Christmas window decorations: Our 15 favourite Christmas window display ideas, top tips, and more

As the holiday season approaches, the festive fanatics amongst us fill every nook and cranny with twinkling Christmas lights, garlands, and baubles, leaving no corner undecorated. But while the walls are decked to the brim, there might be one place you forgot to adorn: your windows!

Window decorations are the perfect way to add Christmas cheer to your interior and exterior holiday decor. Why not create a magical window display to be admired by house guests and passers-by alike?

From whimsical cottage displays to incredi-bauble maximalist styles, there’s a design to suit all tastes. Keep reading to be inspired by our 15 favourite Christmas window decoration ideas!

In this post, we’ll cover:

How to plan your window display

Before you launch into a festive frenzy, consider these factors to make sure your window display is both beautiful and practical. Here are our top tips for planning out your window decorations: 

Plan around the size and shape of your window

It’s best to incorporate decorations that suit the size and shape of your windows. Large bay windows are perfect for grand displays with garlands, lights, and hanging ornaments, while smaller windows may benefit from a more minimalist approach. 

Factor in natural light

Natural light is already scarce in the winter months, so be careful your window display doesn’t steal it away. Whilst large windows offer creative freedom, if you have smaller windows, opt for lighter materials, smaller features, and delicate frosted ornaments that allow light to filter through.

Think about interior and exterior aesthetics

Your window display will be a two-way showpiece, so don’t forget to design one that looks equally great from both the inside and outside of your home. Matching your window decorations to other colours and textures in your interior and exterior design is a great starting point. 

Keep it functional 

Letting in that frosty breeze might be the last thing on your mind. However, if you sometimes open your windows to ventilate a room or let smoke out while cooking, don’t let your decorations get in the way of functionality. Make sure decorations can be moved if necessary, or hang them in an unobstructive place.

Safety first

Ensure all decorations are securely fastened to avoid accidents; suction cups or hooks designed for windows are ideal. Avoid placing anything flammable in a window with curtains, and switch off any mains-powered lights when unattended. 

15 Christmas window decoration ideas to inspire your space

Now you know how to tailor your display to suit your space, it’s time to get creative. Our 15 creative Christmas window decoration ideas are sure to light up your home - and your neighbours’ faces!

  • Traditional Christmas window display

To create this timeless display, use classic colours like red and gold baubles and foliage elements like wreaths and garlands. Line your window with a garland or wrap one around your curtain pole for a lush, festive feel, and finish with a traditional wreath.

  • Frosted window display

Let a certain snowman pay a visit to your space and create a frosty effect on your window. This design complements snowy Christmas trees perfectly. Add window spray snow to corners to frost your glass, and hang icicle lights and acrylic icicles above or across the window. Then add snowy features like a snowy alpine garland, flocked arbor vitae garland, or a frosted decorated mixed pine wreath. 

  • DIY Christmas window display 

Making paper snowflakes brings a personal touch to your window display and evokes some school-day nostalgia. This is the perfect activity to get the kids in the Christmas spirit and create a display that the whole family can be proud of. Hang them at different lengths with invisible thread to create the illusion of falling snow. For an added twist, use glitter paper or metallic spray paint to make them sparkle.

  • Festive foliage window display 

If you have a large window, make a statement with a luscious, leafy design. Hang green garlands above and around the border of your window, add a couple of traditional wreaths, and natural features like holly berries, pinecones, and branches with fairy lights across your window sill.

You can use real foliage for this design, but beware that real evergreen wreaths and garlands only live for 1-2 weeks indoors. Opting for realistic artificial foliage features is a more sustainable choice.

  • Bauble-mania window display 

Baubles aren’t just for trees; you can also use them to create a unique window display! Attach baubles to the border of your window using suction cups and let others roll across your windowsill. Then, use fishing wire to create bauble bunting, string it across your canvas, and finish with a bauble wreath as a centrepiece. This versatile design can be adapted to match any colour scheme; just pick your baubles accordingly. 

  • Handmade Christmas window display

Are you planning to work some DIY magic this festive season? Don’t be afraid to show off your handiwork by incorporating it into your window design. Whether you’ve been making a bauble wreath, decorating a plain garland, or trying out some DIY bauble crafts, be proud of your creations!

These DIY projects make great decorations, so when you’re raking in those window display compliments from your neighbours, you’ll have a few more things to brag about!

  • Jingle Bells window display 

Jingle all the way with adorable bell bunting! Hang small bells on decorative ribbon, jute, or fishing wire, then string your handmade bunting back and forth across your window. This minimalist design is ideal for small windows as it won’t block out natural light. 

  • Christmas lights window display

What’s more magical than the twinkling lights of the holiday season? Use Christmas lights to make a display that’s impossible to ignore. You could string the lights around or across your window, bunch them up along your windowsill, or let cascading icicle lights fall down the glass. This design is excellent for windows which don’t let through much natural light, as the warm glow of LED decorations will brighten up the room whilst shining for the whole street to see. 

Warm or bright white lights are a traditional choice, but you could opt for coloured lights like blue or red lights for a truly eye-catching display. Finish with light-up accessories like a pre-lit Christmas wreath or pre-lit Christmas garland for a twinkling finishing touch. 

  • Vintage Christmas window display

Use old-timey decorations to design a charming window display. Sit antique-style focal pieces like a nutcracker or nativity figurines on the windowsill and incorporate retro features like candy canes and giant bows. 

  • Candlelit Christmas window display 

What could encapsulate the warm spirit of Christmas like candles? Mix and match candles and candlesticks of different shapes, sizes, and colours alongside sprigs of holly and eucalyptus for a cosy vibe. If you have kids or your window has flammable curtains, switch out real candles for battery-operated LED alternatives to create that flickering effect without the safety risk. 

  • Christmas tree window display

If you’ve created a Christmas tree that deserves to be seen, why not place it right by the window for passersby to admire? This will instantly spruce up large windows where there’s no shortage of natural light, but there’s a way to make it work for small windows, too. 

A mini Christmas tree provides all the ‘wow’ for a fraction of the size. Get inspired by our ideas for decorating small Christmas trees and proudly display your little masterpiece on your windowsill. Or, put a funky twist on your decor and hang an upside-down Christmas tree from the top of your window. 

  • Christmas window sticker display

Use Christmas window stickers to design a heartwarming winter scene. From novelty Santas and snowmen to elegant snowflakes and festive foliage, you can find window stickers to suit every style. Best of all, window stickers are easy to apply and will remove without leaving residue, so you can be sure of a fuss-free de-decoration too. 

  • Cottagecore Christmas window display

You don’t need to live in a cottage to embrace one of the biggest Christmas trends for 2024. Complement your cottagecore interior decor with a matching window display. Incorporate earthy tones like bronze and gold, bright white features, and lush frosted greenery, like a snowy alpine garland. Whimsical touches like knitted stockings and handcrafted ornaments cement this cutesy design. 

  • Festive village window display

Take advantage of alcove windows or large window sills and create a magical Christmas scene that will delight children and grown-ups alike and bring a storybook feel to your window. Use cotton wool to make a fluffy snow base, then add figurines and tiny buildings to make a little festive village. You could make your own models or create a complex city using Christmas collectables. Either way, it's sure to bring a smile to every face!

  • Rose gold Christmas window display 

If you love all things pretty in pink, a rose gold window display deserves a place on your Christmas list. Drape rose gold beads across your window, add floral and feathery focal points for whimsey, and incorporate big bows and love heart features. 

How do you stick Christmas decorations to a window?

Your window display will look stunning throughout the festive season, but we’re not sure it should be a permanent fixture. Attaching your decorations mindfully can ensure your windows remain in tip-top condition long after the holidays are over. Here’s how to attach some common decorations without damaging windows, window frames, or walls:

How to attach fairy lights to windows

Attach clear Command hooks or clips to window frames or walls surrounding your window; you can use these to string fairy lights up on. Use suction cup hooks and adhesive light clips to stick fairy lights directly to windows. These will keep your lights shining all holiday season and leave no trace come January. 

How to attach baubles and hanging ornaments to windows

You can attach lightweight baubles directly to the glass using suction cup hooks and window frames using Command hooks or clips. Another great option is to string baubles up using fish wire, decorative ribbon, or jute and hang them from a curtain pole for a cascading effect. Alternatively, you could attach Command hooks to the walls at either side of the window and hang a string of baubles between them. 

How to attach wreaths to windows

A wreath can be hung from a Command hook or small nail just above your window to sit at the top of your window display or attached to the hook using ribbon or fish wire if you’d like it to hang more centrally. Suction hooks can provide a sturdy anchor for a heavy wreath to hang anywhere on your window, whilst magnetic window hooks are a third option for hanging this classic decoration. 

How to attach garlands to windows

Curtain rods are a great way to use your existing fixtures to your advantage; wrap a garland around them or drape one from them for an easy fix. Use zip ties as an invisible extra layer of security. Again, Command hooks, small nails, and suction cups are your best friend! 

How to attach window stickers to windows

Window stickers are specially designed to attach and detach from windows with ease. Simply stick them in place and peel them off afterwards, avoiding stickers with heavy residue to ensure a smooth removal. 

Deck the halls (and windows) with Christmas Tree World!

For wonderful windows, beautiful baubles, and (best of all) terrific trees, look no further than Christmas Tree World! 

From decorations of all shapes, sizes, and colours to twinkling Christmas lights, our range is unbeatable for creating welcoming window displays that shine bright for all to see. Invite Mother Nature into your home with realistic artificial wreaths and garlands, or let it glow with pre-lit wreaths and pre-lit garlands.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the tree, and what could be better than a true evergreen that never dies? Shop the UK’s largest range of artificial Christmas trees here at Christmas Tree World. From mini trees for your windowsill to giant 20ft trees for your garden, ultra-realistic trees to LED fibre optic trees and snowy Christmas trees, there’s no shortage of choice. 

Best of all, we offer a 10-year guarantee on all foliage products, so you can be sure that your purchase will look fantastic for years to come. Our customers enjoy free delivery on all orders over £30, so why not become one today?