holding and clamping a piece of timber to a workbench edge.

3Paint the house

Apply primer and two coats of white paint using brushes; let dry after each coat. Use a black marker pen to draw a door, windows and roof tiles on the front of the house. Place in position and decorate with battery-operated wire lights.
Hands using a paintbrush to paint small timber house shapes white.

4Keep in mind...

  • When cutting timber, sanding, painting or spray-painting, always wear the recommended safety equipment (such as eye protection, a mask and gloves) and work in a well-ventilated area, covering surrounding areas with a dropsheet to avoid overspray.
  • Keep all paint and chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.

     

    • 5Ready to get crafty this Christmas?

    Check out our Christmas D.I.Y. and decorating ideas.

     

    Photo credit: Martina Gemmola, Sharon Begg.

    Health & Safety

    Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

    When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.