Make beautiful spring home decor with painted birdhouses! Get 20+ unique birdhouse painting ideas that are perfect for all skill levels. Scroll down to get a video in this post showing you how to paint a birdhouse.
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!
How to Paint a Birdhouse
Before you begin painting and decorating, you’re going to need a birdhouse, right? Let’s start there.
Where to Get Birdhouses
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 Birdhouses for Projects
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’re planning on re-painting with light 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 acrylic paint and don’t need a sealer (other than Mod Podge).
If you’d like to use the birdhouses outside, you’ll want to use an Outdoor rated paint. My choice for paints are FolkArt Outdoor or Multisurface.
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.
Are you ready to paint birdhouses? Check out these great ideas below!
Painted Birdhouses
Are you going to try painting a birdhouse? Here are over 20 unique projects! You're going to love these birdhouse painting ideas for a variety of skill levels.
Daisy Roof Birdhouse
Stenciling is always a fun option if you feel like you don't have the skills to hand paint! Florals work well with decorating birdhouses . . . because who doesn't love flowers for spring and summer?
Any daisy lover will love creating this flower-covered birdhouse as a fun summer project. This is a simple way to add color to your outdoor space.
Mod Podge Paint Chip Birdhouse
Grab those old paint chips out of the drawer and decorate birdhouses with them! You're going to pick the palette of your birdhouse based on the colors of paint chips, which is pretty fun. To create the pedestal, glue three candle cups together and use a small canvas as a base.
Silhouette Birdhouse
Don't be afraid to paint a birdhouse with birds on it. This one is perfect for home decor! I love the stenciled birds and florals, especially on the roof.
"Welcome" Cottage Birdhouse
This cute little distressed birdhouse is full of color and personality! I love the welcome on the front as well as the burlap flowers.
Chicken Coop Birdhouse
Paint your birdhouse to look like a whimsical chicken coop using acrylic paint and stencils. The birds in your yard will love making their nest in this colorful abode.
Turn a Wood Birdhouse Into a Gnome Birdhouse
Gnomes live outdoors - so it only makes sense that they would turn a regular birdhouse into a gnome birdhouse. Done with Mod Podge Outdoor!
Neon Birdhouses
You don't necessary have to completely cover birdhouses in paint! If you want to decorate birdhouses with some stripes and let the natural wood share the stage, I think that's a brilliant idea.
Use painter's tape to create the stripes - don't you think the neon is fun? If you want any stands, paint candlesticks or candle cups; let dry and then glue to the birdhouses.
Daisy Shingled Bird House
I think my favorite part of this painted bird house is the color palette! I love the brown, orange, and green - it reminds me of mid-century modern colors.
Icy Pastel Birdhouse Christmas Village
Who says birdhouses have to be just for birds? Turn a basic wooden birdhouse into an icy decor piece for your mantel. These houses are sure to tie your entire pastel Christmas theme together as a focal point in your holiday decor.
Butterfly Birdhouse
Paint a bird house, add some polka dots and a Mod Podge roof . . . then glue on a butterfly embellishment! I think this cute home would look cute as part of a set.
Birdhouse Makeover Using Mod Podge Ultra
If you haven't tried Mod Podge Ultra, you can use it to attach seal glass to a surface. Like a birdhouse! Kathy painted the birdhouse with chalk paint, then coated it with the Ultra and added the sea glass. It's waterproof.
Apple Barrel Haunted Birdhouses
Turn a basic birdhouse into a spooky haunted house for your backyard birds. Great Halloween decor piece for inside and outside!
Felt Birdhouse Trio
I love the pretty colors of felt used to decorate birdhouses in this project. Basecoat each birdhouse with the color of your choice; rub a wax candle over the top on the edges and then paint a second color.
Gazebo Birdhouse
Craft this easy to stencil birdhouse to welcome warmer weather and a family of birds to your backyard this summer. This is the perfect summertime project for busy hands.
Road Map Birdhouses
Map crafts are a favorite around here! Maps look great on just about anything, including birdhouses. These are actually painted as well as decoupaged, and you'll find them very easy to make.
Roly Poly Birdhouse
Circles make the absolute cutest little round, pudgy birds! I'm loving the bright paint colors of this house, as well as the brown stand.
Tiled Birdhouses with Mod Podge Ultra
This is another Ultra project, and this time it's used to attach paper and tiles to some smaller birdhouses. I absolutely love the jewel tones used in these painted birdhouses.
Birdhouse Pencil and Note Holder
For this particular project you're going to need to be able to use a drill - you're going to use a 3/8" bit to drill seven holes in the roof - and those are going to hold the pencils. Besides that it's simple painting and stenciling to get the ladybug effect.
The most fun part of this birdhouse note holder is that you get to bend two spoons in the middle with needle nose pliers!
DIY Beach Inspired Birdhouse
This DIY beach inspired birdhouse project is easy to put together, and you can use your favorite beach trinkets to decorate. You’ll be thinking summer when you work on this craft!
Terra Cotta Birdhouses
Add some modern flair and texture to your birdhouses with FolkArt Terra Cotta! This beautiful textured paint allows you add color and charm to the homes of your backyard birds.
Birdhouse Craft with Colorful Buttons
This easy birdhouse craft is such a great craft for kids. They will keep your children occupied this summer - and the buttons are so fun!
Birdhouse Gingerbread House
Turn some wooden birdhouses into a gingerbread village for Christmas! These cuties are fun to paint during the holidays, and the kids can help make them.
Are you ready for a video that will show you how to decorate birdhouses with paint? Watch it in this post – simply press play!
These are my favorite birdhouse painting ideas – what are yours? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Wanda
Tuesday 15th of February 2022
I found the birdhouse pencil and note holder several years ago and made it for several family members. They were loved and appreciated by all who received them.
patricia welch
Saturday 21st of April 2018
I can't believe I am normal. I have always felt sort of sad and odd that I walk into a store full of art supplies and I all of a sudden can't think of anything I want to get. I mean, I want it all. So I wander around and can't concentrate on any one thing. At home, I have lists of supplies I really, really need, but when confronted by so many ideas and choices and fantastic stuff I freeze and can't remember any thing. To make it worse, I only have a limited time to shop as I have health issues and can't stay in any store too long. Also, my husband is with me and he doesn't pressure me, (in fact, he insists I just buy everything I look at and doesn't realize I am trying to picture in my mind what I need and what I would do with whatever it is I am looking at) and he keeps saying I thought you needed stuff why aren't you getting anything? sigh. I know that should not be a problem, but it is. Anyway, thank you sooooo much for letting me know that this paralysis is common!
Gale Masterson
Thursday 12th of April 2018
My oh my, do I ever get distracted!! Just the other day I went in looking for one, mind you, ONE item. Left with 6, hahaha! They will all be put to good use of course. If I would just stay in the lane I know I need to be in and not "window shop" I would be in better shape! Thanks for sharing so I know I'm not alone. Thanks for these great project ideas, gotta love Mod Podge, something for everyone and everything!!
Amy
Saturday 14th of April 2018
Just six items when you only wanted one isn't that bad relatively speaking! :0
PJ FizzyKnits
Thursday 12th of April 2018
I love birdhouses as blank canvases! I'm going to use some of your ideas on a box-full sitting on the craft table. They were in a commercial holiday garland, and rather than my friend throwing them out (can you imagine?), I took them. They're sturdy cardboard, so I think they'll hold up to whatever method I try.
I have terrible craft ADD. I like your phrase better. I can even go in with a list, and still get so distracted by everything else, I leave with nothing. Sometimes that works in my favor because I'll see something in the craft store and realize I have something similar at home so I don't need to buy anything. But more often than not, I don't buy anything and think, "oh, I'll just use---," and talk myself out of what I really wanted to do in the first place. I have no idea why this happens only in craft stores. I don't do it grocery shopping, at the hardware store or even with clothes. Anyway, I'm glad you spoke to it. Glad to know I'm not the only one!
Amy
Saturday 14th of April 2018
OMG that collection of birdhouses sounds amazing! Especially sturdy cardboard sounds fun. And same - I only do it at the craft stores :D