Painted Birdhouses: 20+ Different Ways!

Make beautiful spring home decor with painted birdhouses! Get 20+ unique birdhouse painting ideas that are perfect for all skill levels.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate. Some of these techniques are easier than others, but none of them are exceptionally hard. Basic crafting skills are necessary, like using a paintbrush or punches and stencils.

I absolutely love decorating birdhouses! It’s one of my favorite craft activities for spring and summer. I see unfinished wood birdhouses everywhere, just begging for a coat of paint or some paper decoupaged to the sides. If you want to decorate birdhouses, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got some great ideas for you!

Tips for Painting Birdhouses

Before you begin painting and decorating, you’re going to need a birdhouse, right? Let’s start there.

Where to Buy

Just about every craft store has birdhouses in the section with the other wood surfaces. They have smaller ones that hang on strings for around $1 – $2, and then larger ones that are more intricate and cost anywhere from $5 – $10.

A great option for inexpensive birdhouses is the dollar store or the dollar bins/section at stores like Target.

Another great option if you want to buy birdhouses in bulk is to go online. Amazon has some great sets here. I’ve used their birdhouses and love the quality.

Oriental Trading has DIY wood birdhouses here. I’ve not tried them, but they look cool – love that they can be painted and then assembled! They’re perfect for classrooms or parties.

Preparing the Surface

Birdhouses come in all shapes and sizes, as well as quality of wood. Sometimes your birdhouse will be completely smooth and other times it will need some sanding.

I always have 80 or 100 grit sandpaper on hand just in case. Sand where needed and use a tack cloth to remove the excess dust.

If you’re working with a birdhouse that has been painted before, you’ll want to make sure the surface is clean of free and dirt.

If you want to attract birds, you first need to make sure you have the right house for the type of bird you want to attract.

Don’t paint the inside of your house – only decorate the outside. While the paint I recommend is non-toxic, there’s no reason to paint. If you pre-purchase a birdhouse, make sure it has proper ventilation and drainage.

Painting the Surface

If you’re planning on re-painting with light or bright colors, you’ll want to prime first with something like acrylic paint or Kilz.

If you are planning on using the birdhouse indoors, you’ll be fine using regular water based acrylic paint and don’t need a sealer (other than Mod Podge). If you’d like to use outside, you’ll want to use an Outdoor rated paint. My choice for paints are FolkArt Outdoor or Multisurface.

Sealing Your Project

In addition, outdoor birdhouses should be sealed. If you decoupage, you can use Outdoor Mod Podge. If you paint, I recommend an outdoor spray sealer.

If you live in a very rainy area like I do, I recommend an oil-based polyurethane (several coats) over your paint. Same with decoupage. If you live in a wet area, seal with the poly, even over the top of the Outdoor Mod Podge.

Tip: if you are repainting a birdhouse and using a primer to cover up the old color, use Kilz if it’s going outside. This primer is highly mildew resistant and perfect especially if you live in a rainy area.

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Are you ready to get creative? Check out these great ideas below!

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Let me know what you think about the projects in the comments! I’d love to hear.