They decided to gingerbread up the plain wooden box with gold paint.
gingerbread up
idiomSynonym of gingerbread (“to decorate or embellish in an ornate or intricate way”).
The architect wanted to gingerbread up the simple porch with elaborate carvings to match the historic style of the house.
Rather than leaving the facade in its austere original state, the owner chose to gingerbread up the exterior with intricate, hand-carved flourishes that drew the admiration of every passerby.