46 Christmas Window Decorating Ideas to Add Cheerful Curb Appeal

Seasonal decor visible from inside and out

This Christmas season, we're aiming to spread as much holiday cheer as we can—and one spot in the home we're not overlooking is on our windows. Who said they can't be let in on the jolly fun?

While Christmas decor typically finds its place along the tree, tables, and shelves, windows provide an area where decorations can be seen by all, inside and out.

If you think Christmas window decorations stop at the traditional wreath, prepare to think again. Here are 46 fun and festive Christmas window decorating ideas to try this year.

Big Bows

Bows are another longstanding traditional Christmas icon, but their placement isn't limited to the Christmas tree. Place big bows along the exterior of your home's windows to up the feel of the holiday and welcome one of the seasonal colors into your outdoor Christmas decoration display.

Christmas bows can be placed on the windows by themselves or accompany a wreath, as seen in the picture above.

Tip

The bows you choose don't have to be solely red—there are plenty of Christmas bows with checkered patterns or other color schemes to choose from.

String Lights

String lights are a year-round decorative piece that certainly has its place along your window in the Christmas season. The warm glow provides the right amount of ambiance you can drape from the corners of your windows or line the trim.

Display Christmas Cards

Unsure of what to do with your Christmas cards? Instead of throwing them in the trash or hanging them on the fridge, turn them into a DIY garland. This simple approach to Christmas window decor is quick and easy—all you need is string and clothes pins.

Drape your garland material of choice from one window corner to the other before hanging it with the clothes pins as seen in the picture above. Not only is this a unique placement for your Christmas cards, but it makes them functional as budget-friendly decor pieces.

Christmas Wreath Trio

We love symmetry in interior design and we're bringing that love into our Christmas window decorations with a wreath trio. Whether you have three windows by your sink like Jennifer does in the picture above, or one giant window in your home, good things come in three.

Ribbon-Draped Window Wreaths

Leave no window bare this holiday season. Hang a simple Christmas wreath in each window with the help of ribbons.

Cut a strand of your favorite holiday-themed ribbon (bonus points if it's red and white checkered) before looping the ribbon through the wreath. Tie the ends together before hanging on Command hook or nail to keep the wreath in place until you're ready to take your Christmas decorations down.

Window Swag

Holiday window swag makes a beautiful arrangement for your exterior windows since it encompasses multiple Christmas elements at once.

With its combination of evergreen branches, holly and berries, pinecones, and string lights, you'll have a gorgeous fresh arrangement to decorate your home's exterior.

Make your arrangement more festive with a neutral checkered ribbon to tie in the center and spread down the sides as seen in the picture above.

Christmas Window Boxes

Add life and holiday cheer to the outside of your home by arranging a Christmas planter box in front of your window. There are a generous amount of plants and flowers that blossom in the winter you can arrange for a Christmas scene.

Start with ferns and evergreens as your base before adding holiday staples like poinsettias for color or pinecones. Go the extra Christmas mile by adding a red bow to the center of your holiday box.

Simple Laurel Leaf Wreaths

Keep your Christmas window decorations simple with laurel leaf wreaths. This plant produces gorgeous green leaves that fit perfectly with other farmhouse Christmas decor. You can drape them with ribbons as seen in the picture above.

Laurel leaves are lighter than traditional Christmas greenery, making this option a nice idea for those looking for a modern approach to Christmas decor.

Banner

One of our favorite things about using your windows for Christmas decor is that it has similar functions as a mantel, which means it's the perfect place to hang a seasonal banner. Wish everyone who visits a Merry Christmas by hanging a banner in front of your window with this saying or other Christmas icons.

Since a banner will hang from corner to corner, this idea also leaves room to use your window trim for a garland of choice or hang wreaths like Jennifer did here.

Tip

If you can't find a pre-made Christmas banner you like, make your own. Choose a banner with dangling ribbon flaps to write your own message. Take this step further by writing the same message on the back so it's visible from the outside.

Ornament Garland

The mantel isn't the only place to lay your garland—your window is just as welcoming. Feel chic and full of holiday cheer while washing dishes after sprucing up the trim of your window by combining your favorite colored ornaments and lush garland to create a festive DIY design.

Though green and red are traditional Christmas colors, add your own personality and style to the strand by selecting ornaments of your favorite shade that don't fit the seasonal color palette.

White Snow Display

Live somewhere where snow is scarce or just want to build all the cozy feels in your home? Create your own winter wonderland with a faux snow display along your windowsill.

Roll out a line of felt snow or scatter pull-apart artificial snow along the bottom of your window before adding more holiday decorations like candles, string lights, poinsettias, gingerbread houses, and villages.

Build the cozy, snowy feel even more by using a fake snow aerosol to spray the edges of your window to create an icy look.

Window Village

Christmas village decor has been around since the 19th century and has turned into an adorable seasonal collection and tradition in some homes. If you have a vintage or modern Christmas village set, consider placing them in front of your window instead of the standard table.

Classic Tall Candles

Simplify your Christmas window decorations with the help of some candles. Candles have long ties to the holiday but apart from their deeper meaning, their warm flames add ambiance and warmth to your home.

This set-up doesn't stop with the actual candle. Take your display further, like Susanne did here, by placing dried sliced oranges in the bottom of the jar and scattering plain or frosted pinecones along the windowsill.

Drying oranges yourself and choosing pinecones from your yard for this design is a great way to stay green with natural Christmas decor that's eco-friendly.

Magnolia Leaf Garland

Elevate the farmhouse charm along your window this Christmas with a magnolia leaf garland. This magnolia leaf garland from Bria Hammel Interior is a simple touch to speak to holiday decor without going overboard.

If you want to take a minimalist approach to Christmas decorating this season and break away from tradition, this is the perfect idea.

Cheery Wooden Sign

Whether you're looking to decorate your porch for Christmas or just the windows, you can never go wrong with a wooden sign.

If your front door has windows, swapping the traditional holiday wreath for a wooden sign still makes a warm welcome for your guests. Purchase your favorite sign with holiday sayings or icons, or have fun with it by turning it into a DIY holiday craft.

Holly Wreaths

Stay traditional with your Christmas window decorations by handing a holly wreath in plain view. These wreaths contain multiple iconic holiday staples starting with the green and red color palette, small berries, pointed leaves that are historically symbolic, and are part of the evergreen family.

These wreaths are easy to match with garland or other popular Christmas plants you have in the room.

Planter Arrangement

Dress up your front porch for a seasonal welcome with a stunning Christmas planter arrangement with a matching arrangement along your window, like in the picture above.

We love the idea of using natural pine or evergreen plants as a base (it's very reminiscent of the iconic holiday tree) and adding personal touches like playful ornaments.

By going with a black planter similar to the one in the picture above, you'll make the colors of the arrangement darker, richer, and more vibrant.

Bell Garland

Not all Christmas window decorations have to feature greenery, wreaths, or ornaments. Bells are another holiday icon that makes the most darling garland idea to drape in front of your window.

Make your own bell garland by stringing together mini bells before securing each end to a window corner. Having the bells drape down in front of the window leaves plenty of room to cover the window trim in greenery garland, a DIY ornament garland, or for taping your Christmas cards.

Ceramic Home Window Display

If you've run out of table or shelf space for your Christmas decor display, a window is the perfect place to arrange your Christmas ceramics. Thanks to the flat windowsill, skinny ceramics sit proudly for all to see, inside and out, before becoming a showstopper at night with the glow of LED lights.

Evergreen Garland

Evergreen garland is a Christmas staple that has lots of versatility in placement around your home. It's often hung on doors, but it's also perfect for your window decor. With the flexible vine, choose between a straight line trim lining the edge of your window top, or draping the garland to dip in front of the window.

Dried Orange Garland

Skip putting oranges into your homemade potpourri concoction and dry them for your window garland instead. The bright orange color pops beautifully against the lush greenery for a vintage-like addition that's also perfect to carry into the winter months if you're a fall lover.

Oversized Ornaments

One of our favorite Christmas window decorations is oversized ornaments. These bigger versions of the famous Christmas tree decor are perfect to get crafty with and make a garland to hang on your window.

This oversized ornament garland made by Kelly demonstrates how seasonal decor doesn't have to align with tradition completely. She used multiple colors for a bright look and modern twist that still exemplifies Christmas decor.

Tiny Tree

Staying on trend with space-saving, consider placing one or multiple tiny trees along your windowsill this holiday. In this photo, Susanne scattered a handful of tiny trees in between lighted ceramics and string lights along her window before placing a larger tiny tree in the corner.

If you don't have room for a full-size Christmas tree, setting a smaller tree on your windowsill is a great compromise that saves space and keeps the holiday tradition alive.

Paper Snowflakes

If you love getting crafty, make paper snowflakes to dangle down your winter for another DIY snowy scene. All you need is blank printer paper, scissors, tape and string to secure your snowflakes at the top of the window.

Christmas Tree of Lights

Who says Christmas trees have to be made with branches, or that your home is only limited to one? Arrange string lights in the form of a tree along your window with the help of tape or Command hooks to keep it in place.

This design adds ambiance to your home and gives those who pass by a cute visual to appreciate.

Tip

For extra decor, hang mini ornaments off the ends of the strings to add color and make the design even more adorable.

Hanging Mistletoe

Up the romance in your home and Christmas window decorations by hanging a mistletoe in front of the glass. These plants symbolize good luck (after getting a quick kiss underneath) and are smaller to decorate with than other seasonal florals or plants. If you hang real mistletoe, don't forget to properly maintain it.

White Branches

Bring a vision of the snowy outdoors to your window with a vase of white branches. If you're not a floral person, this idea still encompasses a natural element of the season that's simple to arrange to give your home a snowy feel—no plant maintenance required.

Metallic Bells

Metallic bells are stunning to hang in front of your window with a set of string lights and green garland. The metallic finish adds a subtle vintage element that pops next to the earthy greenery and warm lighting.

Jars of Lights

Looking for simple ways to add decoration to your window this Christmas? Fill a few empty jars with fairy lights to sit along your windowsill.

This is an easy way to add sparkle to your home that's visible from the inside and outside while also being budget-friendly and quick to assemble. Plus, if you want to decorate without using traditional decor, this is a neutral switch.

Hanging Stars

Hang stars in front of your window this Christmas to be reminiscent of your favorite tree topper. We love the combination of stars and gingerbread in this design styled by Amanda for an adorable look that stays on theme.

Poinsettias

Invite the iconic Christmas flower into your home this holiday season and spread some cheer by placing poinsettias along your window. This plant will add a festive pop of color to the inside and outside of your home that looks extra rich during the day thanks to the sunlight. Don't forget to water it at least once a week so it lasts the entire season.

Wrapped Presents

Some of our favorite Christmas window decorations aren't actual Christmas decorations, like presents in adorable wrapping paper prints. Using your wrapped gifts as Christmas window decor is a great way to add seasonal flair to this overlooked area of the home and maximize floor space. If you have a smaller home where the floor is limited arrange your gifts along the windowsill to keep the floor open.

Lanterns

Using lanterns as your Christmas window decor is a great way to add ambiance to your home and focus on rustic elements other than traditional icons. Though lanterns have ties to the Christmas season, they also promote feelings of warmth and coziness that fit perfectly with the winter climate.

Ribbon-Wrapped Windows

Exterior Christmas window decor is just as important as interior ideas. Make your home appear to be the present that it is to your guests or those passing by with the help of big ribbons. Tie the ribbons to sit along the exterior of your windows to transform them into presents. This idea is adorable and fun and also adds a nice pop of color to the outside of your home.

Swedish Candle Wreaths

Swedish candle wreaths fall in line with the Scandinavian style which means it's minimalist and clean in nature. Not to mention, easy to make for a chic decor piece. These wreaths have one pillar candle in the middle next to leaves going halfway up the ring that sit proudly in your window for a modern wreath design.

Sticky Window Snowflakes

Looking for a simple way to get your window in on the holiday fun? Sticky window snowflakes are budget-friendly and pop onto the glass in a matter of seconds. The snowflake pictures create a winter scene that won't leave behind any unwanted residue that's hard to wipe off.

If you want a winter wonderland picture but don't want to go all out with the artificial snow method, this is an excellent compromise that leaves the windowsill open for a few other ideas.

Mini Berry Wreaths

Red berries have ties to Christmas since they can be found on the Christmas variety of holly plants and they make chic mini wreaths. Mini berry wreaths are an excellent switch on the traditional holly wreaths of the season and are very simple to make DIY style.

Since these are natural and found in nature, all you need is a handful of berry branches from your backyard or garden, wire cutters, and gauge wire to turn these branches into adorable mini wreaths.

Checkered Curtains

If you're swapping out your drapes for a Christmas set, you can't go wrong with a checkered pattern. This famous look has ties to Scotland and comes in many color or pattern sizes to choose from.

Candy Canes

Real or fake, candy canes are fun to decorate with around Christmas time and make the cutest window garland. Show off their whimsical red and white striped pattern by tying them with string or ribbon on your garland for an easy DIY decor piece.

Scarf Wreath

Have any scarves lying around you no longer use? Turn them into a wreath with the help of a wire wreath frame. This makes a cozy wreath different form the standard holly or evergreen wreath and is the ultimate budget-friendly hack for decorating for Christmas. Just wrap the wreath around the frame through the openings before draping the ends of your wreath at the bottom of the center.

Bed of Pine

Show off the Christmas plants with pine branches and pinecones in a planter box outside. Swap out your year-round window box florals for this seasonal approach that ups the holiday cheer for those who visit before they set foot in your home.

Kids' Crafts

Has your little one made adorable Christmas crafts this year or in the past? If so, bring those out of storage to use as window decorations this holiday season. Not only is this a great idea to fill the space with seasonal decor, but it gives you a chance to proudly display your little one's work front of center for all to admire.

Advent Calendar Display

Running out of room for your Christmas decor? Use your free space by the window to display your advent calendar as you count down to Christmas. If your calendar display is large and won't fit along the windowsill, use a skinny table with a drop-leaf mechanism or entryway table until you're ready to take down your calendar.

Hanging Window Ornaments

Ornaments make great Christmas window decorations since they add color, sparkle, and tradition to this area of the home. If you have garland lining the window trim, dangling a few ornaments takes this design to the next level in terms of festivity.

This is an excellent design to achieve a look reminiscent of a decorated Christmas tree for homes that don't have the space to accommodate a standard tree.

Gnomes Find a Home

Ditch the Elf of the Shelf and go with Gnomes Find a Home instead. You'll love how these little buddies don't need to be moved around daily and you can make your own gnome as a cute Christmas DIY craft.

Their small stature makes them the perfect size to sit along your windowsill and accompany the rest of your window decor while manifesting good luck and prosperity, things gnomes are believed to represent.

Gingerbread Houses

Turn the fun, yummy treat into Christmas window decor. Whether it's the real deal or decorative ceramics, gingerbread homes can have a spot along your windowsill this holiday season. Their small size allows them to fit perfectly along the flat surface to bring color to your windows thanks to the gumdrop buttons.

Read Next: 63 Outdoor Christmas Decoration Ideas That'll Spruce Up Your Yard

Read the original article on The Spruce.