Funky Junk Interiors

This charming DIY wooden Christmas village brings the magic of the holiday season straight to your Christmas mantel, using scrap wood and a window frame!

If you know me at all, you’ll already know I love love LOVE Christmas decorations that are very natural and neutral, as if you’re walking through a forest. Most of my preferred traditional Christmas accents and color palette are inspired from nature, with lots of rustic wood through fresh greenery, pinecones, and reclaimed wood creations.

But I rarely pick an actual Christmas theme until I get the tree up! Because for me, the Christmas tree and holiday fireplace mantel sort of become one focal point.

Here’s a few of my favorite previous Christmas mantels that are equally natural:

Past favorite Christmas mantels:

 

2020: Christmas living room mantel with old windows

2019: Vintage crates Christmas mantel

2018: Illuminated Christmas trees mantel sign

2015: Santa’s picnic by the campfire Christmas mantel

2013: illuminated old windows Christmas mantel

Visit all my mantel decorating HERE

So last week, I shared my real rustic farmhouse Christmas tree in a wood sled tree skirt HERE in the living room. It turned out as charming as can be, which totally led to the inspiration of this mantel idea! 

So today, I’m sharing what I call the DIY wooden village Christmas mantel, made very simply with a wooden window frame, and scrap wood.

… with a twist.

I was tempted to call this a change-my-mind traditional Christmas mantel, because it went through several variations that I honestly all liked! Indecisive much?!

So instead of just sharing 1 Christmas mantel idea, here’s all 3 Christmas mantel decorating ideas! Because, why not? LOL

Here’s what I did: x 3.

This post contains some Amazon affiliate links in which I earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases through these links, at no extra cost to you. Thank-you for helping to support my blog!

1. Snowflake Christmas mantel decor

 

How to add natural branches to a mantel

 

1. Position some long, natural evergreen branches into place along the entire length of the mantel, allowing some to hang over the edges.

I didn’t attach the branches to the mantel, however you could using masking tape or various removable hooks if desired.

2. Then two strands of white mini twinkle lights were added, weaving the lights through the branches in an attempt to hide most of the wires.

3. Black, white, silver and wicker ornaments were added to the evergreen branches, varying the size and color positioning.

4. The empty wood window frame was positioned in the center of the mantel, then a big wooden snowflake was hung from the top of the window frame.

Adding additional accents with berries, wreaths or ribbon would also look lovely!

However I called this done! Filled with plenty of charm, rustic texture and easy to do. With no candlesticks required.

Take the Christmas tree tour HERE

The rustic holiday mantel vibe looked good beside this year’s Christmas tree decorated in glam neutrals as well.

But then I pushed myself a tiny bit further… What else could fill that window frame with even more holiday cheer?

So I hauled out my box of DIY wood Christmas trees that I shared on THIS VINTAGE CUPBOARD, and added even more pops of rustic wood!

2. Wooden Cabins Christmas mantel

 

Hanging a small Cabins sign, and cutting up a few scrap wood pieces into 2 cabins, the design morphed into a story of rustic cabins deep in the forest!

How to cut scrap wood Christmas trees

 

Each tree was cut from fence planks on an angle.

1. Position a wood plank inside your miter saw.
2. Turn the miter saw on an angle of your choosing.
3. Make a straight down cut.
4. Flip the board over, and make another cut, forming a triangle.
5. Continue down the board until all the desired trees are cut.

Video – how to cut scrap wood Christmas trees

 

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Click above to watch a short video on how to cut wood scrap trees!

 

3 DIY Christmas tree tutorials

 

Learn how I made each scrap wood Christmas tree shared in this post:

Industrial black trees

White chippy string wrapped trees

Winter and Christmas scrap wood trees

Find lots of wooden Christmas trees on Amazon HERE

And then… hmmm… one more idea was implemented because I just had to… which combined a mix of both Christmas mantel ideas above!

3. DIY wooden village Christmas mantel decor

 

… which ultimately stuck!

This is the story of a big snowfall over a wooden Christmas village lined with cabins deep in the forest. I love the whimsical aspect of this! The visual really tells the full story.

How to make a wooden snowflake

 

The wooden snowflake is a gift from a blogging friend via My Altered State. I can’t seem to visit Pauline’s blog any longer but you can find the snowflake tutorial on Hometalk HERE.

It’s hand made and even though the snowflake is missing a few pieces these days, I think that makes it even more unique!

How to arrange the Christmas village

 

1. Prop the window frame into place.

2. Stencil a small CABINS sign on a plank of wood, then attach hooks.

Learn how to make the CABINS sign in THIS POST.

View the Cabin stencil from HERE

3. Hang the CABINS sign from S hooks from the window frame.

4. Create a cabin out of  square and triangle wood pieces, then stack like blocks.

5. Arrange the cabin with the trees along the window frame.

This Christmas mantel is rustic, and just plain fun!

And of course, as cozy as can be with a real crackling roaring fire.

The firewood crate was filled up, then dressed up with a couple of evergreen branches for a simple and natural look.

And with a couple of neutral white and fur Christmas stockings, this Christmas mantel was complete!

Hope you enjoyed the Christmas mantel tour, and got a few ideas that inspire your own little scrap wood Christmas village somewhere in your home!

What did you do on your own Christmas mantel this year?

How to make a charming Christmas Village using 2x4s

Check out many other fireplace mantel decorating ideas HERE

Visit all my other unique Christmas decorating ideas HERE