DIY Gingerbread Village from Thrifted Christmas Houses

Create a charming DIY gingerbread village from thrifted Christmas houses for just $35! Step-by-step spray-paint, “icing” details & styling tips.

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Thrift Store Makeover Day

I’m so excited to share this fun—and incredibly budget-friendly—project. I scored eight vintage Christmas village houses for only $35 (none were pricey collectibles, so I knew painting was fair game!). Follow along to transform dusty thrift finds into a charming gingerbread village that’s perfect for your kitchen, mantel, or holiday tablescape.

The Before

I was so excited to find all of these houses. They are not the same brand and are different sizes. That works out perfectly because they will be unified with the warm caramel spray paint.

Have you priced out gingerbread houses like these? They can get very expensive! I have painted some all white that I love. So I figured it wouldn't be too hard to create the gingerbread look.

Supplies Used

• 8 Thrifted Christmas Houses (total cost: $35)
• Rust-Oleum 334083 Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover Spray Paint, Satin Warm Caramel ( I used 2 cans)
• Rust-Oleum 241526 Comfort Grip spray-paint handle (for better control)
• Tulip Dimensional Fabric Paint (Puffy White) (I used 2)
• Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers, medium point (2-pack)
• Dawn Power Wash (for cleaning)
• Soft scrub brush
• Painting blocks or scrap wood (to elevate pieces for full-coverage spraying)
• Drop cloths & old sheets (to protect your work surface)
• Battery-operated fairy lights, tea lights or remote/timer candles
• Frosted greenery, bottle brush trees, candy cane ribbon trees, and any other seasonal accents

Step-by-Step Makeover

Clean Your Finds

Spray each house with Dawn Power Wash and gently scrub with a soft brush to remove years of dust and grime.

Rinse in the sink and let dry on a counter for 24 hours.

Prep for Painting

Lay out old sheets or a drop cloth in a well-ventilated area.

Raise each house on a painting block so you can spray from every angle—even upside down.

Spray-Paint Base Coat

Attach the Comfort Grip handle to your spray can for extra control and a smoother finish.

Apply two light coats of Warm Caramel, allowing 10–15 minutes between coats. This paint covers beautifully, so you won’t need a third.

I let them dry outside for a couple of hours. I then transferred them to the garage to dry for 24 hours.

Add “Icing” Details

Bring your dried houses to a comfortable spot (I worked at my kitchen island!).

For small accents (windows, doors, rooftop trim), switch to the oil-based paint markers. Don’t stress about perfection; once you get in the groove, it goes surprisingly fast!

Use Puffy White fabric paint to pipe snow-drifts and icing swirls—this gives delightful dimension. I did not paint the backs of the houses with white paint.

Allow painted details to cure for 36–48 hours before styling.

Styling Your Gingerbread Village

Once your houses are fully dry, it’s time to bring them to life.

I completed this gingerbread village last year, about a week before Christmas. It brought me so much joy to look at it while cooking and doing dishes.

Lighting: Tape a string of fairy lights inside the archways and along rooftops. Add battery-operated tea lights (with timers or remote controls) for extra glow.

Greenery & Trees: Tuck frosted sprigs and bottle brush trees around the base.

Candy Cane Ribbon Trees: You can craft mini trees by winding candy cane–patterned ribbon around foam cones. I found these at Hobby Lobby last year.

Who knows where I will place these this year, but I believe they will go right here. They would also be great as a centerpiece or even on a mantel. I could break up the set around the kitchen as well, but I like the impact of one large village. I do not have all 8 here. They wouldn't fit.

I decided not to store these in the attic. I have them in a spare bedroom closet on the top shelf.

I’m over the moon with how this turned out—and I know sweet Phoebe (granddaughter) will be just as enchanted this Christmas!

More Thrift Store Decor from the Team

I hope this inspires you to start your own thrifted gingerbread village. Drop a comment below if you try it—or let me know your best thrift-store score! 🎄✨

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