DIY Anthropologie Macaron Dupe: Gilded Holiday Decor

Holiday & Valentine’s Decor Idea

We spent a December weekend in New York City. In between Broadway plays and window shopping, I was inspired to create a whimsical pop-art style home decor piece.

When Anthropologie unveiled oversized macarons in their Rockefeller Center holiday display, I knew I didn’t want to admire them from afar.

I wanted them in my house.

Instead of fabricating giant macarons from scratch, I found a clever shortcut — a pastel macaron-shaped stool — and transformed it with spray paint and metallic leaf.

Here’s how.

The Shortcut: Start with a Macaron Stool

Search for “macaron stool” and you’ll find pastel versions that make the perfect base for this dupe.

The shape is there.
The scale is right.
All it needs is refinement.

Supplies

• Macaron stool
• Spray paint (3 coordinating shades)
• Painter’s tape
• Plastic or newspaper
• Metallic leaf sheets (multiple colors)
• Metallic leaf adhesive
• Soft brushes
• Drop cloth
• Gloves + mask
• Optional: clear varnish for gilded areas

Step 1 | Prep & Plan Color Placement

Wipe the stool clean.

Decide your color order before painting. For the most seamless finish:

• Paint the middle macaron first.
• Then the top.
• Then the bottom.

Starting in the center ensures full coverage and avoids awkward overlap lines.

Tape off only the “filling” areas if you plan to keep them light for metallic leaf application.

Step 2 | Spray Paint in Sections

Work one macaron layer at a time.

Use light, even coats.
Allow each layer to dry before taping off the next.

Pro tip:
Turn the stool upside down to reach crevices and avoid uneven coverage.

Patience here makes the gilding stage far easier.

Step 3 | Apply Metallic Leaf

This is what elevates the piece from “painted stool” to “Anthropologie dupe.”

1. Mix adhesive per instructions.
2. Brush a thin, even coat onto the area.
3. Wait until adhesive turns clear and tacky.
4. Apply leaf sheets, overlapping slightly.
5. Gently rub and smooth.
6. “Fault” gaps with small leaf pieces.
7. Lightly buff away excess.

Work in manageable sections.
This way the adhesive stays workable.

Optional | Create a Speckled Effect

For added texture, apply adhesive randomly to the painted surface, press leaf over it, then lift sections away with painter’s tape.

This creates a subtle, scattered metallic effect that feels playful but intentional.

Seal (If Needed)

If the piece will be handled frequently, apply a clear varnish over gilded areas.

For display-only decor, sealing is optional.

The Result

The once pastel, mass-produced stool now reads as glossy, dimensional, and custom — a convincing Anthropologie macaron dupe at a fraction of the cost.

Perfect for:

• Holiday displays
• Valentine’s decor
• Whimsical party styling
• Retail-inspired window moments at home

Explore my tutorial on Chinoiserie Decoupage Taper Candles for another elevated decor DIY.