Christmas window displays are one of the joys of the holiday season. After all, who doesn't love walking around and admiring the bright lights and beautiful colors of their neighbors' windows adorned with Christmas stickers and more?
If you're looking for some Christmas window decorating tips and ideas for your own home, we've rounded up our favorites below. From wreaths and garlands to twinkling window lights, there's something for everyone – and these one of a kind festive decorating ideas are sure to brighten up a passerby's day.
1. Light up your Christmas window display with LED stars
Osby star string lights, Lights4fun
An upgrade on the humble fairy light, these stars are a simple but effective way to create a bright Christmas display in your window, and they look beautiful from indoors and out. While scouring the internet, we found plenty of other designs like these ones from Osby, too, from pom poms to snowflakes, so you can pick a design that works for you.
2. Show off your handmade (or, ahem, store-bought) wreath
With more time on our hands than normal, we'll be busy looking up how to make a wreath this Christmas – and proudly displaying the result of our hard work in our window for all to see. Alternatively, we'll be finding the best Christmas wreaths online – after all, your neighbors won't know the difference…
3. Add twinkling curtain lights for an instant lift
Curtain lights, Lights4fun
A set of curtain lights – literally a sheet of string lights that fall down your window, like a curtain – make for a simple, easy but highly effective advent display that looks totally charming, too. Just don't set them to the flashing setting, please – we guarantee it'll drive you mad before long.
4. Repurpose your festive wall hangings
Maddox star and Cromwell stars, Garden Trading
If you have Christmas wall hangings you normally place over a fireplace, say, or just on a plain wall, they'll look just as stunning hung up in a window. Try metal cut-out stars like these for a simple, rustic look – perfect for Scandi-inspired Christmas interiors.
5. Christmas window stickers make for an easy update
Window stickers, TileStickerCompany at Etsy
As much as we're a little wary of window stickers, the right design can look cute – as long as you're not too heavy-handed with their application. Opt for simple white stickers in a snowflake or star shape, and stick them sparingly to your window or place them along the bottom of the window pane.
6. Dress your window sill with a garland
For a similar garland, try the ultimate green and berry garland, The White Company
If you're more of a maximalist when it comes to Christmas decorations, consider lining your window sill – and even the top of your window, if you can – with a garland. It looks classy, frames the window beautifully and acts as a stunning finishing touch to a more traditional scheme. Prefer contemporary style? Opt for springs of eucalyptus placed carefully along the sill.
7. Creative a festive window display with paper decorations
For similar, try Garden Trading
Christmas paper decorations have seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years thanks to being a) beautiful, b) inexpensive and c) smash-proof. As well as placing them on your tree and weaving them into garlands, try hanging them from your window for a simple, unobtrusive effect.
8. Hang special Christmas string lights either side of the glass
Christmas lights, Garden Trading
While heavier garlands work well lining a window horizontally, for a similar effect on a vertical level, try hanging a string or two of Christmas fairy lights from top to bottom instead. They don't have to be plain lights, either: we love these tree designs, or opt for pretty snowflakes or stars.
9. Create a layered Christmas window display
Osby star string lights, Lights4fun
Give your Christmas window decor some real pizzaz by layering different types of lighting. This designs uses curtain lights and candles inside to create a warm glow, and sets the scene with outdoor star lights strung above the window. Candles add a beautiful flickering touch to a display, but make sure they're not sitting below anything flammable (like paper decorations) – or opt for LED versions to be on the safe side.
10. String simple garlands across your window
Pom pom garland and star garland, Garden Trading
We love the effect created by layering strings of stars and pompoms across a window. This Christmas window display could easily be recreated with paper chains (remember those?) – a perfect way to spend a crafty afternoon and get the kids involved, too.