Simple Gingerbread House Decorating Ideas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and making gingerbread houses is upon us. Decorating gingerbread houses is a fun family project that everyone will enjoy on those long chilly days when we are all stuck inside. They make a beautiful centerpiece for the holiday table or decorations around the Christmas tree.

Gingerbread House Decorating Ideas

If you are like me, you buy your gingerbread house premade, and then you only have to decorate it. I like to keep it simple, and my family doesn't always have the patience to put it together. However, we get into the decorating! One of our favorite parts is finding unique ways to use the decorations we have on hand. Whether it's pretzels from the pantry or leftover Halloween candy, we get creative.

Here are my favorite easy tips to make a gorgeous Gingerbread House this holiday season.

Get Fancy

Use frosting tips to get a petal or leaf look for the garland and trim. Also, use frosting tips to make delicate trim dots and floral notes. Sometimes it just takes a special touch to make your gingerbread house look unique. You can also use storebought fondant to make fancy details and it's very easy to mold into any shape you want.

Go City

Make city skyscrapers with lots of windows to create a cityscape. You can buy these types of houses premade as well.

Lights On

Turn the lights on inside your house by adding battery-operated tea lights inside. Make sure you have plenty of windows to let the light shine through. These houses are perfect for decorating around the Christmas tree or using as centerpieces for a dinner.

Go Grinch

We all love the Grinch so embrace that unique color by painting the outside of your house Grinch green. Decorate this house with whimsical and fun decorations reminiscent of Whoville.

Make a Candy Shop

Maybe you want your gingerbread house to have a bit more character. Why not make it a candy shop and decorate the outside accordingly with plenty of colors and smaller pieces of candy?

Go Rural

If you prefer, you can make a rural scene with country houses and barns. These are easier to decorate as they are not as elaborate. What really makes these special is setting the nature scene with snow, trees, and wildlife. Shingle-style roofs and Rice Krispie treat hay bales also look great with country barns.

Make it Edible

If you are hosting a holiday party, gingerbread houses can set the perfect scene for your buffet. Plan to set up the houses as a dessert serving area. Just about everything in this scene is edible.

Don't Forget About the Guests

Have fun decorating the people who live in your house. You can make some pretty elaborate gingerbread people to use in the outdoor scene, and they really elevate the look. These can also be eaten later!

Guest Stars

Make some extra special guest stars for your house. Think Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, or even members of your own family.

What Can I Use to Decorate a Gingerbread House?

The possibilities are endless, but here are some ideas to get you started:

gumdrops
Skittles
M & M's
Peppermint Patties
chewing gum
mini marshmallows
Malted Milk Balls
candy canes
Necco Wafers
Andes Mints
Sprees
Sweetarts
Life Savers
Airheads
Twizzlers
Nerds
Hershey's Kisses
Starlight mints
Mike and Ike
wafer cookies
pretzel rods
wafer cookies
chocolate chips
Froot Loops
Golden Grahams
sprinkles
fruit roll ups
Sour Patch
Tootsie Rolls
Smarties

However you decide to decorate your Gingerbread House, just have fun with it. Make it a family tradition to gather around and decorate houses every year. Those are the tradition your family will remember.