Galvanized Christmas Decor: 14 Farmhouse Bucket and Tub Ideas That Look Like a Country Store

Galvanized Christmas Decor is the easiest way to make your home feel like an old country store at Christmas, and most of it costs only a few dollars. Think of the shiny metal buckets, tubs and watering cans your grandma kept in the barn or on the back porch. Fill them with fresh pine, red berries and pine cones, and suddenly they look like something from a farmhouse boutique window. You can find these pieces at thrift stores, garage sales, farm supply shops and dollar stores, and they last for years. The silver metal goes with red plaid, white shiplap, kraft paper and every shade of green. Here are 14 cozy ideas for the porch, the kitchen, the tree and the table, each with a simple supply list and easy steps. Grab a bucket and let’s decorate..

Galvanized Wash Tub Porch Display, the Easiest Galvanized Christmas Decor

Start your Galvanized Christmas Decor on the front porch, where a big round wash tub makes the boldest first impression. Pack it with fresh evergreen branches, red winterberry stems and big pine cones so it looks full and generous. Set a watering can of cedar beside it and toss a buffalo check blanket on a rocking chair for that country store feel. Old wash tubs often turn up at farm sales for very little money. Every neighbor who walks by will slow down to look. Does your porch have room for one big tub..

You will need: A large galvanized wash tub, a bag of potting soil or sand, fresh or faux evergreen branches, red berry stems, big pine cones, a watering can, a plaid throw.

How to make it: 1. Fill the tub two thirds full with soil or sand so the stems stand up. 2. Push in the tallest branches at the back, then fill the front with shorter greens. 3. Tuck berry stems and pine cones into the gaps and set the watering can beside it.

Watering Can Evergreen Bouquet for the Kitchen Table

An old watering can makes the sweetest vase for a winter bouquet. Fill it with pine, cedar, eucalyptus and red berry stems, and let some pieces spill over the spout. Tie a small red bow on the handle and set it in the middle of the kitchen table. It smells like a tree farm every time you walk past. A dented or rusty can looks even better than a new one. Where would you put a bouquet like this in your home?

You will need: A galvanized watering can, floral foam or a jar that fits inside, pine, cedar and eucalyptus stems, red berry picks, red ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Set a jar of water or a block of wet floral foam inside the can. 2. Add the longest greens first so they fan out, then the shorter ones. 3. Add berry picks for color and tie a bow on the handle.

Galvanized Tub Tree Collar for a Farmhouse Galvanized Christmas Decor Tree

A plain tree stand is not pretty, so hide it inside a wide metal tub for an easy Galvanized Christmas Decor upgrade. The tub turns into a tree collar that looks clean, shiny and very farmhouse. Wrap a few gifts in kraft paper and red ribbon and stack them around the base. This also keeps pets and little hands away from the water dish. Many home stores sell ready made tree collars for a lot more, but a thrifted tub works the same. Would you try this under your tree this year?

You will need: A wide galvanized tub that fits around your tree stand, a few bricks or blocks if needed, kraft paper, red ribbon, a tree skirt or burlap.

How to make it: 1. Set the tree stand inside the tub and raise it on blocks if the tub is too deep. 2. Put the tree in the stand and tuck burlap around the top of the tub to hide the gap. 3. Fill the water with a small cup and arrange wrapped gifts around the base.

Tin Tub Hot Cocoa Station

A long oval tub on the counter becomes the coziest hot cocoa station in town. Line it with a plaid towel, then fill it with white mugs, a jar of marshmallows, peppermint sticks and a bowl of chocolate chips. Kids and grown ups can help themselves all season long. Find more cozy setups in our hot cocoa bar ideas. Keep the hot water in a kettle nearby, not in the tub. What topping would you put out first?

You will need: A long oval galvanized tub, a plaid kitchen towel, mugs, glass jars, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, candy canes, chocolate chips, pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Line the bottom of the tub with the folded towel. 2. Arrange mugs at one end and jars of toppings at the other. 3. Tuck pine sprigs around the outside and add a small scoop or spoon to each jar.

Mini Pail Ornaments for the Tree

Tiny metal pails make the cutest ornaments you will ever hang. Craft stores sell them in packs for party favors, and they cost very little. Fill each pail with a sprig of greenery and a few tiny red berries, then hang it with jute twine. They catch the tree lights and add sparkle without any glitter. These also make sweet gift toppers or place card holders. How many little pails could your tree hold?

You will need: Mini galvanized pails with handles, small faux greenery sprigs, tiny red berry picks, jute twine, a hot glue gun with adult help.

How to make it: 1. Put a small dab of hot glue inside each pail. 2. Press in a sprig of greenery and a few berries and let it set. 3. Tie jute twine to the handle and hang the pail on the tree.

Galvanized Tray Centerpiece With a Tiny Village, a Cozy Galvanized Christmas Decor Idea

A long metal tray is the perfect base for a Galvanized Christmas Decor centerpiece on the dining table. Line it with cedar sprigs, then add a little white village of ceramic houses, pine cones, red berries and jars of fairy lights. It stays low, so everyone can still talk across the table. You can swap the houses for small pumpkins in the fall or eggs in the spring. Battery fairy lights give it a warm glow with no worry. Which room would you put your little village in?

You will need: A long galvanized tray, cedar or pine sprigs, small white ceramic houses, pine cones, red berry picks, small glass jars, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Lay greenery down the length of the tray. 2. Place the houses in a row with jars of battery fairy lights between them. 3. Fill the gaps with pine cones and berries.

Two Tier Galvanized Stand for Christmas Cookies

A tiered metal stand turns a plate of cookies into a bakery display. Pile gingerbread men, frosted sugar cookies and peppermint bark on the tiers, then tuck pine sprigs between them. It looks lovely on a kitchen island during a holiday party. If you cannot find one, stack two metal pie tins on a candlestick holder with strong glue. When the cookies are gone, fill it with ornaments. Which cookie always disappears first at your house?

You will need: A two tier galvanized stand or two metal pie tins and a short candlestick, strong metal glue, cookies, pine sprigs, parchment rounds.

How to make it: 1. If making your own, glue the candlestick between the two tins and let it cure overnight. 2. Line each tier with a parchment round. 3. Fill with cookies and tuck small pine sprigs around the edges.

Milk Can Greeter With a Red Velvet Bow, a Classic Galvanized Christmas Decor Look

An old milk can is a farmhouse classic, and it makes a wonderful Galvanized Christmas Decor greeter by the front door. Fill it with tall evergreen branches and red berry stems so they stand above the rim, then tie a big red velvet bow around the neck. It looks like it came straight from a country store porch. Milk cans are heavy and do not blow over in the wind. For more porch inspiration, see our Christmas front porch ideas. Would you put yours by the door or on the steps?

You will need: A vintage or new galvanized milk can, tall evergreen branches, red berry stems, wide red velvet ribbon, sand or rocks for weight.

How to make it: 1. Pour sand or rocks into the bottom so the branches stay put. 2. Add the tall branches first, then the berry stems. 3. Tie a big red velvet bow around the neck of the can.

Little Pail Gifts for Neighbors and Teachers

Small metal pails make thoughtful gift wrap that people keep and reuse. Fill each one with homemade cookies in clear bags, a little plant or a few small treats. Tie the handle with red and white baker’s twine, add a sprig of pine and a blank kraft tag for your note. It is a lovely gift for neighbors, teachers and friends. The pail becomes a planter or a pencil cup later. Who would you give your first little pail to?

You will need: Small galvanized pails, clear treat bags, homemade cookies or small treats, baker’s twine, pine sprigs, kraft paper tags, tissue paper.

How to make it: 1. Line each pail with a sheet of tissue paper. 2. Fill it with bagged cookies or treats. 3. Tie twine around the handle with a pine sprig and a kraft tag.

Stacked Funnel Trees on the Mantel for Galvanized Christmas Decor

Here is the most clever Galvanized Christmas Decor idea on the list: little trees made from stacked kitchen funnels. Put a big funnel on the bottom, then smaller ones on top, and finish with a tiny wooden star. Wrap them with battery fairy lights and line them up on the mantel with pine garland. Funnels cost only a dollar or two each at farm and kitchen stores. Make three in different heights for the best look. Did you ever think a funnel could look this cute?

You will need: Galvanized funnels in three or four sizes, strong metal glue, small wooden stars, gold paint, battery fairy lights, pine garland.

How to make it: 1. Stack the funnels from largest to smallest and glue them together. 2. Paint the wooden stars gold and glue one to the top spout. 3. Wrap battery fairy lights around each tree and set them on the mantel.

Feed Scoop Full of Ornaments on the Sideboard

A feed scoop from the farm store is a fun surprise on a sideboard or entry table. Fill it with shiny red, silver and green ball ornaments and a few pine cones, then tuck in a sprig of cedar. The long handle gives it a cute, old fashioned shape. It is a great way to show off extra ornaments that did not fit on the tree. Shatterproof ornaments are best if you have kids or pets. Where in your home would this look best?

You will need: A galvanized feed scoop, red, silver and green shatterproof ornaments, pine cones, cedar sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Place the scoop on the table with the handle pointing out. 2. Pile in the biggest ornaments first, then the small ones. 3. Tuck pine cones and cedar into the gaps.

Vintage Washboard With a Mini Boxwood Wreath

An old washboard is a beloved farmhouse find, and it makes a sweet Christmas display. Hang a small boxwood wreath in the middle with a red plaid ribbon, then clip a few mini ornaments along the top with wooden clothespins. Lean it on a bench or a shelf in the entryway. You can find washboards at antique malls and thrift shops, and new ones are sold too. Washboards have a long history in American homes, as you can read on Wikipedia. Would you hang one on your wall?

You will need: A metal washboard, a small boxwood wreath, red plaid ribbon, mini wooden clothespins, small ornaments.

How to make it: 1. Tie the plaid ribbon to the wreath and hang it from the top of the washboard. 2. Clip mini ornaments along the top edge with clothespins. 3. Lean the washboard on a bench or hang it on a nail.

Buffalo Check Napkin Bucket, a Decoupage Galvanized Christmas Decor Craft

Give a plain bucket a cozy Galvanized Christmas Decor makeover with a red and black buffalo check paper napkin and some decoupage glue. Peel the napkin to one thin layer, brush glue on the bucket and smooth the napkin on as a wide band. Seal it with one more coat and fill the bucket with greenery. It looks like painted plaid but takes a fraction of the time. This is a great craft for a cozy night in with friends. What napkin pattern would you choose?

You will need: A galvanized bucket, red and black buffalo check paper napkins, decoupage glue such as Mod Podge, a foam brush, scissors, greenery to fill it.

How to make it: 1. Separate the napkin and keep only the printed top layer. 2. Brush glue around the middle of the bucket and gently smooth the napkin on. 3. Brush a top coat over the napkin, let it dry and fill with greenery.

Punched Star Pail Luminary, the Coziest Galvanized Christmas Decor Glow

End your Galvanized Christmas Decor with a little glow. Punch small holes in a pail in a star pattern, then fill it with warm white battery fairy lights. At dusk, the light shines through the holes and makes stars on the porch steps. Ask an adult to punch the holes with a nail and hammer or a drill, and fill the pail with ice first so it does not dent. Battery lights are safe for the porch. You can see more rustic holiday looks in this rustic Christmas roundup on MSN. Which of these 14 ideas will you try first?

You will need: A galvanized pail, a paper star pattern, tape, a nail and hammer or a drill with adult help, water and a freezer, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Fill the pail with water, freeze it solid and tape the star pattern on the side. 2. An adult punches holes along the pattern with a nail and hammer, then lets the ice melt. 3. Dry the pail and fill it with battery fairy lights.