This year, I wanted to create something special for the holidays, something that would light up the kids’ eyes and bring a sense of whimsical joy to our home.

That’s when I decided to make a life-sized gingerbread house entirely out of cardboard! It’s easy, affordable, and the perfect festive activity to spark creativity.

Using just a few materials, I transformed plain boxes into a magical decoration that looks straight out of a storybook. 

Materials You'll Need:

• 1 Large cardboard box (minimum dimensions: 40” x 30” x 30”)
• Smaller cardboard pieces for chimney (approx. 12” x 10” for each wall of the chimney)
• Brown paint (1 quart for full coverage)
• White paint or markers for detailing
• Paintbrushes or rollers
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors or utility knife
• PVC pipe or wrapping paper rolls (around 30” tall)
• Decorative items (foam, stickers, ribbons, candy-shaped cutouts)
• Red and white tape for candy canes

Guide on DIY Cardboard Gingerbread House

Step 1: Build the House Structure

First, start with a large cardboard box, at least 40” tall, 30” wide, and 30” deep, so it’s big enough for kids to crawl inside.

I made mine 20” tall by 12” wide, rounding the top for that classic gingerbread look, then cut out two square windows on either side of the box, each about 10” x 10”.

For the roof, fold the box flaps upward to form a peak and secure them with hot glue. You may need an extra piece of cardboard (cut to 30” x 20”) to fill in any gaps at the top of the roof.

Step 2: Create and Attach the Chimney

You need to cut four smaller cardboard pieces, each measuring 12” tall and 10” wide, and glue them together to form a rectangle.

Once assembled, attach the chimney to the roof with hot glue, ensuring it sits securely at an angle for a playful touch.

Step 3: Paint the Entire House

Now, you use a quart of brown acrylic paint and a roller to coat the entire house, chimney included. It took two coats to get an even finish.

Also, don’t forget to let it dry completely between coats! This step transforms your cardboard into a gingerbread-like surface, instantly making it look festive.

Step 4: Add Icing and Candy Details

Using white paint or a thick marker, you draw scalloped lines along the roof to mimic icing. Each "scallop" was about 3” wide.

Besides, you add colorful candy-like dots by painting circles (2” in diameter) or attaching stickers in bright colors. For the chimney, I painted small 2” x 1” rectangles to resemble bricks.

Step 5: Create Candy Canes

For the candy canes, I wrapped 30” PVC pipes with red and white tape, alternating the stripes every 2 inches.

If you don’t have PVC pipes, wrapping paper rolls work just as well, then glue these candy canes to either side of the door for support and decoration.

Step 6: Decorate with Final Touches

Finally, cut out peppermint swirls or lollipop shapes from foam or sturdy cardboard (about 8” in diameter) and glue them to the sides of the house.

To make it feel snowy, you can spray a bit of white paint around the base or glue cotton along the edges of the roof. Add ribbon or trim for extra details if you’d like!

This project was an absolute joy to make, and the result was worth every minute. Not only did it bring holiday cheer to my home, but it also became a cozy playhouse for the kids to enjoy.