Looking at that pile of old wood in your garage? Don’t toss it – it’s actually a treasure chest of Christmas decorations waiting to happen! Whether you’re a DIY pro or just starting out, these budget-friendly projects will turn ordinary scraps into holiday showstoppers that your neighbors won’t believe you made yourself.
Ready to unleash your inner Christmas craftsman? From rustic stars that sparkle on your porch to charming mini trees that dress up your mantel, we’re about to turn those forgotten wood pieces into festive decorations that look like they came from a high-end boutique. Best part? Your wallet (and Mother Earth) will thank you for choosing to upcycle. Let’s dive into these magical transformations that’ll make your home merry and bright – without breaking the bank!
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1. Scrap Wood Christmas Trees
By making homemade wooden Christmas trees, people love to use up old pieces of wood to decorate for Christmas. The different sizes of these do-it-yourself trees make them great for mantels, outside, or even as table settings.
How to Make It: To make the shape of a tree, start by cutting scrap wood into pieces of different lengths, from short to long. If you want a more rustic look, you can leave the wood pieces as they are or paint them green. Glue or pin the pieces onto a strong vertical base and put them together in layers.
Decorating Tips: To finish off the holiday look, you can add small ornaments, fairy lights that twinkle, or even hand-painted snowflakes to the wood.
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Product Suggestions:
Tools & Supplies for Crafting:
- BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill/Driver– Ideal for assembling wood pieces quickly and efficiently.
- VERSATILE 30 PC. SET – Includes a wide variety of bits and accessories for drilling and driving tasks.
- CORDLESS DRILL/DRIVER – Compact, lightweight design for versatile use.
- DEWALT 20V MAX Orbital Sander– Perfect for smoothing wood edges and surfaces before painting or assembling.
- Brushless motor provides runtime and efficiency to get the job done
- Variable-speed control from 8,000 to 12,000 OPM to match the speed to the application.
- Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue– Strong adhesive for securely assembling wooden layers.
- Extra-strength wood adhesive
- Non-toxic, no harmful fumes and easy to clean up with water
- Sandable and Paintable
- Bostitch Brad Nailer– Useful for nailing pieces together for a sturdier structure.
- Smart Point Technology: The electric brad nailer features easy nail placement as a result of a smaller nose compared to current BOSTITCH nailers and no need to compress the contact trip to actuate the tool
- 18 gauge brad nailer drives 18 GA brad nails from 5/8-inch to 2-1/8-inch length
Decorative Elements:
- Twinkle Star 200 LED Fairy Lights– Adds a magical glow to your Christmas tree creation.
- Safety String Lights: Warm white 200 LED lights, powered by electronic, widely use for hanging Christmas tree and toys.
- Extendable LED String Lights: 66 ft length with male and female safe plugs, could be extended to a maximum of five light chains.
- Kurt Adler 12-Piece Mini Christmas Ornaments– Perfect size for adorning the scrap wood tree.
- 【Original Design – Blue Christmas】Inspired by the classic song “Blue Christmas”, these ornaments, adorned with intricate geometric patterns and star prints in deep night blue and dawn gold-copper tones, evoke a sense of cosmic mystery and nostalgia, reminding us that the holiday season can feel bittersweet without loved ones.
- 【Variety of Patterns and Finishes】This decorative Christmas ornaments set includes ornaments with a variety of distinctive shapes like diamond, star, irregular ornaments and round ball ornaments with matte, glitter, glossy and crackle finishes. The diverse mix of shapes and finishes makes the set versatile for various decorative styles, particularly for holiday settings.
2. Wooden Christmas Signs
There’s nothing more Christmas-y than a happy holiday sign on the door or in the living room. You can use old pieces of wood to make homemade wooden signs that say things like “Merry Christmas,” “Joy,” or “Let it Snow.”
How to Make It: For this project, you will need a big, flat piece of scrap wood. First, sand it down to make the surface smooth. Next, paint it a fun color like red, white, or green. Paint your message by hand or with stencils once the base is set. If you want a more professional look, you can also use plastic letters.
Decorating Tips: Adding pine cones, pieces of greenery, or even a small wreath to the sign will make it look even more holiday-themed.
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3. Scrap Wood Ornaments
Use scraps of wood to make one-of-a-kind Christmas tree ornaments. You can make these gifts as easy or hard as you like, which makes them a fun project for both kids and adults.
How to Make It: From thin bits of scrap wood, cut out small shapes like hearts, stars, and Christmas trees. To hang it, sand the sides smooth and drill a small hole in the top. You can paint them fun holiday colors or design them with decoupage, glitter, or washi tape.
Decorating Tips: For a country look, hang your wooden ornaments from your Christmas tree, garlands, or even gift boxes with rope or ribbon.
4. Rustic Wooden Stocking Holders
If you don’t have a standard fireplace mantel, you can use scrap wood to make your own stocking holders.
How to Make It: To make it, start with a strong piece of scrap wood and connect wooden pegs or small hooks all the way across the bottom. You can paint or stain the wood to fit the colors of the holiday.
Decorating Tips: Make each stocking holder unique by adding the names of family members or using cutouts to make holiday designs like snowflakes or holly leaves.
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5. Wooden Candle Holders
Wooden candle stands make your Christmas decorations feel warm and cozy. They are easy to make and can be used as a table decoration or strewn around the house to give it a warm, holiday feel.
How to Make It: To make it, pick out thick scraps of wood and drill holes in them big enough for tealight candles. You can also make candle holders for taper lights out of long, thin pieces. For a smooth, shiny finish, sand the sides and stain the wood.
Decorating Tips: For a holiday touch, wrap your wooden candle stands in burlap ribbon, add some sprigs of greenery, or decorate them with small pinecones.
6. Scrap Wood Gift Tags
Wooden gift tags are better for the environment than paper ones. When you wrap your gifts, these wooden tags can add a rustic touch and can be used again and again.
How to Make It: To make it, take small, flat pieces of old wood and sand them smooth. In the top, drill a small hole for string or ribbon to go through. You can put the person’s name or a short holiday message on them, or you can leave them plain.
Decorating Tips: Use twine or bright ribbon to attach the wooden gift tags to your gifts. You can even leave some natural for a simple look, or you can add holiday images to them.
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7. Scrap Wood Christmas Wreath
Wreaths are usually made from plants, but a wooden wreath is a unique and rustic way to decorate with this classic item.
How to Make It: Find pieces of scrap wood of different sizes and shapes. Arrange them in a circle on a strong wreath frame by painting or nailing them in place. To get a unique look, you can mix and match different wood styles, or you can paint the pieces to go with a single color scheme.
Decorating Tips: As a holiday decoration tip, add small ornaments, holly berries, or pine cones to your wooden wreath and hang it on your front door.
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8. Scrap Wood Reindeer
Wreaths are usually made from plants, but a wooden wreath is a unique and rustic way to decorate with this classic item.
How to Make It: Find pieces of scrap wood of different sizes and shapes. Arrange them in a circle on a strong wreath frame by painting or nailing them in place. To get a unique look, you can mix and match different wood styles, or you can paint the pieces to go with a single color scheme.
Decorating Tips: As a holiday decoration tip, add small ornaments, holly berries, or pine cones to your wooden wreath and hang it on your front door.
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9. Scrap Wood Snowflakes
Making snowflakes out of scrap wood is a beautiful way to bring winter into your home. You can use these snowflakes to cover your walls, windows, or even your front porch for Christmas. They will make your decorations look more like winter.
How to Make It: Cut thin scraps of wood into equal-length pieces. These will be the arms of your snowflake. Set them up in a crossing pattern and use nails or wood glue to hold each piece in place. To add more detail, you can get artistic and add smaller pieces of wood to the ends of the snowflake.
Decorating Tips: To make them look really holiday, paint the snowflakes white, silver, or gold. For extra sparkle, you can add a little glitter. If you want a more rustic, country look, you can leave the wood as is.
10. Wooden Christmas Tree Skirt
A custom-made wooden tree skirt will make your Christmas tree look better. This elegant but rustic addition can be used instead of the standard fabric skirt to give your tree a more modern, farmhouse-style look.
How to Make It: Make a box-shaped structure out of scrap wood planks that goes around the base of your Christmas tree stand. The wood pieces can be spaced out to look like slats, or they can be pressed together tightly to make a firm skirt. You can sand and finish the wood to match the style of your home, or you can paint it in fun colors.
Decorating Tips: For an extra festive touch, you could stencil holiday patterns on the sides of the tree skirt, such as snowflakes, reindeer, or even your family name.
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11. Wooden Nutcracker Soldiers
A classic Christmas sign is the nutcracker. You can make your own from scrap wood, making this decoration truly unique.
How to Make It: To make it, start with a big piece of scrap wood that will be the body. The arms, legs, and hat will be made from smaller pieces of wood. Use wood glue or nails to put the figure together, and then paint the nutcracker in holiday colors. Don’t forget to add buttons, face features, and a mustache that you painted on.
Decorating Tips: Put up your homemade nutcracker soldiers by the fireplace, front door, or entrance to make people feel welcome.
12. Scrap Wood Garland
Putting a wooden garland around your Christmas tree or wall can give it a unique, country look. You can use this eco-friendly wreath again and again, which makes it a great addition to your holiday decor.
How to Make It: To make it, take thin pieces of scrap wood and cut them into small shapes like hearts, trees, stars, and so on. At the top of each shape, drill holes. Then, use yarn or ribbon to connect the shapes. For a simple look, you can leave the wood as is, or you can paint it in fun colors like red, green, and white.
Decorating Tips: Stick the wooden garland from your Christmas tree to your wall or the handrail on your stairs. To make it look even more natural, add small lights or plants.
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13. Scrap Wood Holiday Coasters
You can protect your furniture and make your holiday parties more fun with DIY wooden coasters. Holiday images can be added to these simple but cute coasters, which makes them a great gift idea or a fun addition to your Christmas table.
How to Make It: Assemble it by cutting leftover wood into small squares or circles and smoothing the sides. Paint holiday patterns on the coasters, like snowflakes, holly, or Christmas trees. For a more personal touch, you can also use wood-burning tools to carve complex patterns into the wood.
Decorating Tips: Put a set of coasters together with twine or ribbon and give them to family and friends as a caring, hand-made Christmas present.
14. Wooden Christmas Village
Use scrap wood to make a cute little Christmas town. You can put these small wooden houses and buildings on your mantel or as part of a display to make your home feel warm and cozy during the winter.
How to Make It: The bases of each building should be made from scrap wood blocks of different sizes. For the tops, cut out small triangles. The doors and windows should be rectangles. You can paint the buildings to make them look like a holiday town, or you can leave them as-is for a more natural look.
Decorating Tips: To finish off your wooden town scene, add fake snow, tiny string lights, and small trees. Set them up on a bed of cotton or fake snow to make a magical winter dream scene.
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15. Wooden Star Tree Topper
A pretty tree topper is a must-have for any Christmas tree. A star made from scrap wood gives your tree a natural, hand-made look and is strong enough to last for many holiday seasons.
How to Make It: To make it, cut thin strips of old wood and place them in a star shape. Use wood glue to hold the pieces together, then wait for it to dry. Make any rough spots smooth, and then paint or stain the star any color you like. To make the star stand out, you can also add glitter or metal details.
Decorating Tips: You can use floral wire or a metal stick to attach the wooden star to the top of your tree. To make the tree look like a whole, put the star with other wooden ornaments and flowers.
16. Scrap Wood Reindeer Yard Décor
Make your yard look like a winter dream by making life-sized reindeer out of scrap wood. For a fun, earthy holiday touch, you can put these reindeer on your front lawn, porch, or even inside.
How to Make It: For the reindeer’s body, head, and legs, cut bigger pieces of scrap wood into simple shapes. You can add smaller pieces of wood for the ears and horns. Put all the pieces together with nails or screws. For a rustic look, leave the wood unpainted. If you’d rather, you can paint the reindeer in fun holiday colors.
Decorating Tips: To make your reindeer look like Rudolph, add a red pom-pom for the nose. For a cozy, wintery look, you could wrap the reindeer in fairy lights or add a scarf.
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17. Wooden Sleigh Centerpiece
A wooden sleigh as a table decoration can give your holiday table a cute, old-fashioned look. This project is a great way to turn old pieces of wood into something useful and pretty that can be used to show off holiday decorations, candles, or even small gifts.
How to Make It: To make it, cut up some scrap wood and put it together to make the sleigh’s body. For the rails of the sleigh, use bent pieces or cut your own. After putting the sleigh together, smooth out any rough spots and paint or color it.
Decorating Tips: To make a fun holiday centerpiece, fill the sleigh with pinecones, flowers, ornaments, or candles. For a wintery look, sprinkle some fake snow on top.
18. Scrap Wood Snowmen
Wooden snowmen are a cute and natural way to decorate for Christmas, whether you put them inside or outside. Any scrap wood you have can be used to make these, which can be used to make cute little snowmen of different sizes.
How to Make It: To make it, cut round pieces of wood to make the body and head of the snowman. Connect them vertically, and then paint them white. Face and buttons should have simple paint features added, and arms should be made from small pieces of scrap wood. You can also make scarves out of remnants of fabric or wire.
Decorating Tips: You can make your wooden snowmen more interesting by giving them little hats, mittens, or even orange-painted wooden faces that look like carrots. They can also be put on show in groups of different sizes to make a funny snowman family.
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19. Scrap Wood Nativity Scene
A well-made wooden nativity scene is a classic piece of Christmas decor that shows what the holiday is really about. This do-it-yourself project is a classy way to use leftover wood to make an important home decor item.
How to Make It: Cut out easy shapes from scrap wood to show Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and the stable. For a raw look, you can paint the wood or leave it as is. Put the models together and connect them to a base to make them stable.
Decorating Tips: Use tiny LED lights to light up the scene or paint stars on the background to make it feel more like space. It’s possible to put the nativity scene on a mantel or in your Christmas town.
20. Wooden Christmas Lanterns
Handmade wooden Christmas lanterns will give your home a warm, holiday glow. You can use scrap wood to make these lanterns, which can be made to hold candles or string lights.
How to Make It: Use scrap wood to make a simple box-shaped building. Leave gaps for light to pass through. From the lanterns’ sides, you can cut out holiday forms like trees, snowflakes, and stars. To finish the look, sand the wood and paint or color it.
Decorating Tips: To make a soft, ambient glow, put battery-powered candles or string lights inside the lanterns. You can put them on your front door, in your windows, or as the center of a holiday table.
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21. Wooden Gift Boxes
Elevate your holiday gift-giving by making reusable wooden gift boxes from scrap wood. These boxes add a personal and rustic touch to your presents, and can be used year after year.
- How to Make It: Cut scrap wood into square or rectangular pieces to form the sides and bottom of the box. Attach the pieces using wood glue or small nails. Sand the edges to make the box smooth and safe for handling. You can create a lid by attaching a separate piece of wood or leaving it open for easy access.
- Decorating Tips: Paint or stain the wood to match your holiday color scheme. Add festive ribbon, burlap, or twine to finish off the look. These boxes can be reused for future gifts, making them both practical and eco-friendly.
22. Scrap Wood Christmas Card Holders
Keep your holiday greeting cards on display with a DIY scrap wood cardholder. This simple project allows you to organize and showcase all the Christmas cards you receive in a creative and decorative way.
- How to Make It: Use scrap wood planks as the base, and add horizontal strips of wood or twine where you can clip or slide cards. You can create multiple tiers for displaying a variety of cards. Paint the holder in holiday colors or stain it for a rustic look.
- Decorating Tips: Add small clothespins or hooks to hold the cards in place. You can also decorate the cardholder with garlands, tiny ornaments, or a festive message at the top.
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23. Wooden Candy Cane Decorations
Add a touch of classic Christmas whimsy by crafting oversized wooden candy canes. These charming decorations can be used indoors or outdoors to bring a festive, fun vibe to your home.
- How to Make It: Cut curved pieces of scrap wood to form the shape of a candy cane. Sand the edges to make them smooth, and paint the wood in traditional candy cane stripes—red and white.
- Decorating Tips: Use your wooden candy canes to line your front walkway, or place them by the front door to welcome guests. You can also add a bow or some garland to the candy cane for extra flair.
24. Wooden Garland Beads
Wooden garland beads made from scrap wood can add a modern, minimalist touch to your Christmas tree or mantle. These beads bring warmth and texture to your décor while keeping the design understated.
- How to Make It: Cut small wooden dowels into bead-sized chunks and sand them down to create smooth edges. Drill a hole through the center of each bead and string them together with twine or string.
- Decorating Tips: You can paint the wooden beads in festive colors like red, white, or gold, or leave them natural for a Scandinavian-inspired look. Drape the garland on your Christmas tree, along your mantel, or around doorways for a cozy, rustic touch.
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Conclusion
Using scrap wood for your Christmas décor is not only budget-friendly but also an environmentally conscious way to celebrate the season. Whether you’re crafting rustic wooden trees, festive signs, or charming reindeer, each project allows you to put a personal, handmade touch on your holiday décor. Plus, these DIY scrap wood Christmas ideas can be a fun family activity, adding even more joy to your celebrations. So, gather your leftover wood pieces, get creative, and let the holiday crafting begin!
Last update on 2025-01-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API