Easy Christmas Spindle Ornaments From Salvaged Wood

Short pieces of old chair rungs and balusters become rustic painted ornaments that look right at home on a farmhouse tree.

Every time we take apart an old chair or pick up a bundle of salvaged balusters, there are leftover bits too short for bigger projects. Those scraps are exactly what you need for spindle ornaments: little turned-wood pieces painted in holiday colors that look wonderfully handmade on a farmhouse Christmas tree.

The curves, beads, and coves on a turned spindle do most of the decorating for you. A coat of red here and a band of white there, and suddenly a chair rung looks like a vintage toy ornament. They're quick enough to make a batch in an afternoon, and kids can help with the painting.

Finding Wood for Spindle Ornaments

You can use nearly any turned piece of wood. Some of our favorite sources:

• Broken or unstable chairs. Rungs and back spindles are the perfect size and often come in matching sets.
• Stair and porch balusters. Thicker and more decorative, these give you chunkier ornaments with bold profiles.
• Old cribs, headboards, and table aprons. Just be extra careful about old paint on these pieces.
• New spindles. Hardware and craft stores sell unfinished spindles if you'd rather skip salvage.

Yard sales, curbside finds, and architectural salvage shops are reliable sources. For more on hunting down good wood and hardware, see our antique picking tips.

A Word on Safety

Old painted wood, especially from homes and furniture made before 1978, may contain lead paint. Use a lead test swab before cutting or sanding, and if it tests positive, choose a different piece. Lead dust is the real hazard, and these ornaments will be handled by family members every year.

Short pieces are also the trickiest to cut safely. Always clamp the spindle firmly, cut the longest segments first, and never hold a small piece near a saw blade with your fingers. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask while cutting and sanding.

Cutting Tips for Clean Ornaments

Before you cut, lay the spindle on your table and study its profile. Most turned spindles repeat a pattern of beads, coves, and flat sections. Plan your cuts through the flat or straight sections; cutting through the middle of a round bead leaves a lopsided end that's hard to sand smooth. Mark each cut line all the way around the spindle with a pencil so you can follow it as you saw.

A miter saw makes quick, square cuts, but a fine-tooth hand saw in a simple miter box works just as well and is quieter. If you're making a batch, cut one ornament you like, then use it as a template to mark the rest so they come out a consistent size.

Choosing Paint and Finishes

Chalk-style paint covers raw wood well without primer and gives a soft, matte, old-fashioned look. Acrylic craft paint comes in endless colors and is ideal for small details. If your spindles still have a glossy varnish, scuff them with sandpaper first so paint will stick. Metallic paints in gold or silver look lovely on the beads, and a clear matte sealer keeps everything from chipping during years of storage.

Design Ideas for Painted Spindle Ornaments

This is where the fun starts. A few looks we like:

• Candy stripes. Paint the whole piece white, then paint every other bead red for a peppermint look.
• Little trees. Paint a tapered spindle green, add white dots for snow, and glue a tiny star on top.
• Nutcracker colors. Bands of red, black, white, and gold echo classic wooden toy soldiers.
• Snow-dipped. Leave the wood natural and dip just the bottom inch in white paint. Simple, modern, and very Scandinavian.
• Personalized. Write names or the year with a paint pen to make keepsake ornaments for each family member.
• Weathered. After painting, lightly sand the high points so wood shows through. Our guide on how to distress furniture covers the same technique on a bigger scale.

Variations and Gift Ideas

If you'd like a character on your tree, turn a few pieces into our spindle snowman ornament. Longer pieces can be painted as Santas, angels, or reindeer with a few felt and twig additions. Thread several short spindle segments onto twine to make a rustic garland, or glue a group of them onto a scrap board to form a little Christmas tree shape.

Spindle ornaments also make lovely gift toppers. Tie one onto a package in place of a bow, and the recipient gets a handmade ornament to keep. For teachers and neighbors, bundle three ornaments in a kraft-paper sleeve with a ribbon.

Styling Your Tree

These ornaments look best when they're mixed with other natural and vintage pieces: dried orange slices, wooden beads, old glass ornaments, and plaid ribbon. Hang the heavier ones closer to the trunk where branches are strongest, and spread colors evenly around the tree. If you have a barn wood Christmas tree on the wall, hang a few spindle ornaments from small nails on its boards for a coordinated look.

Care and Storage

Painted wood ornaments are nearly indestructible compared to glass. Wrap them in tissue or store them in an egg carton to keep the paint from rubbing. Keep them in a dry spot; damp storage can make paint peel and screw eyes rust. A light coat of clear sealer helps them last for many seasons, and they'll only get more charming with age.