Highland Cow Christmas Decor: 12 Fluffy Farmhouse Ideas Everyone Is Copying This Year

Highland cow Christmas decor is everywhere this year, and it is easy to see why. Those shaggy orange bangs, soft brown eyes and little curved horns make everyone smile, and they fit right into a cozy farmhouse home. Searches for this look have shot up in the last month, and shoppers are paying a lot for pillows, ornaments and signs. The good news is that most of it is simple to make with yarn, felt, faux fur and a little paint. You do not need to be a skilled crafter, and many pieces can be made in one evening. Here are 12 fluffy, cheerful ideas to bring the trend into your home for a fraction of the store price..

Highland Cow Christmas Decor for a Cozy Farmhouse Living Room

The secret to highland cow Christmas decor is repeating the cute cow face in small doses all around one room. A few yarn ornaments on the tree, a painted wood slice on the mantel, a fuzzy stocking and a plaid wreath with a little plush cow tie it all together. Keep the rest of the room simple with white walls, wood and red buffalo check so the orange fur really pops. It feels playful but still grown up. Which piece would you make first..

You will need: Rust orange yarn, faux fur, felt, a wood slice, acrylic paint, buffalo check ribbon, a basic wreath.

How to make it: 1. Pick three or four projects from this list. 2. Use the same rust orange and cream colors in each one. 3. Spread them around one room so the theme feels planned, not crowded.

Yarn Fringe Highland Cow Ornaments

These little yarn cows are the star of highland cow Christmas decor, and they cost pennies each. Wrap rust orange yarn around a piece of cardboard, tie it in the middle and cut the loops to make a shaggy pom. Add cream felt horns, two tiny bead eyes peeking through the bangs and a plaid bow under the chin. Make a dozen while you watch a holiday movie. They look adorable on the tree, on gifts or tied to a cabinet knob. How many could you make in one evening?

You will need: Rust orange chunky yarn, cardboard, scissors, cream felt, small black beads or safety eyes, craft glue, thin plaid ribbon, twine for hangers.

How to make it: 1. Wrap yarn around a 4 inch piece of cardboard about 60 times and tie it in the middle. 2. Cut the loops, fluff it and trim the bangs shorter. 3. Glue on felt horns, bead eyes and a bow, then add a twine loop.

Painted Highland Cow on a Wood Slice

Even if you think you cannot paint, a highland cow is forgiving. The fluffy bangs hide a lot, and short brush strokes in orange, brown and cream build the fur quickly. Paint the face on a round wood slice, add curved horns and a tiny red Santa hat for a festive twist. Set it on a small easel in the kitchen or hang it on the tree with twine. It makes a sweet gift for farmhouse lovers too. Would you add a Santa hat or a scarf?

You will need: Round wood slice, pencil, acrylic paint in orange, brown, cream, black, white and red, small brushes, clear sealer.

How to make it: 1. Sketch a simple oval face, horns and bangs in pencil. 2. Paint the face, then add the fur with short strokes in three shades. 3. Add the hat, eyes and a white highlight, then seal.

Highland Cow in a Santa Hat Door Hanger

Greet guests with a friendly cow face right on the front door, the most welcoming piece of highland cow Christmas decor. Trace a simple cow head shape on thin plywood or buy a precut blank from the craft store, then paint it rust orange with shaggy bangs, cream horns and a bright red Santa hat. Hang it with wide buffalo check ribbon under a small evergreen swag. It is a cheerful change from a regular wreath, and neighbors will smile every time they walk by. Ready to swap your wreath for a cow?

You will need: Precut wooden cow head blank or thin plywood, outdoor acrylic paint, brushes, exterior sealer, buffalo check ribbon, an over the door hook.

How to make it: 1. Cut the shape with adult help or use a precut blank. 2. Paint the face, fur, horns and hat in layers. 3. Seal it for outdoor use and hang it with ribbon from a door hook.

Fuzzy Highland Cow Pillow Covers

Highland cow Christmas decor does not have to come down after the holidays, and these pillows prove it. Start with plain cream pillow covers, then glue or stitch on a shaggy orange faux fur face shape, felt horns and a little pink nose. The fur makes them so soft that everyone grabs them first. Leave them out all winter with a red plaid throw. Store versions sell for a lot, but these cost a few dollars each. Who in your house would claim one first?

You will need: Plain cream pillow covers, orange faux fur fabric, cream felt, pink felt, black buttons, fabric glue or needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut a rounded face shape from faux fur, cutting from the back so the fur stays long. 2. Glue or stitch it onto the cover with felt horns behind it. 3. Add a felt nose and button eyes, keeping buttons off covers for small children.

Faux Fur Highland Cow Stocking

This stocking is the most playful piece of highland cow Christmas decor, and it always gets a laugh. Use a plain stocking as your pattern, cut it from shaggy orange faux fur and add a cow face near the top with felt horns and a soft nose. A red buffalo check cuff gives it the classic farmhouse feel. Hang it with the family stockings for a fun mix, or make one for each child. It is a quick sew because the fur hides uneven stitches. Would your family want matching cow stockings?

You will need: Orange faux fur, buffalo check fabric for the cuff, cream and pink felt, a plain stocking to trace, sewing machine or fabric glue, ribbon loop.

How to make it: 1. Trace the stocking twice on the back of the fur and cut it out. 2. Sew the pieces together inside out and turn it. 3. Add the plaid cuff, then stitch on the felt horns and nose and a ribbon loop.

Highland Cow Christmas Decor Scene in a Dough Bowl

A dough bowl filled with a tiny snowy farm scene makes a charming centerpiece. Pour in fake snow, then add little highland cow figures, a few bottle brush trees in different heights, a tiny fence and some red berries. It looks like a winter morning on a Scottish hillside in miniature. Kids love moving the cows around each day. You can find small cow figures in craft and toy aisles for very little. For more tiny tree ideas, see our bottle brush tree ideas. Where would your little farm sit?

You will need: Long wooden dough bowl or tray, fake snow, small highland cow figures, bottle brush trees, a mini fence, red berry picks.

How to make it: 1. Fill the bowl with a thick layer of fake snow. 2. Place the trees at the back and ends in clusters. 3. Set the cows and fence in front and tuck in berries for color.

Plaid Wreath for Highland Cow Christmas Decor at the Door

Turn a plain evergreen wreath into a showstopper by tucking a small plush highland cow at the bottom. Add a big red and black buffalo plaid bow on top, a few pine cones and red berries, and you are done in twenty minutes. It is easy highland cow Christmas decor that looks sweet on a front door, a barn door or above the mantel. The plush cow can be a dollar store find or a thrifted toy. Kids will want to say hello to it every morning. Where would you hang this wreath?

You will need: An evergreen wreath, a small plush highland cow, wide buffalo plaid wired ribbon, pine cones, berry picks, floral wire.

How to make it: 1. Wire the plush cow securely to the bottom of the wreath. 2. Tie a large plaid bow and wire it to the top. 3. Tuck in pine cones and berries around the cow.

Felt Highland Cow Garland Across the Mantel

A felt garland is the perfect project for a cozy night in. Cut simple cow head shapes from rust orange felt, add cream faces and tiny horns, and string them on twine between little red hearts and green trees. Drape it across the mantel or a kitchen shelf. Felt is cheap, easy to cut and does not fray, so even beginners get a neat result. You can make it as long as you like, and it pairs well with any other highland cow Christmas decor in the room. How many cow heads would your mantel need?

You will need: Felt sheets in rust orange, cream, red and green, scissors, fabric glue, black fabric marker, twine, a large needle.

How to make it: 1. Cut cow heads, faces, horns, hearts and trees from felt. 2. Glue the faces and horns onto the heads and draw on eyes. 3. Thread everything onto twine with a needle, spacing the shapes evenly.

Highland Cow on a Thrifted Sled

An old wooden sled from a thrift store or yard sale makes the cutest porch display. Prop it by the door, add a soft plush highland cow wearing a knit scarf, a plaid blanket and some evergreen branches. An LED lantern beside it adds a warm glow in the evening. It is highland cow Christmas decor that makes people slow down and take a photo. Bring the plush cow inside on rainy days so it stays fluffy. Have you ever spotted an old sled at a thrift store?

You will need: A vintage wooden sled, a large plush highland cow, a small knit scarf, plaid blanket, evergreen branches, a battery LED lantern.

How to make it: 1. Lean the sled against the wall by the door. 2. Lay evergreen branches and the folded blanket on the slats. 3. Seat the cow on top, add the scarf and set the LED lantern beside it.

Paint Highland Cow Christmas Decor From a Real Photo

The best way to get the fur and horns right is to look at the real thing. Highland cattle come from the Scottish Highlands, and their long shaggy coat and wide horns are what make them so lovable. Keep a real photo next to you while you paint or sew, and copy the way the bangs fall over the eyes and the horns curve up. Search interest in this look jumped this month on Google Trends, so you are right on time. Which details would you copy first?

You will need: A printed photo of a highland cow, tracing paper, pencil, your painting or sewing supplies.

How to make it: 1. Print a clear photo and study the shape of the bangs and horns. 2. Trace the outline onto your wood, felt or fabric. 3. Build the fur in layers, from dark at the bottom to light on top.

Make Holiday Cards From a Snowy Highland Cow Photo

A shaggy cow standing in fresh snow is pure Christmas card material. Print a winter photo you love on card stock, fold it, and add a little plaid ribbon or a sprinkle of glitter snow on the front. Write a short note inside and you have a handmade card that friends will pin to the fridge. You can also frame a large print for a farmhouse wall and swap it out in spring. It is the simplest highland cow Christmas decor of all. Who on your list would love a cow card?

You will need: Card stock, a home printer or photo print, scissors, glue stick, thin plaid ribbon, glitter or white paint pen, envelopes.

How to make it: 1. Print the photo and trim it to fit the front of a folded card. 2. Glue it on and add a ribbon bow or a few dots of white paint for snow. 3. Write your message inside and let it dry before you seal the envelope.