Christmas window lighting ideas are the perfect thing to add seasonal spice to your sills and frames. And, boy have we pulled something bright out of the bag – or should that be sack? for you.
As far as these Christmas lighting ideas as concerned, you can go as small or as large as you like. While a star-shaped night light in the window might help kids drift off to sleep (for Santa to creep in), you might also want to drape a busy curtain light from up high to add privacy and interest.
And when the weather leaves little to be desired, you can be sure that a warm glow will add a touch of coziness to your space. So what are you waiting for? Illuminate your interiors already. When it comes to Christmas window lighting, we've everything from marvelous lights powered at the mains, to battery-operated beauties... And even remote-controlled candles.
Christmas window lighting ideas to wow
'The holiday season is approaching.' says Suzanne Coblentz, director of digital marketing at Window Nation.
'All of us at Window Nation enjoy seeing the festive holiday lights and decorations families have put up in their homes. It’s no surprise that our favorite decoration to see are festive candles in the windows, a simple yet elegant way to celebrate the holidays.'
'Most homeowners might not think twice when putting a candle in the window; however, the small gesture has a rich history that spans centuries and cultures.'
1. Introduce some cascading curtain lights
If you're looking for a really easy bedroom Christmas lighting idea, adding curtain lights where you'd usually hang heavy drapes or light voile is a lovely option that can create a snug and serene aesthetic that's perfect for nighttime.
'Christmas curtain lights are sure to add a seasonal sparkle to your home,' says Amy Mason, director of product, Lights4Fun.
'White LEDs introduce an elegant frosted feel, whereas a warm white curtain is perfect if opting for a cozy winter home. Curtain lights are a great feature for winter windows and can be draped with ease. They create a snug glow on the inside, whilst also radiating out of your home for a warm welcome.
We love this Warm White Micro LED Curtain Light with Timer from Lights4Fun, available at Amazon. Particularly because it looks like snow has fallen on your window panes.
2. Slay your window decor with moving village decor
This wintery village with Firs and cute homes is sure to bring joy to your home this holiday season. How many different scenes can you see? Can you spot the boy with his skis? The children snuggling the snowman? With such detailed woodwork, you'll be wowed by this Christmas window decoration time and time again.
Hand-painted in festive colors and finished with glowing LED lights, this Winter wonderland light up village, from Anthropologie, will look magical whether displayed as a Christmas window lighting decoration, on a mantel, or as a tabletop decoration.
To light it up, simply insert 2 x AA batteries to ignite instant Christmassy cheer. With no mains socket power, you won't have to be a Einstein or a physics genius, as the battery operation alleviates the mind-boggling madness of how to fix Christmas lights.
3. Display a set of votives
Set the mood for cozy Christmas evenings with the calming glow of candlelight. Add this mercury glass votive holder by Balsam Hill to your windowsill or Christmas mantel or corner table for a contemporary holiday look.
This is such a nice idea for those who don't know how to hang Christmas lights, or if the thought of untangling the ones in the attic gets you all hot and bothered just thinking about it.
4. Add a lit mini Christmas tree
'Our top tip when decorating windows is to add decor at different levels. Start with a window curtain light secured up high to fill out the space, then add a garland to the base of the windowsill.' says, Mason.
'We love entwining Christmas wreaths and garlands with microlights for a delicate sparkle. To complete the look, add mini Christmas trees and LED decorations to windowsills for a glow.'
With a fuzzy texture and gold coloring, this 9” Pre-Lit Mini Bottle Brush Gold Christmas Tree Decoration from Lights4Fun, available at Amazon is a seriously stylish accessory that'll look great among other rustic Christmas decorations.
5. Add some texture with spheres
Rattan makes its big reveal on the Christmas stage (we mean window) in the form of gorgeous glowing orbs.
These Illuminated LED Vine Spheres, available from Anthropologie, add a warm glow to your home spaces with a rustic sphere of rattan vine, each one illuminated by an interwoven strand of twinkling lights.
Plug them in and watch as they produce the most amazing radiance in your room.
5. Lean a lit wreath against your window wall
If you can't decide on, (or have space for) both a Christmas wreath, a lantern, and a candle... Why not have all three?
This ingenious Holiday Lantern 28" Lighted Wreath from The Holiday Aisle® and available at Wayfair is a 3-in-1 decoration designed to illuminate the barest of windowsills. Verdant green foliage is combined with vibrant Poinsettias and woody pinecones with a centrally-lit dark lantern to house your favorite candle.
6. Go for some Scandi-inspired wooden stars
Inject some Nordic style into your Christmas window lighting decor with stylish wooden stars, studded with LED lights. Effective enough on its own, or display a few together for a cozy cluster.
Add some more hygge homewares like chunky knits and faux furs for a Scandinavian Christmas decor aesthetic.
7. Move your mantel decor to the window
Brighten up your Christmas window lighting with vintage Victorian-era charm. With its natural color and built-in lights, this miniature Christmas village, from Balsam Hill brings a beautiful glow to your Christmas mantel decor, windows, or tabletops.
'I love the vintage look of the Wooden Christmas Mantel Village. I’m reminded of my childhood counting down the days until Christmas.' says Kathleen Elisabeth, home decorating expert and Youtube star.
8. Go for all the frosty feels with exterior icicle lights
'Icicle lights are great for lining your roof with sparkle over the festive season,' says Mason.
Designed to look just like a real icicle drop, the delicate fairy lights shine through a wintery glow. Icicle lights are so easy to display too! Gutter hooks are the perfect accessory when lining your roof, simply spread them evenly along the roofline and secure them into place for the season.
These LED Warm White Mini Twinkling Icicle Christmas lights, from Philips, available at Amazon are great for your outdoor spaces because of their waterproof properties.
Want to add a twinkle to your indoor Christmas decor? We've got more of the best fairy lights to create a sparkly scheme.
9. Make your windows twinkle with star-shaped lights
'Star lights are perfect for Christmas windows.' explains Mason.
'Our Malmo Window Star Light Trio is suited to any interior and can be displayed all year round, but look super special during the festive season. Once illuminated in windows, star lights create elegant silhouettes from the inside and out. Accompany with candles on window ledges to add even more warmth to the arrangement.'
10. Add a light-up advent calendar
Light up the countdown to Christmas with a Winter Scene Fold Out Wooden Advent Calendar, from Light4Fun, available from Amazon.
Open it up to your find your very own winter wonderland and fill the hand-painted wooden drawers with your favorite festive treats. This is a perfect gifting idea for someone who doesn't necessarily want a calendar containing chocolate (shock horror) but it does mean that you can personalize it with whatever they like. Alternatively, treat this as a communal calendar that the whole family can take turns to enjoy.
Featuring a handy timer, this calendar will automatically illuminate the warm white LEDs for six hours. Simply insert the batteries and set the timer for early in the morning for a glow as you count down the days.
And for more festive fun, find out which of the best advent calendars get our backing...
12. Go for a child-friendly, flame-less candle
Encased within smoked green or gold-colored glass for a unique and contemporary look, this trio of TruGlow® candles, from Lights4Fun, available from Amazon is stylish as well as safe! With up to 600 hours of 'burn' time and a six-hour timer, you can be sure that this Hurricane-style candle will add wow-factor to your wall opening.
Combining real white wax and innovative technology to perfectly mimic the appearance of a real (hot) flame, they’re as close to the real thing as you can get, while keeping young children and curious fingers from getting burned. But, as always you should always be cautious and keep yourself abreast with Christmas light safety.
With a remote control for instant illumination, you can trick kids into thinking you really can conjure up the spirit of Christmas.
Incorporate two trends in one by creating an industrial Scandinavian Christmas decorating scheme or create a modern Gothic glam aesthetic by pairing the gold version with monochromatic decor.
Of course, if you did decide to introduce some real ones, the best Christmas candles will add a sensational smell around the home.
13. Set the scene in a dining room with windows
'Flameless Christmas candles are versatile pieces that will complement your dining room no matter the theme. For a romantic flair, switch off your main lights and let Christmas window candles spread warmth from the window sill throughout the room.' says Tanvi Sikand, senior marketing manager, Balsam Hill.
We think these Oil-rubbed Bronze Miracle Flame LED Window Candles, Set of 2 with realistic candle drip effect, would create a gorgeously intimate atmosphere for a small Christmas dinner.
How can I light my windows for Christmas?
'Everyone loves unabashedly ogling their neighbor’s Christmas window displays. Pillar or votive candles lend a soft glow to your home. Arrange them on the window ledge for a serene effect. Just make sure they are placed far from the curtains to avoid a fire hazard.' says Sikand.
How to hang fairy Christmas window lights
'If you already have lights you want to use you can hang them with command hooks,' says Ashley Dwyer, owner of The Well Dressed Table blog.
'Command hooks are my holiday decorating best friend from lights, stockings, and much more. They allow me to hang things without permanent damage. The only thing I will say is that I haven’t had good luck with the clips that come with the clear adhesive. I choose the white or clear hooks with the white adhesive and find it easy to remove damage-free as long as you pull to remove really slowly.'