Nothing says “SPRING” more than a birdhouse. After a long, dark winter a birdhouse brings cheerful and happy vibes.
Plain wooden birdhouses are fun and easy to fancy up for Spring decor. And, there’s so many ways to use them!
Birdhouses are Perfect for:
Porch Decor
Table Centerpiece: Do you have an annual Spring event or fundraiser coming up? This would be a delightful table center piece! Table host gets to keep the birdhouse as a thank you gift.
Spring Wedding decor: YES! Paint white with lace trim; silk flowers; glue on pearl beads and silver accents…just darling.
Kids Arts & Crafts Project: as easy as decorating Christmas cookies.
Senior Center Arts & Crafts: who wouldn’t love making a sweet little birdhouse?
Selling at an Arts & Crafts Fair
Endless ideas for Birdhouse materials
Not good at painting? That’s ok, neither am I. When you see those plain wooden birdhouses at the craft store, they literally beg to be painted, but if you don’t paint, you may be tempted to pass it up.
Instead of doing any of that fancy painting…there are a whole bunch of ways to put your decorative touches on a wooden birdhouse. What’s more, you may have many of these items in your craft drawers or sewing basket. All you have to do is stick or glue them on!
- Add some ‘bling’ with jewelry (look at Thrift Stores, too)
- Beads (pearls look sweet for a Shabby Chic motif)
- silk flowers
- Washi Tape
- ribbon
- buttons
- Miniatures like butterflies, birds, ladybugs,
- Fabric accents: lace, trim etc.
- craft moss
- wooden letters or cut outs in shapes of a bird, flower etc.
- Stickers
- Scrapbook stuff
Wooden birdhouses come in different sizes and styles. These below are the larger ones 8-9″ tall from Michaels Crafts. Or your favorite on-line source.
Basic paint colors, fabulous effects
STEP 1
I’ll say it again, I’m not much of a painter. But I can at least apply a single, solid color. Painting is the FIRST Step. Use regular, water-based craft paint. With every hue of the rainbow available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed standing before the racks of craft paint at Michaels.
Here’s a money-saving tip: Buy basic, primary colors and mix your own customized pallet. Use a white plate or pie pan or white piece of cardboard.
- Pink= White + Red
- Purple= Blue + Red
- Orange= Yellow + Red
Get all the various shades of color…such as Spring Green…by adding yellow to green.
TIP: Stencils are also a great way to add style to a plain wooden birdhouse
Get an inexpensive set of small paint daubers for fancy stencil designs that make it look like you painted them yourself!
Brushes: As for paint brushes, a cheap set of 5 or 7 brushes will do just fine.
STEP 2
Apply a second coat. The wood is very dry and absorbs the paint. You could start with a white primer base coat, but it’s not necessary. Just know that to achieve a solid, bright color on your birdhouse, it will probably require a second coat.
Once the paint is thoroughly dry, you can start adding your decorations.
Decorative Styles for Birdhouses
The idea is just to relax and allow your imagination to take over. It’s whatever you like, or what someone else likes if you’re making it as a gift. For example, by gluing on sticks and twigs, the birdhouse will look like a log cabin. Glue a small block of wood to the roof for a chimney…voila!
- Shabby Chic
- Farmhouse
- Whimsical
- Fantasy/Fairy Garden look
- beach/ocean (accents: small sea shells and driftwood)
- cowboy/western
Final thoughts
I never get tired of decorating wooden birdhouses. Each one inspires different colors and a different look. For me, it’s a very relaxing activity for a few hours in the afternoon. You may know exactly how you want to make it, but for me, it kind of happens as I go along, looking over a table full of materials from which to choose.
As a cheerful craft that’s sure to bring a smile, you simple can’t go wrong with a pretty birdhouse!
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