Christmas Carousel Decor: 16 Dollar Store Builds That Look Like Antique Shop Treasures

Christmas carousel decor brings back that dreamy feeling of standing in front of a spinning merry go round as a child, holding a grown up’s hand and picking your horse. This year, the handmade carousel is one of the most shared Christmas projects on Facebook, and one dollar store version alone pulled more than 281,000 reactions and 29,000 shares. The secret is simple: a couple of plates, a few dowels, some glass reindeer and a string of LED fairy lights. Put together, they look like a pricey music box from an antique shop. Below are 16 carousels in every style, from red and gold classics to soft pastels, each with a short supply list and easy steps. Grab a cup of cocoa and pick your favorite..

Christmas Carousel Decor That Steals the Show

Line up a few handmade carousels on a counter and the whole kitchen starts to feel like a holiday fair. Each one is built the same basic way: a sturdy plate on the bottom, a lighter plate or bowl on top for the roof, and poles in between with a little animal riding on each one. Change the colors and the trim, and you get a totally new look. Once you build the first, the second takes half the time. Let’s start with the classic..

You will need: A charger plate, a smaller plastic plate or bowl for the roof, four to six wooden dowels, ribbon, small glass or plastic reindeer, a round ornament for the top, battery LED fairy lights and a hot glue gun.

How to make it: 1. Wrap each dowel in ribbon and glue the ends. 2. With adult help, glue the dowels in a ring on the charger plate. 3. Glue the roof plate on top and an ornament on the peak. 4. Glue one reindeer to each pole and weave in the LED lights.

Classic Red and Gold Plate Carousel

Red and gold is the Christmas carousel decor most people picture first, and for good reason. It feels warm, traditional and a little bit fancy. Spray a plastic plate gold, add red ribbon stripes down the poles and finish the roof edge with a gold bead garland. A shiny red ball on top pulls it all together. It looks right at home on a mantel or a buffet table next to the cookies. Who in your family would love a red and gold classic?

You will need: A gold charger plate, a red plastic plate, gold spray paint, four dowels, red ribbon, gold bead garland, small reindeer and a red ball ornament.

How to make it: 1. Spray the roof plate gold outdoors and let dry. 2. Wrap the dowels with red ribbon. 3. Glue the poles, roof and bead garland in place with adult help. 4. Add a reindeer on each pole and the red ball on top.

Glass Reindeer Christmas Carousel Decor With LED Lights

Glass reindeer are the star of the viral dollar store builds, and once you add tiny LED fairy lights, you will see why. The light bounces through the clear glass and makes the whole carousel sparkle like ice. Tuck the battery pack under the base so no one sees it. Turn off the room lights at night and it looks like a little winter dream. This one makes a sweet gift for someone who loves anything that glows. Ready to see it shine?

You will need: A clear or silver charger plate, a clear plastic roof plate, four clear acrylic rods or dowels, glass reindeer figures, battery LED fairy lights and clear glue.

How to make it: 1. Glue the rods to the base in a circle. 2. Attach the clear roof on top. 3. Glue one glass reindeer to each rod. 4. Wind the LED lights up the rods and hide the battery pack under the base.

Silver and White Winter Carousel

If your Christmas carousel decor leans calm and wintry, go silver and white. White horses or reindeer, silver striped poles and a sprinkle of faux snow on the base give the feel of a frosty morning. Add a silver snowflake to the top instead of a ball. This color mix fits almost any room and looks great beside white or flocked trees. It is also the easiest to keep tidy year after year. Would this fit your living room?

You will need: A silver charger plate, a white plate for the roof, silver ribbon, four dowels, white animal figures, a silver snowflake ornament and faux snow.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the poles in silver ribbon. 2. Glue the poles and roof in place. 3. Attach the white animals and the snowflake on top. 4. Spread a thin layer of faux snow around the base.

Candy Stripe Carousel With Peppermint Poles

This one is pure fun. Red and white striped poles look just like candy canes, and a ring of faux peppermints around the roof makes it look good enough to eat. Kids and grandkids go crazy for it, and it fits right in on a dessert table. Use plastic or felt candies so no one tries to take a bite. Want to make the whole party table feel sweet?

You will need: A white charger plate, a red plate for the roof, four dowels, red and white ribbon, faux peppermint candies, small animal figures and a hot glue gun.

How to make it: 1. Wrap each dowel in a spiral of red and white ribbon. 2. Glue poles and roof in place. 3. Glue faux peppermints around the roof edge. 4. Add the animals and a big peppermint on top.

Two Tier Cake Stand Christmas Carousel Decor

A two tier cake stand already has the perfect shape for a carousel, with a center pole built right in. Add short dowels around each tier and you have a double decker ride. Small reindeer go on the bottom and tiny bottle brush trees on the top. It looks extra grand as a centerpiece, and the stand goes back to holding cupcakes after the holidays. Have a cake stand hiding in a cupboard?

You will need: A two tier cake stand, short dowels, ribbon, small reindeer, mini bottle brush trees, removable glue dots and LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the short dowels in ribbon. 2. Fix them around each tier with removable glue dots. 3. Add reindeer below and trees above. 4. Wind the lights around the center pole.

Mini Carousel Ornament for the Tree

Shrink the idea down and you get a darling ornament. Two small lids or wood circles become the base and roof, and bamboo skewers cut short become the poles. A single tiny horse or reindeer rides inside. Hang it with a ribbon loop and it spins a little when someone walks by. These tiny pieces of Christmas carousel decor are perfect gift toppers or a handmade ornament swap. How many could you make in one evening?

You will need: Two small wood circles or jar lids, short pieces of skewer, thin ribbon, a tiny animal charm, a bead and glue.

How to make it: 1. Cut skewers to about 2 inches with adult help. 2. Glue them between the two circles. 3. Hang the tiny animal in the middle. 4. Glue a bead on top and add a ribbon loop.

Bottle Brush Tree Carousel

Bottle brush trees bring instant vintage charm, and they look adorable riding a carousel. Put a few trees in different heights between the poles, with maybe one little reindeer peeking out. Pastel pink and mint trees feel very retro, while green and white feel classic. Our dollar store Christmas decor gallery has even more ways to use these little trees. Which colors will you pick?

You will need: A plate base and roof, four dowels, ribbon, mini bottle brush trees in two or three sizes, faux snow and glue.

How to make it: 1. Build the basic carousel frame. 2. Glue trees on the base between the poles. 3. Dust the base with faux snow. 4. Top the roof with one tall tree or a star.

Carousel Lantern With Snow Inside

Put a small piece of Christmas carousel decor inside a glass lantern and it feels like a snow globe you can see from every side. Fill the bottom with faux snow and add LED lights around the frame. The lantern keeps dust off, so this one can stay out all season. It looks lovely on an entry table or a porch step under cover. Do you have a lantern waiting for a new job?

You will need: A glass lantern, a small carousel or carousel figure, faux snow, battery LED fairy lights and small greenery picks.

How to make it: 1. Set a mini carousel inside the lantern. 2. Fill the bottom with faux snow. 3. Add greenery around the edges. 4. Wrap LED lights around the frame and close the door.

Gold Dowel Carousel With Pearl Garland

For a more elegant look, paint every dowel gold and drape pearl garland from the roof in soft swags. Cream or ivory horses keep it gentle and pretty. This style looks at home on a dressing table or a fancy holiday dinner table. Pearls are cheap at the dollar store and give an instant expensive touch. Would this suit your style or your mom’s?

You will need: A gold charger plate, a cream roof plate, dowels, gold paint, pearl bead garland, cream horse figures and glue.

How to make it: 1. Paint the dowels gold and let dry. 2. Glue the frame together. 3. Hang pearl garland from the roof edge in small loops. 4. Add the horses and a pearl topper.

Vintage Pastel Christmas Carousel Decor

Soft pink, mint and baby blue make this carousel feel like it came from a 1950s shop window. Add a touch of glitter on the roof edge and a little scalloped trim. Pastel Christmas carousel decor is having a big moment, and this is a cheap way to try it. It pairs beautifully with vintage ornaments and old candy dishes. Would grandma recognize these colors?

You will need: A pink plate base, a mint roof plate, pastel ribbon, dowels, small white horses, scalloped paper trim and fine glitter glue.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the poles in pastel ribbon. 2. Glue the frame together. 3. Add the scalloped trim and glitter glue to the roof edge. 4. Attach the horses and let it dry overnight.

Woodland Carousel With Pinecones

Bring the forest inside with a woodland carousel. Use a wood slice for the base, straight twigs for poles and a ring of small pinecones around the roof. Little wooden deer or a fox look right at home riding inside. It feels rustic and calm, and it costs almost nothing if you gather the twigs and cones yourself. Who is ready for a walk in the woods?

You will need: A wood slice, a round cardboard roof, straight twigs, small pinecones, wooden deer figures, moss and glue.

How to make it: 1. Glue the twigs upright on the wood slice. 2. Glue the cardboard roof on top and cover it with moss. 3. Add pinecones around the edge. 4. Attach the deer and add a pinecone on top.

Music Box Look With a Turntable Base

Want it to actually spin? Set the carousel on a small lazy susan and give it a gentle push. Suddenly it moves just like an old music box, and everyone who walks by wants a turn. Some people add a small wind up music box underneath for a tune. Carousels grew out of old European horseback tournaments, and America’s hand carved carousels had their golden age up to the early 1930s, as the history of the carousel explains. A turning base brings a bit of that charm home. It is an easy upgrade that makes your carousel feel like a real treasure. Who will be first to spin it?

You will need: A small lazy susan, a finished carousel, removable glue dots or museum putty and optional wind up music box.

How to make it: 1. Center the carousel on the lazy susan. 2. Secure it with putty or glue dots. 3. Tuck a music box under the base if you like. 4. Give it a gentle turn.

Kids Room Carousel With Felt Animals

For little ones, make a soft carousel with felt animals instead of glass. Use fabric covered poles, a felt roof and stuffed felt ponies or bears. This Christmas carousel decor is safe to touch and makes a sweet shelf decoration in a nursery or playroom. Older kids can help cut out the felt shapes with you. It might just become a keepsake they keep forever. What animal would your little one choose?

You will need: A sturdy round box lid, cardboard tubes, felt in bright colors, stuffing, fabric glue and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cover the tubes in felt. 2. Glue them between the lid and a felt covered cardboard roof. 3. Sew or glue small stuffed felt animals. 4. Attach the animals with ribbon.

Christmas Carousel Decor for the Dinner Table

Make your carousel the star of Christmas dinner. Set it in the middle of the table on a bed of greenery and add small matching carousels at each end. LED tea lights around the base give a soft glow without any flame. Guests will spend half the meal looking at it. It is a fun way to make a holiday table feel magical. What will your guests say?

You will need: One large carousel, two mini carousels, fresh or faux greenery, LED tea lights and a table runner.

How to make it: 1. Lay the runner down the table. 2. Place the big carousel in the center on greenery. 3. Add the mini ones at each end. 4. Scatter LED tea lights around them.

Carousel Porch Display With LED Lights

Take your Christmas carousel decor outside and go big for the porch with a carousel built from a round tabletop or a large planter tray. Pool noodles or PVC pipes make great poles, and big plastic horses or reindeer finish the look. Wrap everything in outdoor LED lights and it will glow for the whole street. Keep it under a covered porch so rain does not ruin it. Will your neighbors stop to look?

You will need: A large round tray or old tabletop, PVC pipes or pool noodles, outdoor ribbon, large plastic animals and outdoor battery LED lights.

How to make it: 1. Fix the pipes upright on the base. 2. Add a lightweight round roof. 3. Attach the animals with zip ties. 4. Wrap with outdoor lights and add a big bow on top.