I know I’m not alone when I say that I LOVE Christmas! Seriously, there’s no greater time of year for me. My favorite part is keeping old traditions alive while also making new traditions and memories with my own family. One of those old traditions is setting out a Christmas village. My grandma ALWAYS decorated her house from top to bottom each year and the decorations were not complete without her Christmas village. I remember helping her to carefully set out each little cottage and figurine and working on it until it was just right. As soon as I moved out on my own, I knew that my own home wouldn’t be complete without a village set out each year. I feel like these villages have sort of lost their popularity over the years with the younger generations, but I refuse to give it up. This year, though, I decided to add a little twist to my old Christmas favorite and utilize vertical space and crates to display my Christmas village. By the way, there’s a pretty sweet giveaway at the end of this post that you won’t want to miss!
Crates are hugely popular right now and for good reason. They are an attractive, and usually a much more affordable storage solution to baskets. I personally love them for the rustic look, but they also have endless possibilities! For my Christmas village display, I used small and large sized crates sold by Crates and Pallet at Home Depot. The large crates are sold in stores and online. The small crates and various other sizes are sold online only. (affiliate link)
We have a giant monstrosity of a built-in entertainment center in our great room and the large, deep openings have made it a challenge in the past to set up my Christmas village. Utilizing the crates allowed me to not only take advantage of vertical space, but also add a little fun and interest to my village. I used 5 large crates and two small crates, which somehow fit so perfectly that it was like they were made to go in this space! I considered staining the crates, but I felt it might make everything feel a little too dark, so I kept them natural. I added some garland to the top and flanked it with two little Christmas trees on each side.
I started playing around with the layout of my Christmas village and getting everything where I wanted it to go. I loved that I could feed the cords for the lights through the backs of the crates and keep everything hidden. I used to have to get pretty creative to hide all of the cords before. Since the crates hide the electrical outlets, a timer like this one (affiliate link) makes it easy to set it and forget it versus trying to reach back and plug in the lights each evening.
Once I was happy with where all of my village pieces were going, I started adding the “snow.” I cut it to fit inside each crate and then across the entire front of the opening.
The roll of batting needed a little extra snowy affect to it, so I grabbed a bag of snowflakes and sprinkled them all over to add a little more dimension.
It makes everything feel a little more like a winter wonderland, don’t you think? I’m sure the cleanup process will be an interesting experience, but sometimes things like this are worth the mess later on.
I love the new look of my Christmas village! It feels so much less crowded now and the crates give it a nice rustic look, too! The best part about using crates is that you can stack them any which way you like to create your own customized look. Plus, when Christmas is over, you can keep on using them for pictures and other decor items.
It’s giveaway time! You can enter for a chance to win a $50 Home Depot gift card to purchase your own awesome crates, or whatever you like! Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below and you’re all set! Good luck!
DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Crates and Pallet. I was compensated and/or provided product for this post. All ideas and opinions; however, are 100% my own. Please read my disclosure statement for more information.
I would give the card to my husband to buy tools for work
Great idea! Thanks for entering!
I love the rustic charm of your village. I would love to have one, but I have very curious cats and they would go all Godzilla on the village. I would probably use the gift card for LED Christmas lights so I can restring my Christmas tree since many of its lights don’t actually work anymore and I would love for it to have red lights.
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LOL! I’m now picturing that in my head! Thanks for stopping by!
I would buy some crates to put my village in so I can display it. I have no place for it right now (we arranged furniture so the “normal” spot is not there anymore). This is such a great idea! I bet this would be lovely too on top of kitchen cabinets (although you probably couldn’t see all the figures and such)
I would buy some paint
I would buy paint for my front porch.
I inherited my Grandma’s village. With such a collection and a one year old I wondered how to display them. This is a great idea.
I would buy a new hammer.
I love this setup!! The crates are a great item to use for so many different things.
I would gift it to my Father for the holidays.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a $50 Home Depot Card!
I would buy painting supplies to paint our living room.
I love Christmas villages! We had a village and train set under the Christmas tree every year as a child.
I have a village and train under the tree every year. Some of the buildings are lifted higher on 2×4’s and Styrofoam to add interest.
I would use it to buy some lawn and garden trash bags and a new rake.
get a new bathroom vanity
I love this idea!!!
Our village was passed down from my mom when she was downsizing, and our sons have enjoyed adding to it every year. But now it’s looking a bit crowded on our library table, this might just be the thing we need to do!!
Thanks!
I would use it to get a welcome mat for our front porch and some light bulbs!
I would probably use it to buy replacement light bulbs for around our house.
I LOVE your village! I’ve been looking for new ways to put my “village” on display during the holidays. My mother started giving me a snowbaby figurine every year including larger pieces. This is certainly a terrific way to display them! I would love to use the gift cards for more lights and decorations because, you can never have enough right?
I would buy paint for my bedroom.
I’d love to be set loose at Home Depot and I’d get a slow cooker and coffee pot!
I would purchase some crates to make a scene just like yours, I have a area perfect to create it in my home❤️
If I won a $50 gift card to Home Depot, I would regift it to my hubby! Home Depot is my hubby’s “hobby” shop, and he acts like I do when I am in a craft store! Of course, I benefit from anything he buys is used for our house or yard!
We are renovating our kitchen and The Home Depot is practically a daily visit! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
What a great idea! I love the way it looks!
I would buy paint.
I would buy a surge protector with the gift card.
I would like to try to build my son a cool toy box.
I would use the gift card to buy paint to paint my mom’s retirement home.
I would buy some lights.
If I win this gift card I would put it in my husbands stocking! He has his eye on some new tools at and would be so excited to get a gift card for christmas!
I would get paint for my bedroom.
I would put it towards a new front door for our home. We get such winter drafts during the cold winter months.
I would purchase some plants and some seeds for my garden.
I would give it to my dad for xmas. he would buy something neat with it
The gift card would be a gift for my brother in law.
thank you
I would buy paint for our living room or use it for a new trimmer
We would use the gift card on our mobile home repairs.
My Hubbys boat was stolen out of our yard last week while we were out of town and he is so mad as I am to so I would help him get a privacy fence started its a shame we have to do that but I am over the stealing lately…urghh
Oh no! That’s awful!
i would buy some new shelves for our craft room. it has outgrown the old ones.
I would love to buy paint for a kitchen project!
I’d love to get a few things to help enhance Christmas this year. Some new decorations and ornaments, for example.
I’d love to get some things to help enhance Christmas. Some new decorations and ornaments, for example.
I would spend it on new tools.
I would give it to my dad as a stocking stuffer.
I would buy some rakes or put it in my husband’s stocking from Santa;)
We would use it for finishing our basement.
I would love to get some bins for organization and some christmas decos.
I would buy some paint.
I would gift it to my son.
I would buy lumber to redo my kitchen table in a farm house style
I would buy paint for my bedroom!
I would buy some chalk paint to re-do some furniture that’s been loved a little too much
I’m currently making curtains, so would probably get some hardware for that project. Thanks!!
I have a fantastic old barcart that needs some love. I’d like to get some paint and spruce it up! (Green is the color I’d choose!)
I would use it to buy paint for my daughter’s room.
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id buy a lamp
I would buy some tools.