Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor: 15 Pink and Mint DIY Ideas That Look Like a Fancy Bakery Window
Pastel gingerbread Christmas decor is the sweetest holiday look of the year, and you can make every piece of it at your kitchen table. Searches for it shot up more than 4,000 percent this fall, and it is easy to see why. Classic brown gingerbread is cozy, but soft pink, mint and cream make it feel brand new, like the window of a fancy little bakery. Nothing here is edible, so it lasts for years and never goes stale. The ideas ahead use wood, felt, clay, puffy paint, thrift store finds and dollar store figures, so most of them cost very little. Grab your paintbrush, put on a holiday playlist, and get ready for the prettiest kitchen on the block..
Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor Bakery Window Display
Imagine walking into your kitchen and feeling like you stepped into a candy shop window. That is the magic of this display. Little pink and mint houses sit on tiered cake stands, pastel gingerbread men stand guard between them, and faux peppermints and big pink bows fill every gap. Bakers in Germany made the first decorated gingerbread houses back in the 1800s, and this is a soft, modern spin on that old tradition. If you love the brown and white version too, our classic gingerbread decor ideas are a great match. Every piece in this display is waiting for you in the slides ahead..
You will need: a sideboard or counter, a few small wooden or cardboard houses, wooden gingerbread men cutouts, pastel craft paint, white puffy paint, faux candy, three white cake stands in different heights, mini bottle brush trees and pink velvet ribbon bows.
How to make it: 1. Paint the houses and gingerbread men in pink, mint and cream, then add white puffy paint icing and let it dry overnight. 2. Set the cake stands at three heights along the back of the counter. 3. Place houses on each stand, line the gingerbread men in front, and fill the gaps with faux candy, trees and bows.
A Gingerbread House Wall Shelf in Mint
This one looks like it came from a boutique, but it is just a plain wooden house shelf with a fresh coat of paint. Craft stores and thrift shops sell little house shaped shelves all year. Paint it soft mint, add pink trim along the roof, then pipe white puffy paint scallops under the eaves so it looks like royal icing. Fill the tiny shelves with mini gingerbread men and faux candy. For more roof and icing tricks, peek at our gingerbread house decorating tips. It is the kind of piece you will leave up long after New Year.
You will need: a small wooden house shaped wall shelf, mint and pink craft paint, white puffy paint, a small flat brush, mini wooden gingerbread men and pastel faux candy.
How to make it: 1. Lightly sand the shelf and wipe it clean. 2. Paint it mint with two thin coats, then paint the roof edge pink. 3. Pipe white puffy paint scallops and dots along the roof line, let it dry for a day, then hang it and style the shelves.
Painted Wood Slice Ornaments
Wood slices are cheap, sturdy and perfect for little paintings. Paint a pastel gingerbread man or a tiny house on each one, then add white dots and zigzags with a fine brush or a paint pen. The natural bark edge frames each design like a cookie on a cutting board. Hang them from pink and mint ribbon and they look lovely on a white or flocked tree. Our hand painted ornament ideas share more simple brush tricks for beginners. This is pastel gingerbread Christmas decor you can make in one evening, so paint a big batch.
You will need: wood slices with a small eye pin, pastel craft paint, a white paint pen, a fine brush, clear sealer and pink or mint ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Trace a cookie cutter onto each slice with a pencil. 2. Fill the shape with pastel paint, two coats. 3. Add white icing lines and dots with the paint pen, seal it, and thread a ribbon loop.
Dollar Store Gingerbread Men Repainted in Pastels
Those brown wooden gingerbread men at the dollar store are a blank canvas. Give them a coat of white primer, then paint them soft pink, mint and cream. White zigzags on the arms and legs and tiny pink button dots finish the look. Line them up on a tray with faux snow, tuck them into a garland, or tie them on packages. Our dollar store Christmas ideas have even more budget makeovers. A pack of six turns into pastel gingerbread Christmas decor for the price of a coffee.
You will need: dollar store wooden gingerbread men, white spray primer, pastel craft paint, white puffy paint, a small brush, a white tray and faux snow.
How to make it: 1. Spray the figures with primer outdoors and let them dry. 2. Paint each one a pastel color, two thin coats. 3. Add white puffy paint zigzags and pink dots, dry overnight, then arrange them on the tray with faux snow.
Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor on a Candy Tree
A small tree covered only in pastel faux candy is pure joy. Start with a flocked tabletop tree and add pink and mint swirl lollipops, faux gumdrops and cream gingerbread men with white icing dots. Pink and mint striped ribbon wraps it like a candy cane. Set it in a pink painted pot on the kitchen counter and it steals the show. Our mini Christmas tree ideas have more ways to dress up a little tree. Keep the faux candy out of reach of small children and pets.
You will need: a small flocked tabletop tree, faux lollipops and gumdrops, pastel gingerbread man ornaments, striped ribbon, a terracotta pot, pink paint and ornament hooks.
How to make it: 1. Paint the pot pink and let it dry, then set the tree inside. 2. Wrap the ribbon from top to bottom in a loose spiral. 3. Hang the gingerbread men first, then fill the gaps with lollipops and gumdrops.
A Thrifted Mirror With Puffy Paint Icing
A round mirror with a wide wooden frame is easy to find at any thrift store. Paint the frame soft pink, then squeeze thick white puffy paint around it in scallops, dots and little drips, just like cookie frosting. Glue small mint faux candies along the edge. Hung above a console with a tiny mint tree, it feels like a bakery wall. Our thrifted mirror makeovers show more frames worth saving. Tape off the glass first so the paint stays on the frame only.
You will need: a thrifted mirror with a wide wooden frame, painter’s tape, pink chalk paint, white puffy paint, mint faux candies, strong craft glue and a brush.
How to make it: 1. Tape the glass edge and paint the frame pink, two coats. 2. Pipe white puffy paint scallops and drips around the frame and let it dry for 24 hours. 3. Glue on the faux candies, remove the tape and hang the mirror.
Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor Garland for the Mantel
Felt is soft, cheap and easy to cut, which makes it perfect for a long mantel garland. Cut gingerbread men and little houses from pink, mint and cream felt, then add white stitched icing lines with embroidery floss. String them on twine between fluffy pom poms. Drape it over frosted greenery and your fireplace looks sweet as can be. It is pastel gingerbread Christmas decor the kids can help with too. Our DIY Christmas garland ideas share more ways to fill a mantel.
You will need: pink, mint and cream felt, gingerbread man and house cookie cutters to trace, white embroidery floss, a needle, pastel pom poms, jute twine and fabric glue.
How to make it: 1. Trace and cut two pieces of each shape. 2. Stitch white running stitch icing on the front piece, then glue the front and back together with the twine between them. 3. Add a pom pom between each shape and hang the garland with removable hooks.
Gingerbread House Gift Boxes
These little boxes look like candy shop packaging, but they start as plain cardboard house boxes from the craft store. Paint them pink, mint and cream, pipe white scallops on the roof, and tie them with satin ribbon. Fill them with homemade cookies, a small ornament or a gift card. Stack three by the door and they double as pastel gingerbread Christmas decor. If you love soft pink, our pink Christmas decor ideas will give you even more inspiration. Leave the tags blank until you know who gets which box.
You will need: cardboard house shaped gift boxes, pastel acrylic paint, white puffy paint, a foam brush, pink and lavender satin ribbon and blank gift tags.
How to make it: 1. Paint each box and lid a different pastel color, two coats. 2. Pipe white scallops along the roof edges and add dots around the door. 3. Dry overnight, fill the boxes, and tie them with ribbon.
Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor Candy Wreath
This wreath looks good enough to eat, but every piece is faux. Cover a foam wreath form with pink, mint and lavender faux macarons, swirl lollipops and gumdrops, then tuck in a few cream gingerbread men with white icing dots. A big pink velvet bow finishes it off. Hang it on a kitchen cabinet or the pantry door for an instant bakery feel. Our candyland Christmas decorations have more sweet ideas for a candy themed home. It weighs very little, so a removable hook works fine.
You will need: a 14 inch foam wreath form, white ribbon to wrap it, faux macarons, lollipops and gumdrops, small wooden gingerbread men, low temp glue gun and a pink velvet bow.
How to make it: 1. Wrap the wreath form in white ribbon and pin the ends. 2. Glue the biggest pieces first, then fill the gaps with gumdrops (adult help with the glue gun). 3. Add the gingerbread men and bow, then hang it on a removable hook.
Frosted Cookie Coasters From Air Dry Clay
Everyone who sees these coasters wants to take a bite. Roll white air dry clay into thick rounds with a scalloped cookie cutter, let them dry, then paint the tops with pastel icing colors. Add white dot borders and tiny painted sprinkles, then seal them well. Set one under your cocoa mug and smile every morning. For more handmade coaster styles, see our DIY Christmas coasters. Glue a felt circle under each one to protect your table.
You will need: white air dry clay, a rolling pin, a large scalloped round cutter, pastel acrylic paint, a white paint pen, water based sealer and felt circles.
How to make it: 1. Roll the clay a quarter inch thick and cut four rounds. 2. Dry them flat for 48 hours, flipping once. 3. Paint the icing tops, add dots and sprinkles, seal three coats, and glue on the felt.
A Gingerbread House Lantern With LED Lights
A plain white house shaped lantern turns into a glowing little bakery with a bit of paint. Paint the roof pink and the frame mint, then pipe white icing scallops along every edge. Fill it with battery fairy lights and faux snow, never a real candle. Set this pastel gingerbread Christmas decor on a windowsill so it glows for neighbors at night. Our Christmas lantern ideas have more safe ways to light up a corner. Put the lights on a timer so you never forget them.
You will need: a metal or wooden house shaped lantern, pastel spray paint or chalk paint, white puffy paint, battery fairy lights with a timer, faux snow and a mini bottle brush tree.
How to make it: 1. Remove any glass panels and paint the lantern, then let it dry. 2. Pipe white scallops along the roof and frame edges. 3. Replace the glass, add faux snow and coil the battery lights inside.
Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor Under Cake Domes
Little houses under glass cake domes look like treasures in a pastry case. Paint three small houses pink, mint and cream, add white icing scallops, and set each one on a cake stand with faux snow and a tiny tree. Cover them with clear domes and line them up on the kitchen island. It is pastel gingerbread Christmas decor that feels high end without the price tag. For a bigger scene, our DIY Christmas village ideas show how to build a full town. Thrift stores often sell cake stands and domes for a few dollars.
You will need: three cake stands with clear domes, three small wooden or cardboard houses, pastel paint, white puffy paint, faux snow and three mini bottle brush trees.
How to make it: 1. Paint and ice the houses, then let them dry overnight. 2. Sprinkle faux snow on each cake stand and set a house and tree on top. 3. Lower the domes gently and arrange the stands at three heights.
A Ric Rac Gingerbread Pillow Cover
Ric rac trim looks just like piped icing, so it is perfect for a gingerbread pillow. Cut a gingerbread man from cream fleece, fuse or glue it to a pink pillow cover, and outline it with white ric rac. Run mint ric rac around the edges and you are done. No sewing machine needed if you use fabric glue. Our no sew pillow cover ideas share more easy fabric projects. Toss this bit of pastel gingerbread Christmas decor on the sofa with a mint throw and the room feels instantly cozy.
You will need: a pink linen pillow cover, cream fleece, a large gingerbread man template, white and mint ric rac trim, fusible web or fabric glue and sharp scissors.
How to make it: 1. Trace and cut the gingerbread man from fleece. 2. Fuse or glue it to the center of the pillow cover. 3. Glue white ric rac around the shape and mint ric rac along the edges, then let it dry flat.
Pastel Gingerbread Christmas Decor for Kitchen Canisters
Plain glass canisters get a sweet holiday makeover with tiny toppers. Glue a small painted gingerbread man or house to each wooden lid, then fill the canisters with pastel faux candy or real wrapped treats. Tie a pink or mint ribbon around each neck. Lined up on the counter, they look like a candy shop shelf. Our Christmas kitchen decor ideas have more ways to dress up the heart of the home. After the holidays, just pop the toppers off.
You will need: glass canisters with wooden lids, small wooden gingerbread men and houses, pastel paint, white puffy paint, strong craft glue, ribbon and faux or wrapped candy.
How to make it: 1. Paint and ice the small figures and let them dry. 2. Glue one figure to the center of each lid and let it set for a few hours. 3. Fill the canisters, tie on the ribbons and line them up.
A Soft Pastel Gingerbread Table Setting
Bring this sweet look to the table for a holiday brunch. Set white plates on mint chargers, tie pink napkins with ric rac, and lay a pastel gingerbread man ornament on each one. Down the center, line up small pink and mint houses with faux candy and frosted greenery. Guests can take their ornament home as a favor. Our Christmas table ideas have more ways to set a pretty holiday table. Pastel gingerbread Christmas decor makes even a simple breakfast feel like a party.
You will need: white plates, mint chargers, pink linen napkins, ric rac trim, small gingerbread man ornaments, small painted houses, faux candy and frosted greenery.
How to make it: 1. Lay the greenery down the center of the table and set the houses along it. 2. Set each place with a charger, plate and folded napkin tied with ric rac. 3. Add an ornament to each napkin and scatter faux candy along the runner.
