Christmas village display setup in Exeter
Professional christmas village display setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Christmas village display arranged beautifully on your sideboard, shelf or table. All lights tested and working, buildings and figures positioned thoughtfully - looks intentional and professional, not thrown together.
The Box of Miniature Festive Chaos
You've collected these beautiful little houses and shops for years. Each one carefully chosen. Lovingly stored. But actually setting them all up to look good?
Two hours later you've got buildings randomly scattered, a rat's nest of tiny light wires, and it looks like a miniature town that lost a fight with a tornado. Not quite the charming festive scene you were going for.
💡 Pro tip: Christmas village displays look best with thought put into layout - roads, groupings, height variation, sensible lighting. Just unpacking them onto a shelf doesn't cut it.
Let Someone With Fresh Eyes Do It
I'll arrange your collection thoughtfully and attractively. Test all the lights first (avoid finding dead houses after you've positioned everything). Create height variation, logical groupings, nice flow. Get it looking like an actual village, not a random pile of houses.
| ✅ Professional Setup | ❌ DIY Village Attempt |
|---|---|
| Buildings arranged with purpose and flow | Random scatter of houses |
| Lights tested before positioning | Find dead houses after setup |
| Cable management sorted | Tangled mess of wires |
| Height variation and grouping | Everything on one flat level |
| Looks intentional and charming | Looks like you gave up halfway |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Unpack | Carefully remove all pieces from storage |
| Test | Check every building's lights work |
| Plan | Work out layout based on space and what you've got |
| Arrange | Position buildings with height, grouping, flow |
| Details | Add figures, trees, accessories logically |
| Wire | Organise all the cables safely and discretely |
📦 You're Left With
- Professional-looking display (thought-out arrangement)
- All lights working (tested first, positioned after)
- Safe wiring (no fire hazards or trip hazards)
- Ready to enjoy (just switch it on)
Pricing Guide
| Collection Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small display (5-10 pieces) | 1 hr | £60 |
| Medium collection (10-20 pieces) | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Large collection (20+ pieces) | 2+ hrs | £110+ |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Complexity and detail work affects time.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Large collection - accumulated pieces over years, overwhelming to set up
✅ Limited time - December is busy enough without hours arranging miniatures
✅ Want it to look good - not just unpacked but actually displayed well
✅ New pieces - bought new buildings, want whole display refreshed
Why Choose Us for Christmas village display setup in Exeter?
All houses and buildings positioned thoughtfully
Lights tested and wired safely
Figures and accessories arranged properly
Display looks professional and intentional
What to Expect
Step 1: Unpack & Test
Carefully remove all your village pieces from storage. Test every building's lights BEFORE arranging anything. Identify what needs replacing.
Step 2: Plan Layout
Look at your display space, assess what you've got, work out a logical arrangement. Consider groupings (residential area, shops, church scene), height variation, flow.
Step 3: Arrange & Detail
Position buildings first, then add smaller pieces - figures, trees, fences, street lamps. Get the cables organised discretely. Step back, adjust, perfect it.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to set up your own village? Here's how to make it look good:
🔧 What you'll need
- Display surface (sideboard, shelf, dedicated table)
- Extension leads and cable management
- Small boxes or books (for height variation)
- White sheet or cotton batting (for snow effect)
- Scissors and tape
- Patience (this takes longer than you think)
🏘️ Layout principles
- Test all lights FIRST (finding dead buildings after setup is crushing)
- Create height variation (use books/boxes under the snow covering)
- Group logically (shops together, houses in residential area, church prominent)
- Leave space between buildings (packed tight looks cramped)
- Add depth (some buildings further back, some forward)
- Consider viewing angle (arrange for where people will look from)
💡 Lighting tips
- Plug all buildings into one or two extension leads (easier on/off)
- Hide cables behind buildings or under snow covering
- Use cable clips on back edge of display surface
- Consider plug timer (automatic on/off each evening)
- LED lights use less power and run cooler (safer for long displays)
🎨 Finishing touches
- Cotton batting or white fleece makes good snow (looks better than real cotton wool)
- Scatter "snow" (bicarbonate of soda) sparingly on roofs
- Small mirrors make good ice skating ponds
- Bottle brush trees add height and fill gaps
- Figures bring scenes to life but don't overcrowd
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Not testing lights before arranging everything
- Overcrowding (leave some space between buildings)
- All buildings same height (boring and flat)
- Visible cable mess (ruins the effect)
- Too much of anything (snow, figures, lights - less is more)
💡 Pro trick: Take photos of your finished display from multiple angles. Next year when you're setting up, you've got a reference for what worked. Saves hours of "where did that church go?"
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Full Christmas decorating service? I can do your whole house - village display, tree setup, outdoor lights, mantle decorations. One visit gets everything looking great.
Collection storage: When packing away, photograph the display first. Wrap each piece in tissue, label boxes clearly. Store somewhere dry - damp garages kill these delicate pieces.
Popular village brands: Dept 56 (Snow Village, Dickens Village, North Pole), Lemax, Hawthorne Village. Most are compatible for mixing and matching.
Display surfaces: Sideboards and console tables work great. Mantlepieces can work but are often too narrow. Some people use dedicated village platforms or corner displays.
Safety: Those little bulbs can get warm. Don't cover ventilation holes, don't let snow material touch hot bulbs, unplug when you're out. LED buildings are safer than old incandescent ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a Christmas village?
Those miniature lit-up houses, shops, churches and figures people collect - often Dept 56, Lemax, or similar brands. Some people have just a few pieces, others have massive collections that take hours to set up properly.
Why would I need help setting it up?
If you've got a big collection, arranging it all to look good (not just plonked on a shelf) takes time and a good eye. Plus all those little lights need testing and wiring safely. I can get it looking professional in a fraction of the time.
Can you work with my existing collection?
Absolutely - most people have accumulated pieces over years. I'll unpack it all, test the lights, arrange it attractively based on what you've got and where you want it displayed.
Do you provide the village pieces?
No - these are usually personal collections people treasure. You provide the houses and accessories, I provide the setup expertise and time.
What about taking it down after Christmas?
I can help pack it away carefully too - separate service but worth doing properly. Those ceramic houses are delicate and expensive to replace if they break.
Christmas village display setup Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your christmas village display setup job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Christmas village display setup in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your christmas village display setup job in Exeter today.