Learn how to build charming wooden gingerbread houses for your front yard! These DIY gingerbread house decorations add magic to your yard and make for a fun family project. Here, I’ll give you step-by-step instructions and decorating tips to help you create a Christmas display your neighbors will love.
Table of Contents
Materials Used
Tools Needed
Marking the Plywood for Cutting
I made various sizes of wooden gingerbread houses to add variety to my yard village. My smallest house is 30 inches wide and 25 inches tall. To get the roof peak just right, I found the center (15 inches), went up 10 inches, and connected the dots to each side—simple!
When planning your own, remember this trick: always start by finding the center, measure up 10 inches for the peak, and go from there.
For doors and windows, a drywall T-square is a great tool for marking straight lines! Add it to your tool arsenal ASAP! I’ve used it for everything from adding a stair runner to installing board and batten and more. Trust me, it’s one of those tools you don’t know you need until you have it!
Cutting Out the Fronts of the Houses
Maneuvering large plywood sheets alone can be tricky, so I use a jigsaw to separate each wooden gingerbread house before cutting on the table saw. For windows and doors, I drilled pilot holes in the corners, which makes using the jigsaw easier and faster.
Cutting Out the Roofs and Sides
Once the faces of my wooden gingerbread houses were cut, I moved on to the roofs and sides. Each side is 14 inches wide, with the height matching the front piece. The roofs are 17 inches wide to create a nice overhang. Measure the slanted front peak to get the correct roof length, then add 3 inches for overhang. A table saw and miter saw are great for these cuts!
I added a few window cutouts to the side walls, then gave everything a really good sanding. Now we’re ready to assemble!
Assembling a Wooden Gingerbread House
With everything cut, I aligned the side walls behind the front face and used a brad nailer to pin them together. For the roof, a bit of wood glue and a few brad nails kept it secure.
Staining My Wooden Gingerbread House
Instead of paint, I used a warm Early American stain, which makes the wood look more like real gingerbread. The stain adds depth and texture and reusing materials I already had helped keep costs down. I even made two lighter houses by mixing stain with clear polycrylic for variety.
I think the mix adds a touch of variety. You’ll see the color differences easily in the finished photos at the bottom of the post! This color has been a staple in my projects—I’ve used it on everything from floating bathroom shelves to my stair railing and more.
Decorating With Paint
To paint details on my wooden gingerbread house, I used leftover Alabaster white paint from a remodel. I drew “U” shapes on the roof for shingles, and my daughter helped paint over the lines, which made it a fun family project! A sample-size paint pot is plenty if you’re buying fresh.
Nothing on this has to be perfect. Just go for it. I drew some simple “U” shaped shingles on the roof, and my daughter loved helping by painting over my pencil marks with the white paint. This is such a good project to get your kids to help with.
Lighting up My Wooden Gingerbread House
For nighttime magic, I popped a strand of Christmas lights inside, held in place with masking tape for easy removal. You could also use solar lights if you want to skip extension cords. To keep the houses secure, I hammered a stake into the ground at each corner and attached the houses to the stakes with brad nails.
Finished Gingerbread Houses!
And just look at how adorable they turned out! The Christmas lights give each house that perfect cozy glow, and with the light-up trees in the background, it truly feels like a magical little wooden gingerbread house village.
Even in daylight, when the lights aren’t glowing, my little wooden gingerbread village is just adorable!
You can really see the color variations in this pic. I have the rich, darker gingerbread and the lighter shades where I thinned out the stain a bit. Which one do you like better?
One last look at these cuties all lit up! This project was such a blast for the whole family and added the perfect festive touch to my front yard. Now, all we need is a little snow to make my festive, holiday yard complete!
Can’t believe it’s been two whole years since I took on this DIY wooden gingerbread house project. Looking back at the photos, I am blown away by how much the exterior of our home has transformed since then. We’ve tackled DIY landscaping, laid down fresh sod ourselves, built DIY concrete curbing, and even gave that dated, ugly rock a whole new look with some mortar and paint.
Inside and out, it’s been a whirlwind of projects in just a few years here. Now, with our next move on the horizon, I’m racing the clock to finish every last item on my to-do list. Be sure to follow along on Instagram to see me finish this house.
To make a wooden gingerbread house, you’ll need plywood, a jigsaw, a table saw, wood glue, a brad nailer, and stain or paint. For decorations, you can use white paint for details and add a strand of Christmas lights to make the house glow at night. Stakes are helpful for securing the houses in your yard.
Start by cutting the front face, roof, and side walls of your wooden gingerbread house from plywood. Use a jigsaw to create window and door openings, and a table saw for the roof and side walls. Align the edges, glue and nail the sides to the front, and attach the roof for a secure build.
Staining the wood in a warm brown tone adds a gingerbread look, and painting details like “shingles” and “icing” in white gives it character. Use holiday lights inside to make it glow at night, creating a magical look for your yard. Mix darker and lighter stains for variety in your display.
To make your wooden gingerbread house durable, stain or seal the wood for weather resistance. Secure the houses by hammering stakes into the ground and attaching the structure to the stakes with nails. If you’re using lights, opt for outdoor-rated or solar-powered options to withstand the elements.
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