5 Pottery Barn Christmas Dupes You Can DIY | High End Christmas Decor for Less 2026
Transform thrifted Christmas decor with paint and gilding wax; clean pieces first and let paint dry fully for a polished finish.
- Clean thrifted items before painting; dust and grease can prevent paint from sticking.
- Use gilding wax lightly on raised details, then buff after a few minutes for a warm vintage finish.
- For glass ornaments, pour paint inside, drain upside down, and let dry at least 24 hours.
The step-by-step demonstrations show finishes and paint techniques that notes alone cannot convey. · Best for: DIY decorators and pottery fans seeking budget-friendly, vintage-style Christmas decor.
Five Pottery Barn-inspired Christmas decor makeovers use thrifted or discounted pieces, paint, and gilding wax: a jar, blue snowflake ornament, bell, photo-frame ornaments, and painted glass ornaments.
Burgundy ornament jar with bronze accents1:01
- Clean the jar before painting; Dixie Belle Mold Wine covered it in one coat while preserving the raised stripe texture.
- After drying, apply bronze gilding wax lightly to raised stripes and lid details; let sit, then optionally buff.
- Use as a gift container or decorative piece. For a candle, first ensure the container is heat-safe.
Blue snowflake ornament3:19
- Paint a raised-pattern ornament with Bunker Hill Blue and let it dry completely.
- Trace the raised snowflakes with a gold gilding pen; prime the pen on scrap paper and press the tip down when it needs recharging.
Soft gold decorative bell5:31
- Remove the rope and sticker, then clean and dry the bell before applying tea gold gilding wax.
- For a chunky look, use thick natural jute or sisal rope; a loose knot with frayed ends is suggested.
Gilded photo-frame ornaments8:00
- Apply bronze gilding wax to the silver frames for a warmer finish; leave them silver if preferred.
- Use the cardboard insert as a template for photos; family or black-and-white pictures can make these personalized gifts.
Painted glass ornaments and finished toppers9:27
- For a smooth interior finish, pour paint inside, rotate to coat, drain excess, and dry upside down for at least 24 hours.
- Alternatively, brush-paint the exterior in two or three coats for a more textured finish.
- Spray-paint toppers black before adding bronze gilding wax, then finish with ribbon.
Step by step
- Clean thrifted pieces and remove stickers or residue; let pieces dry.
- Apply the chosen base paint and allow it to dry fully.
- Add gilding wax to raised details or surfaces with a light touch; optionally buff after a few minutes.
- For interior-painted glass ornaments, drain upside down and allow at least 24 hours to dry.
- Finish with rope, photos, or ribbon as appropriate.
Tools & resources mentioned
- Dixie Belle Mold Wine — burgundy paint for the ornament jar.
- Dixie Belle Bunker Hill Blue — blue base paint for the snowflake ornament.
- Dixie Belle bronze and tea gold gilding wax — vintage-style metallic finishes.
- Dixie Belle gold gilding pen — tracing raised snowflakes.
- Dixie Belle Moonshine Metallics in Gold Digger, Steel Magnolia, and Deep Woods — interior or exterior ornament paint.
- Michaels — source of discounted ornaments.
- Hardware store — suggested source for thick natural jute or sisal rope.
Notes are AI-generated from the video's transcript and may miss nuance.