If you grew up with a miniature Christmas village set up in your home, you’d know just how magical those tiny, lit-up buildings can feel. This year, add to your festive cheer by building your very own Lemax collection! Timeless, traditional, and filled with holiday spirit, these Christmas village figurines are collectible for just about anyone—as long as you know how!
The History of Lemax Christmas Villages
When Jack Lee founded the Lemax company in 1990, he had no idea just how popular his tiny lighted villages would become. The first released collection consisted entirely of quaint porcelain homes, but over the years, the demand for more led to countless inspired and festive Christmas village figurine designs. Although they haven’t been around long, Lemax almost instantly solidified their place in must-have Christmas collectibles and holiday traditions around the globe.
5 Beginner Tips for Building a Timeless Lemax Christmas Village
Get holly jolly, head to a Melbourne vendor mall, and bring your Christmas village to life with these five tips:
Tip 1: Start with a Centerpiece
Starting a Lemax Christmas village from scratch can feel daunting—where do you begin? Start by investing in a showstopping centerpiece that will act as a focal point for the rest of your town. This building can be anything you want, whether it be a post office, a castle, or a large LED home. Once you have that set out, planning the rest of your dream village figurines around it feels easier.
Tip 2: Mix and Match Christmas Village Figurines
When it comes to collecting Lemax Christmas villages, most avid hobbyists stick to one set to give a cohesive look across the board. This is a great way to match holiday décor in each room of your home, whether it be the vibrant red and green vintage blow molds or rustic apres-ski vibes. If this seems like your cup of tea, decide which village set piques your interest and focus on collecting buildings of that design.
If matchy-matchy décor isn’t your thing, don’t worry! Make your Lemax Christmas village your own by pairing together buildings and figurines from different collections. This method allows you to buy from any Christmas village figurine collection you come across.
Popular Lemax Christmas Village Sets:
Caddington Village: capture the elegance of Victorian-era architecture with enchanting two-story houses, elegant storefronts, and beautifully clothed figurines.
Carnival: nothing beats imaginative amusement park rides—so why not buy Christmas village figurines to build your own replica at home?
Harvest Crossing: replicate an all-American hometown with traditional farmhouses, suburban homes, and stylish shopping malls.
Plymouth Corners: with docks, commerce buildings, and scenic lighthouses, this classic village replicates towns on the New England seaside.
Santa’s Wonderland: with vivid reds, greens, and golds seen across the collection, this village targets your inner child and brings Santa’s home to life.
Vail Village: inspired by the mountainous getaway of Vail, Colorado, the homes in this village mimic the cozy ski-lodges and wintery feel for a rustic collection.
Sugar ‘N Spice: from colorful, confectionary decorations to delicious gingerbread houses, this whimsical village is inspired by holiday baking.
Jukebox Junction: jump back in time with the retro 1950s-inspired vintage village.
Spooky Town Collection: supernatural and scary miniatures dedicated to the spookiest holiday of the year, Halloween.
Tip 3: Add Layers
It doesn’t matter if you only have a couple of Christmas village figurines or a complete set—the best way to elevate your scene is by creating layers! Using pieces of wood covered in felt or specialized stands made by other passionate collectors, prop up a few buildings in your town to make it look like the real thing! This small detail makes a world of difference in just how immersive your village can feel.
Tip 4: Get Creative with Your Display
Just because you have a collection of Lemax Christmas village buildings doesn’t mean the job is done! Half the fun of this decoration is the display. Choose a location in your home that gets lots of foot traffic so you and your guests can admire your collection whenever possible. Consider how you want to set up the scene to tell a story, whether that be setting the buildings up side by side like a diorama, in a circle, or spread out separately around your home.
Pro tip: add an extra flat base layer to your set up to keep your Christmas village figurines safe and organized. Most people use a durable sheet of plywood, cutting holes in the bottom to make weaving electrical cords through easier.
Best Places to Display Your Lemax Christmas Village:
Keep the priceless Christmas collectibles safe within a closed China cabinet
Set out your pieces on a side table in your bedroom
Create your village in a circle under the Christmas tree
Nestle your buildings on the mantle above your fireplace
Lay your Christmas village figurines out for all to see on your dining room table or kitchen island
Tip 5: Don’t Forget the Finer Details
To bring your Lemax Christmas village to life, all you need are a few magical finishing touches. Simple additions to the overall landscaping, such as fake snow, railway tracks, and vintage bottle brush trees, can transform the feel of your collection. When shopping at a vintage event or vendor mall, don’t forget to buy a few character figurines to make your town feel lively!
Can You Mix Department 56 and Lemax Christmas Village Figurines?
While each classic Christmas brand has its own aesthetic, there’s nothing preventing you from mixing and matching Lemax and Department 56 Christmas village figurines together. When you’re shopping at a Highland antique mall, there’s a high chance you’ll find both brands in the booths. Take a creative risk and plan a scenic town with both!
Where Can You Buy Lemax Christmas Village Figurines?
If it's the modern piece you're after, set notifications for the exact date of their yearly releases. These can be found both online and in your local retail stores, such as Michaels.
For those who inherited a few buildings from their relatives or prefer a more vintage look, finding retired Lemax Christmas village pieces is an adventure. Your best bet for hunting down vintage villages is stopping by your local antique mall location—you never know what kind of miniature Christmas collectibles can appear in the booths and showcases! You can also check online auctions throughout the year to see what fantastic finds might pop up.
Christmas is about spending time with people you love—so why not focus on making your home feel as cozy as possible? This year, start your Lemax Christmas village collection and experience the lit-up magic for yourself.
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