Farmhouse Christmas ornaments are perfect when you want a tree that feels cozy, handmade, and collected instead of overly polished. Natural wood, jute, plaid fabric, leather, clay, aged metal, and simple neutral colors can turn even inexpensive craft supplies into decorations that feel warm and timeless.
The best part is that many DIY farmhouse Christmas ornaments are surprisingly easy to make. You can use scrap fabric, mason jar lids, cardstock, inexpensive wooden blanks, old ornaments, craft sticks, beads, and materials already sitting in your craft drawer.
These 17 ideas include simple projects for beginners, farmhouse ornaments kids can help with, rustic handmade gifts, and a few slightly more detailed crafts that can become decorations you bring out every Christmas.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Picks for DIY Farmhouse Christmas Ornaments
- For beginners: faux wood-burned ornaments or farmhouse bells.
- For a rustic tree: jute wreaths, leather tassels, and grain-sack stars.
- For kids: clay ornaments and simple craft-stick ornaments.
- For a neutral tree: paper houses, wooden ornaments, and ticking-fabric hearts.
- For farmhouse glam: copper-leaf or pearl-beaded ornaments.
- For a handmade gift: string-art ornaments or personalized bells.
- For repurposing: use old ornaments, mason jar lids, scrap fabric, and leftover ribbon.
Best Materials for Farmhouse Christmas Ornaments
Farmhouse decorating relies heavily on texture, so you do not need complicated ornament shapes to get the look. A simple star or ball can feel completely different when covered with linen, plaid, jute, leather, or distressed paint.
| Material | Farmhouse Look | Easy Ornament Use |
|---|---|---|
| Natural wood | Rustic and simple | Wood slices and blanks |
| Jute and twine | Textured and casual | Mini wreaths and wrapped balls |
| Plaid fabric | Classic country Christmas | Fabric-covered ornaments |
| Leather | Warm and rustic | Tassels and hanging loops |
| Clay | Simple handmade look | Stamped ornaments |
| Aged metallics | Farmhouse glam | Copper leaf and bells |
17 DIY Christmas Ornaments for Farmhouse Decor
1. Make Vintage-Inspired Wood Scripture Ornaments
Start with simple wooden ornament blanks and give them the look of something that has been passed down through the family.
Paint or stain the wood in a soft neutral color, then add a short Christmas verse, meaningful phrase, or small printed image using decoupage.
Once dry, gently distress the edges with fine sandpaper so the piece looks slightly worn rather than freshly painted.
Finish with twine, thin plaid ribbon, or linen ribbon for hanging.
Farmhouse detail: choose warm cream, weathered brown, charcoal, or faded gray rather than bright glossy paint.
2. Create Rustic String-Art Christmas Tree Ornaments
Small wooden rectangles can become miniature string-art ornaments with just a few nails and embroidery thread.
Paint or stain the wood first, then lightly mark a simple Christmas tree, star, or snowflake shape.
Add small nails around the outline and wrap thread between them until the design is clearly visible.
Green thread creates a traditional little tree, while cream, red, or black can make the ornament fit a more neutral farmhouse palette.
Gift idea: add the family name or year to the bottom of the wooden piece before hanging it.
Amazon Find: Unfinished Wooden Ornament Blanks
Plain wood blanks can be painted, stained, stamped, decoupaged, or personalized and work for several farmhouse ornament projects.
3. Make Lightweight Paper Farmhouse Houses
Tiny house ornaments look especially charming on a farmhouse Christmas tree, but wooden houses can sometimes feel heavy on thinner branches.
Instead, cut little house shapes from sturdy cardstock. Add simple windows, doors, and roof details with a fine marker or craft knife where appropriate.
White, cream, kraft brown, and faded red all work well for farmhouse-style houses.
Hang the finished houses with twine and add a tiny bottle-brush tree or paper wreath if you want extra detail.
Small-tree tip: paper houses are light enough for tabletop trees and narrow branches that might bend under ceramic or wood ornaments.
If you are decorating a compact home, these DIY Christmas decor ideas for a small apartment include more lightweight, space-saving holiday projects.
4. Cover Ornaments With Plaid and Burlap
Few materials say farmhouse Christmas as clearly as plaid and burlap.
Start with lightweight foam or old plastic ornaments and wrap them in pieces of plaid fabric. Add a narrow burlap strip around the center or top.
Finish with jute twine, a small wooden button, or a tiny evergreen sprig.
Red-and-black buffalo check creates a stronger rustic look, while cream-and-black or muted green plaid feels calmer.
Money-saving idea: use scraps left over from old pillow covers, tablecloths, shirts, or previous Christmas projects rather than buying fabric specifically for each ornament.
5. Draw Faux Wood-Burned Ornaments
You can create the look of wood burning without buying a wood-burning tool.
Use thin wood slices or flat wooden blanks and sketch simple tree branches, stars, snowflakes, names, or small Christmas houses with a fine dark permanent marker.
Simple line drawings often look more convincing than complicated designs.
Add a little twine through the hanging hole and keep the rest of the ornament natural.
Beginner tip: lightly draw the design in pencil first, then trace the lines once you are happy with the placement.
6. Make Mini Jute Wreath Ornaments
Tiny wreaths add texture to a farmhouse tree without bringing in more shiny ornament finishes.
Wrap jute cord around a small ring or create a simple circular base from sturdy craft material. Continue wrapping until the surface looks full.
Finish with a miniature bow, small felt flower, faux berry cluster, or tiny piece of greenery.
Keep most of the jute visible so the ornament retains its natural farmhouse character.
Easy variation: use cream macramé cord instead of brown jute for a softer neutral Christmas tree.
Amazon Find: Natural Jute Twine
Jute twine works for mini wreaths, ornament hangers, wrapped balls, gift tags, bows, and rustic garlands, making it one of the most versatile farmhouse craft supplies.
7. Add Copper Leaf to Painted Ornaments
Farmhouse decor does not have to be completely rustic. A small metallic accent can give a neutral tree a more polished farmhouse-glam look.
Paint plain ornaments in white, cream, soft gray, sage, or charcoal. Once dry, add irregular copper leaf or metallic detailing to part of the surface.
Do not try to make the metallic section perfectly symmetrical. A slightly worn or uneven finish works well with farmhouse textures.
Hang the ornaments with velvet ribbon, plaid strips, or simple twine depending on how dressed-up you want the tree to feel.
Styling tip: use metallic ornaments sparingly and mix them with wood, burlap, and fabric pieces so the tree still feels warm.
8. Turn Mason Jar Lids Into Chalkboard Ornaments
Mason jar lids are inexpensive farmhouse craft pieces and their round shape already works perfectly as an ornament.
Paint the center black with chalkboard-style paint and write a name, short Christmas word, date, or simple snowflake design in white.
Wrap a narrow plaid or jute ribbon around the outer ring and add a hanging loop at the top.
You can personalize one for each family member or create a matching set using words such as joy, peace, merry, and Noel.
Reuse idea: lids from jars you already have can work, as long as they are clean and free from sharp or damaged edges.
9. Make Rustic Leather Tassel Ornaments
Warm caramel-brown leather works beautifully with pine branches, wood beads, brass bells, and neutral farmhouse ornaments.
Cut leather or faux-leather strips into a fringe, roll the top tightly, and secure it to create a small tassel.
Add a loop of cord for hanging and one wooden bead above the tassel if you want a little more detail.
The finished ornament is simple enough to mix throughout the tree rather than becoming a dominant focal point.
Alternative material: old faux-leather scraps, worn belts, or leftover craft sheets can sometimes be repurposed for small ornaments.
10. Stamp Simple Clay Christmas Ornaments
Air-dry or oven-bake clay makes beautiful farmhouse ornaments because the finished surface looks handmade even when the design is very simple.
Roll the clay flat and cut circles, stars, trees, hearts, or small house shapes with cookie cutters.
Before the clay dries, use letter stamps, greenery, lace, or another textured object to press a subtle pattern into the surface.
Make a hanging hole near the top, then let the ornament dry according to the material instructions.
Leave it natural white or add a small amount of paint once cured.
Family idea: stamp names and dates into several pieces to make inexpensive keepsake ornaments.
Amazon Find: Air-Dry Clay
Air-dry clay can be shaped into stars, hearts, houses, tags, and stamped keepsake ornaments without requiring a kiln.
11. Sew Grain-Sack Star Ornaments
Grain-sack-style fabric has the faded stripes and simple texture that work especially well on a rustic farmhouse Christmas tree.
Cut two matching star shapes, place the patterned sides facing outward, and stitch around most of the edge.
Add a small amount of fiber fill before closing the final section.
The stitching can be neat or intentionally visible depending on how handmade you want the result to look.
No machine required: these small ornaments can be hand stitched because the seams are short and slightly imperfect stitching fits the relaxed farmhouse look.
12. Make Ticking-Fabric Heart Ornaments
Striped ticking fabric is another classic farmhouse textile that can easily become Christmas ornaments.
Cut two simple heart shapes, sew them together, and lightly stuff them so the ornament has a soft dimensional shape.
Add a small jute or ribbon loop before closing the top.
Red-and-cream ticking feels especially festive, while black, blue, or gray stripes can work with a more neutral tree.
Decor idea: use a few of these hearts on a Christmas wreath as well as the tree so the same fabric repeats around the room.
13. Wrap Rustic Ornaments With Jute Rope
Old foam or plastic ornament balls can be completely transformed with inexpensive jute rope.
Begin at the top or bottom and wrap the rope tightly around the ornament, securing it as you work.
Finish with burlap ribbon, lace, a small pinecone, berry sprig, or tiny wooden cutout.
Because the base ornament is hidden, this is a useful way to reuse old colors that no longer match your Christmas decor.
Simple version: leave the ornament completely plain except for one small gingham or burlap bow.
14. Make Farmhouse Beaded Ornaments
Wood beads or muted pearl beads can create ornaments that feel handmade without looking overly crafty.
Thread beads onto wire to form a star, tree, snowflake, circle, or simple initial.
Natural wooden beads create the most rustic look, while cream or pearl beads add a slightly more elegant farmhouse finish.
You can also glue beads around an old ornament ball and finish it with a linen bow.
Personalized idea: bend a beaded wire into the first letter of each family member’s name and use the ornaments as small Christmas gifts.
Amazon Find: Natural Wooden Craft Beads
Natural wood beads can be used for ornaments, garlands, tassels, gift tags, wreath accents, and farmhouse tray decor throughout the Christmas season.
15. Add a Little Farmhouse Glam With Sequin Ornaments
Sequins may not sound farmhouse at first, but they can work when the color palette stays muted.
Use cream, champagne, antique gold, bronze, or matte silver sequins on a foam ornament rather than bright rainbow colors.
Layer the sequins carefully around the shape so the surface feels finished and intentional.
Mix these sparkly ornaments with burlap, wood, jute, and plaid pieces so the tree has contrast without becoming too glamorous.
Safety note: pin-based sequin ornaments are better suited to adults and older teens because of the sharp pieces. For younger children, use glue and larger embellishments instead.
16. Make Rustic Popsicle-Stick Snowflake Ornaments
Wooden craft sticks can create surprisingly attractive farmhouse snowflakes when you keep the finish simple.
Glue several sticks into a snowflake or starburst shape and leave the wood natural for a rustic appearance.
Alternatively, paint the sticks white and lightly sand the edges after drying for a slightly weathered finish.
Add twine, a small gingham bow, or a tiny berry cluster before hanging the snowflake on the tree.
Kid-friendly version: let children paint prepared snowflakes and add pom-poms or simple embellishments with age-appropriate craft glue.
17. Personalize Farmhouse Christmas Bell Ornaments
Simple metal or painted bell ornaments become easy farmhouse keepsakes when you add names or Christmas words.
Choose white, galvanized, black, brass, or distressed red bells and write the name directly on the surface with a suitable permanent marker or paint pen.
Add a small greenery sprig and finish the top with red gingham, black-and-white check, velvet, or jute ribbon.
Make one for every person in the family and hang them together in the same section of the tree.
Gift idea: personalized bells also work as gift toppers. Tie one onto the package and let the recipient keep it as an ornament afterward.
How to Style DIY Farmhouse Ornaments on the Tree
Handmade ornaments look best when the tree has enough repetition to connect all the different projects.
- Choose one main neutral: cream, white, brown, or gray can connect different materials.
- Repeat plaid: use the same fabric on a few ornaments, ribbons, or bows.
- Add natural wood: wood beads and slices keep shiny ornaments balanced.
- Use jute sparingly: repeat it as ornament hangers rather than wrapping everything in rope.
- Mix shapes: combine stars, houses, hearts, wreaths, bells, and round ornaments.
- Add greenery: pine picks or berry stems can fill gaps between larger ornaments.
- Keep some branches visible: farmhouse trees often feel more natural when they are not completely covered.
You can also use leftover farmhouse ornaments around the house. Fill a clear jar with them, add a few to a tray, or string them into a simple garland. These cozy Christmas tray decor ideas include several ways to style rustic bells, greenery, plaid, wood, and ornaments together.
Easy Farmhouse Ornament Color Palettes
- Classic farmhouse: red, cream, natural wood, and green.
- Neutral farmhouse: cream, beige, black, and natural brown.
- Rustic cabin: dark green, burgundy, brown, and brass.
- Modern farmhouse: black, white, warm wood, and muted green.
- Farmhouse glam: cream, champagne gold, copper, and pale gray.
- Cozy plaid: red, black, cream, and evergreen.
DIY Farmhouse Ornament Crafting Checklist
- Choose the tree palette: decide on your main colors before buying supplies.
- Check existing materials: look for fabric scraps, old ornaments, jars, twine, wood, and ribbon.
- Choose two or three projects: avoid purchasing supplies for all 17 ideas at once.
- Prepare ornament bases: clean old ornaments and sand rough wood where needed.
- Protect your workspace: paint, glue, glitter, and metallic leaf can get messy.
- Separate adult tasks: sharp tools, nails, hot glue, and pins require appropriate handling.
- Make matching sets: repeating an ornament three or five times helps the tree feel cohesive.
- Add hangers last: make sure glue and paint are completely dry first.
- Label keepsakes: add the year to personalized ornaments.
- Store carefully: wrap handmade fabric, clay, and paper ornaments separately after Christmas.
Common DIY Farmhouse Ornament Mistakes
- Using too many patterns: choose one main plaid and combine it with simpler fabrics.
- Making every ornament brown: natural wood and jute look better when broken up with cream, green, red, black, or metallic accents.
- Using too much burlap: a little texture goes a long way.
- Making ornaments too heavy: use cardstock, fabric, foam, or lightweight wood for thinner tree branches.
- Forgetting scale: mix larger handmade ornaments with smaller filler pieces instead of making everything the same size.
- Skipping drying time: paint, glue, clay, and sealers may require more time than expected.
- Adding embellishments before planning the hanger: make sure the ornament can still hang straight once finished.
- Using unsafe tools with young children: pins, nails, sharp cutters, hot glue, and small beads require appropriate supervision or adult handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are farmhouse Christmas ornaments?
Farmhouse Christmas ornaments usually use natural or traditional materials such as wood, jute, burlap, plaid fabric, clay, leather, bells, linen, and simple metallic accents. The colors tend to be warm, muted, and easy to mix with greenery.
What can I use to make rustic Christmas ornaments?
Wood slices, twine, pinecones, mason jar lids, fabric scraps, craft sticks, clay, leather scraps, beads, bells, and old plastic ornaments can all be turned into rustic Christmas decorations.
What colors work best for farmhouse Christmas decor?
White, cream, warm brown, natural wood, muted red, forest green, black, and galvanized or antique metallic finishes work especially well. You can also add burgundy or navy for a darker traditional farmhouse look.
How can I make cheap ornaments look farmhouse style?
Cover inexpensive ornaments with plaid fabric, jute, chalk-style paint, wood beads, linen ribbon, or distressed finishes. Changing the hanger from shiny cord to twine or plaid ribbon can also make a surprisingly large difference.
What farmhouse ornaments can kids make?
Kids can help make clay shapes, painted craft-stick ornaments, simple paper houses, and fabric decorations. Adults should handle any tasks involving hot glue, sharp cutting tools, nails, pins, or other potentially unsafe materials.
How many handmade ornaments should I put on the tree?
There is no fixed number. Start by placing the larger handmade pieces evenly around the tree, then fill the gaps with simpler ornaments, ribbon, bells, or natural accents. Leaving some visible branches can help a farmhouse tree feel relaxed rather than overcrowded.
Recommended Finds for DIY Farmhouse Christmas Ornaments
Many of these ornaments can be made with scraps and supplies you already own. If you need new materials, choose versatile basics that can support several different projects.
- Unfinished wooden ornament blanks — useful for paint, lettering, faux wood burning, decoupage, and personalization.
- Natural jute twine — for wreaths, wrapped ornaments, hanging loops, and rustic bows.
- Natural wooden craft beads — for ornaments, tassels, garlands, and farmhouse accents.
- Air-dry clay — for stamped stars, hearts, tags, trees, and keepsake ornaments.
- Buffalo plaid Christmas ribbon — useful for ornament hangers, wreaths, gift wrap, and tree bows.
- Mini craft bells — for personalized ornaments, wreaths, ribbons, and handmade garlands.
- Wooden craft sticks — for snowflakes, stars, tiny houses, trees, and kid-friendly ornament projects.
Final Thoughts
The best DIY farmhouse Christmas ornaments do not need to look perfectly manufactured. Slightly uneven stitching, distressed paint, natural wood grain, frayed fabric, and hand-written details are often what give farmhouse decorations their charm.
Start with materials you already have, such as plaid scraps, twine, old ornaments, mason jar lids, wooden pieces, or spare ribbon, and choose just a few projects that fit your tree’s color palette.
You can keep things completely rustic with jute, grain-sack fabric, wood, and leather, or introduce a little farmhouse glam with copper, pearls, bells, and muted sequins.
Make several versions of your favorite ornament and repeat them around the tree. The result will feel more coordinated while still keeping the personal, handmade character that makes farmhouse Christmas decorating so cozy.
Ankit is an engineer by profession and blogger by passion. He is passionate to do all the stuff such as designing the website, doing the SEO, researching for the content, writing tech blog posts and more.
