Don’t let the miniature size fool you – a Christmas village will be a larger-than-life addition to your holiday décor. Offering limitless potential for creativity and customization, Christmas village displays are a beloved tradition in millions of homes worldwide.
With an astounding array of themed buildings, characters, and accessories, each one meticulously crafted with stunning detail, Department 56 is the original Christmas village creator. For nearly half a century, Department 56 has been the brand behind the holiday village tradition. Today, their village collections feature hundreds of products, so you can design a festive scene that’s as unique as you are!
St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles is a proud Platinum retailer of Department 56 villages for the last 44 years, and we’re honored to have helped countless families get started with their very own village collections. Now, we’ve put together a handy guide of Department 56 village ideas to spark both your inspiration and your Christmas spirit, making it easy and fun to create your very own magical holiday wonderland.
Choose Your Holiday Village Theme
From the beginning, the Department 56 brand has been known for releasing themed village collections in a diverse variety of styles. From traditional scenes to those inspired by the latest blockbuster hit, themed villages from Department 56 come in every style imaginable.
Before you buy your first village building, you might want to consider the type of theme that best suits you. For example, do you envision a classically charming, Victorian England-inspired town that looks like something out of a Charles Dickens’ novel? Or does the hustle and bustle of a holiday in the big city have a special place in your heart? From the Original Snow Village with a retro Americana feel to Santa’s North Pole and a charming Bavarian town, St. Nick’s has something for everyone.
In addition to Department 56’s classic village collections, we also carry many of their newly-debuted styles, including villages designed in the themes of Day of the Dead, Disney, The Grinch, Peanuts, and even Harry Potter. Best of all, you’re never limited to just one style many holiday village enthusiasts mix and match pieces from varying themes to create a completely customized collection
Begin Building a Village with Simple Starter Elements
If you’re feeling unsure about how to start a Christmas village, don’t feel overwhelmed. With just a few key pieces, you can create your collection on the right note.
At St. Nick’s, we often recommend that customers begin with one primary building (such as a church), a small assortment of people, and some snow. Even if you’re working with a small shopping budget, you can enjoy a lovely scene from the very first year. Then, every Christmas, you can invest in a new addition to your village.
Another excellent option is to purchase one of our signature village gift sets. Whether intended to be used in your own home or given as a gift, these sets include varying combinations of elements for the beautiful beginnings of a holiday village.
Plan Ahead for an Easy Electrical Source
Choosing your village elements and setting up the tiny town is the fun part, but getting everything properly connected to a power source can quickly become complicated. Each standard building has its own light cord, so even with a small village, you can run out of outlets before you know it.
One of our best tips for displaying a Christmas village is to swap out the standard light cords for a single, multi-socket cord. Manufactured by Department 56 to be easily compatible with all Department 56 products, the 6 Socket Lite Set with Bulbs cuts down on cords and dramatically simplifies setup. With just one of these cords, you can replace up to six individual light cords – what a space saver!
Add Height and Visual Interest with Risers
Varying heights help move the eye and create visual interest, ensuring that the magic of your holiday village never falls flat. We offer different options for products to use as risers, so you can choose whether you want to add height underneath the faux snow or with a visible “mountain.” Wood pieces are another smart way to set up standalone buildings, especially on a tabletop.
Use Snow as a Winter Wonderland Groundcover that Also Hides Cords
Once you’ve finalized the basic setup of the buildings in your village, it’s time to lay down a layer of snow. Designed to sit underneath the buildings, village snow is soft and impressively realistic to the eye. The snow “blankets” from Department 56 are easy to place, adjust, and smooth out to your liking, minimizing mess and offering an option that’s reusable year after year.
Your village’s size will determine how many snow blankets you need, though it’s always better to err on the side of having extra snow. Faux snow is the best way to disguise cords and add a realistic texture to breathe life into your village display.
Bring in a Diverse Assortment of Tiny Townspeople
Every Christmas village needs a cheerful collection of residents, placed around town to create a sense of happy holiday buzz. As you mix in a variety of people throughout the village, try to set them up in a way that tells a story. For example, perhaps you place a miniature family in front of the village bakery, where they’re looking through the window to pick out their Christmas morning treats! There’s no end to the fun you can have to arrange the people of your Christmas village.
Incorporate Landscaping, Walkways, Loose Snow, and Other Accents
Details are what make the difference, especially when you’re hoping to create a village that’s truly a sight to behold. Every village needs its own assortment of accessories, from cobblestone streets and light posts to cars, buggies, and benches. When it comes to adding trees, bushes, and other landscaping elements, the more the merrier – don’t hesitate to take a generous approach! Sprinkle loose snow for maximum magic, paying special attention to the tops of buildings and trees.
Of course, placing a large Christmas tree in your town center is a holiday village tradition – so don’t forget to get yours. With so many different trees to choose from, you can pick a style that matches your theme to a T. Department 56 silhouettes are the perfect finishing touch, making it appear as if your village goes on forever.
Surround Yourself with the Magic of the Holidays with Décor from St. Nick’s
St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles carries an extensive selection of Department 56 village collections, including a charming variety of buildings and accessories. Whether you’re searching for the perfect addition to your already-established village, or you’re hoping to start one from scratch this year, you can browse an array of options online and in-store from St. Nick’s.
Displaying Department 56 village components can become a treasured tradition in your home, especially with a delightful assortment of new elements available every holiday season! Fantastically festive and full of holiday cheer, your Department 56 Christmas village is sure to become a beloved centerpiece of your holiday décor.
Start shopping the full selection of Department 56 villages and accessories from St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles today!
