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?
Plus, if you have guests who you haven't seen for a while over for the holidays, window displays for Christmas can create a distinct decoration so that they can identify your home with ease as they travel into your neck of the woods!
If you're looking for some Christmas window decorating tips and ideas for your own home, we've rounded up our favorites. 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.
From Christmas carolers to the postman, morning joggers, and people driving into your part of town, create a seasonal sight for the eyes this December.
Christmas window displays to delight
'The simple addition of a window garland can transform your kitchen into a festive haven this Christmas!' says Lizzie Beesley, head of design at Magnet.
'Hanging faux (or real) greenery to the frame of your windows brings nature into your kitchen and creates a cozy aesthetic. You can add fairy lights, pine cones, berries or eucalyptus leaves to further emphasize and fill out the feature.'
1. Make your sills shine with LED tinsel star decor
Tinsel is a Christmas decoration that can be so divisive. But if your interior style doesn't involve treating your tree to these thin strips of glittering material, adorn your Christmas window display with a twinkling star instead.
This large light-up star window decoration from Ella James is finished with tiny twinkling warm LED lights and can even be matched with the coordinating Christmas tree topper too!
However, if mismatched is more your style, discover the best Christmas tree toppers, as picked by us.
2. Make a display out of Christmas cards with macrame
Seventies decor and bohemian schemes aren't just for Spring and Summer. So if you want to add some retro style to your Christmas card decorating ideas – hang some macrame decs.
You can either go down the DIY homemade route or alternatively, artfully display your collection of cards and letters received throughout the year or your holiday greeting cards when the season arrives on this crafted hoop topped with a handy loop from Anthropologie.
This window display for Christmas means that your cards will remain secure and won't be knocked off a table, dresser or drawers.
3. Light up your Christmas window display with LED stars
An upgrade on the humble fairy light, these Osby stars from Lights4Fun, available at Amazon, are a simple but effective way to create a bright Christmas window lighting display to add calming glow to your casements, and they look beautiful from indoors and out.
While scouring the internet, we found plenty of other designs like these ones from pom-poms to snowflakes, so you can pick a design that works for you.
4. Show off your handmade (or, ahem, store-bought) wreath
With more and more of us getting crafty and experimenting with DIY Christmas decs, 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…
5. Add twinkling curtain lights for an instant lift
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... And boy do we love these from Lights4Fun, available on Amazon. Just don't set them to the flashing setting, please – we guarantee it'll drive you mad before long.
6. Repurpose your festive wall hangings
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 these powder-coated steel cut-out stars like these from Garden Trading for a simple, rustic look – perfect for Scandi-inspired Christmas interiors.
7. Christmas window stickers make for an easy update
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.
Alternatively, if you don't have space for the aforementioned wreath ideas we spoke about, this trio of wreath stickers from Ginger Ray will add a festive touch without taking up prime window real estate.
8. Say hello without making a sound with slogan decor
Whether you've got a young baby who's sleeping or a pet dog who alerts the whole household at the drop of a pin – there are many reasons as to why we can't be as vocal as we want to be to celebrate the holidays.
So say 'Merry Christmas' with this stylish window sticker from Cox and Cox. This year, you can easily spread the festive cheer to your neighbors and passersby with our delightful slogan adhesive sign.
At just £6.50, it's a budget Christmas decorating idea that you can peel off after Papa Noel has shared the presents.
9. Dress your window sill with a garland
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 Christmas 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.
Follow our tutorial on how to make a Christmas garland, or for ease and speed, go for a shop-bought trimming.
10. Create a festive window display with paper decorations
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.
You can either buy these honeycomb decorations pre-made from craft stores and supermarkets or, keep the kids entertained (under supervision) on a rainy day with DIY Christmas decorations. All you'll need is some colorful paper and a pair of scissors.
11. Hang special Christmas string lights either side of the glass
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.
12. Create a layered Christmas window display
Give your Christmas window decor some real pizzaz by layering different types of lighting. This design 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.
13. String simple garlands across your window
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.
Get the exact look by purchasing the Southwold pom pom garland and Southwold star garland – both from Garden Trading.
How do you make a Christmas window display?
'If you have a window ledge in your kitchen, you can create your very own winter village scene this Christmas - an increasingly popular trend!' says Beesley.
'By assembling model homes in between faux Christmas trees, on a bed of cotton wool, you can build your very own winter wonderland. Not only will it look great from the inside of your home, you can spread the festive cheer as your neighbors will also get to see the scene too!'