Decorating Ideas With Old Windows

There are plenty of Christmas window decorations that can transform bland windows into exceptionally festive displays – ones that will be appreciated by neighbours and passers by alike.

As decorating the exterior of our homes, from door garlands to outdoor Christmas trees, becomes the norm (B&Q has seen a 50 per cent spike in searches for outdoor Christmas decor compared to this time last year), the windows of a house deserve just as much festive care.

Sprucing up your windows for Christmas will make your home look and feel cosy and inviting from the outside in, so it's important not to overlook the impact of a well-dressed window this holiday season.

Pinterest has recorded a 50 per cent increase in searches for 'Christmas window decorations' and a 3x increase in searches for 'Christmas window painting', demonstrating that more people are decorating their homes in creative ways to inspire festive, heart-warming magic.

For some, Christmas window decorations extend merely to a can of fake snow for the desired Christmassy effect, for others it's draping fairy lights across the window frame or adding festive stickers, stencils or window film.

Even if you're a neutral lover and you'd rather not mess with your carefully curated interiors, here we suggest some easy, fuss-free Christmas window decorations, plus ideas from experts on how to style your window panes.

Shop the look at Lights4Fun

Oliver Perrott/Lights4Fun

Adhesives

First, consider how you're going to hang your trimmings. Seasonal decor will be taken down after a few weeks so the last thing you want to do is make any permanent damage to your windows.

'Clear self-adhesive hooks work well and can be removed without damage. For best results, clean and dry the window first – this will remove any unwanted residue and ensure the hooks stick properly. You're then ready to apply and secure the hooks where you need them,' says Adam Pawson, Head of Digital at Safestyle.

HB recommends... Invest in some Command strips, hooks, clips etc. They're great for hanging temporary decorations across the home. Shop a selection of Command adhesives here at Amazon.

A window garland

You could style a Christmas garland all around your window frame, along the top half, or alternatively you could pop a garland along your windowsill. An alternative to a garland is using a Christmas wreath – place this in your front window for a welcoming display.

If you fancy doing some Christmas craft, head to your local woodland and gather a few wild foliage sprigs to create the perfect homemade garland or wreath, if you prefer.

'Look to gather some eucalyptus, douglas fir or spruce and small cedar branches. You'll also need some ribbon and florist wire to get you started,' Cheskie Baker, designer and co-founder of CHESKIE. 'Bundle small pinches of each bit of foliage, wrap tightly together at the bottom with the florist wire and then with the same length of wire, tie around one end of the ribbon. Repeat this process, working your way up the length of ribbon, until you have your home-made garland, ready to be arranged on your window sill.'

Alternatively, you can of course buy a Christmas garland. A range of designs are widely available from most high street home stores and online retailers: you can buy a fresh garland, faux fir garland, or beaded garlands; the latter two are often the pre-lit variety too.

Christmas window lights

Before we share some Christmas window light options, bear in mind light safety first.

'The first step is to check the product carefully before buying to ensure you know exactly where it can be used to decorate your home,' says Kam Dhillon, Category Manager for Christmas at B&Q. 'Some festive lights may be limited to indoors only if they are made of delicate materials that could be damaged by the weather. The lights may look magical and tempting to touch, but remember to always keep them out of reach from small children and pets.'

When it comes to decorating the outside of your windows, festive lights is always a good choice.

'You can take a minimalist approach with this – simply adorning the outer frame with some twinkling lights – or, if the mood takes you, feel free to cover your window in lights and become the house that passers-by stop to look at, despite the cold,' explains Jonathan Hey, founder and CEO of Aliwood Roof Lanterns, Westbury Garden Rooms and Westbury Windows & Joinery.

If you're limited with outdoor space, however, you can create a dazzling window display indoors with fairy lights, says Kam Dhillon. It's a quick and easy way to add some charm to your home and give it that warm, cosy feeling. You could simply hang some draped lights above your window, or create more of a magical installation.

As Cheskie Baker explains: 'A simple yet elegant way to work with fairy lights is to gather glass vases and bowls of different sizes and fill with dainty battery powered lights. Arrange the lights within the bowls and vases for a festive and romantic display. To go one step further, arrange some eucalyptus and spruce around the base of each vase and bowl."

And if you have tall windows, curtain lights can bring a magical look to your space – and it will really shine bright outdoors too.

3.5m Christmas Decoration Lights

4 Reviewed lightinthebox.com

US$18.85

Curtain Lights Mains Powered, 3m x 3m

Ollny amazon.co.uk

£19.99

50 Warm White LED Micro Battery Outdoor Fairy Lights

Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk

£6.99

Candles

'A few candles of white, red or green (preferably those with festive smells) will look excellent on your window sill. Especially when accompanied by reflective ornaments that accentuate the flickering flame.'

HB recommends... To avoid any fire risk, opt for LED candles. There are some great colours and designs, including ombre effect ones, that will help you create a festive centrepiece.

4 Bronze Ombre TruGlow® LED Taper Candles

TruGlow® Dark Green LED Pillar Candle Trio

Set Of Four Realistic Flame LED Orb Candles

Lights4Fun notonthehighstreet.com

US$48.20

Pair of Red Wax Battery Operated LED Taper Candles

Lights4fun amazon.co.uk

US$12.99

Christmas cards

Sometimes it's hard to know what to do with all the Christmas cards we receive – there's never enough space on the sideboard or mantel to hold them all. But you could work with what you already have to design a pretty festive window display.

'A fun way to display your Christmas cards is to staple them to long lengths of ribbon, with dashes of holly at the top of each card and then hang them down either side of your window to frame it,' suggests Cheskie Baker.

A stylish winter blind or curtain

Looking for a more subtle way to dress up your windows this Christmas? Opt for a festive blind to create the perfect cosy scene for those winter nights in.

'A seasonal patterned print with subtle hints of Christmas is perfect if you're looking to add a low maintenance festive touch to your window,' says Jason Peterkin, director at 247 Blinds. 'Opt for a pattern that won't look out of place throughout the whole winter period to create an ideal backdrop for your window display.'

Similarly, upgrading your curtains for the holiday season is certainly a great way to demonstrate your festive cheer. 'A warming red plaid design, for example, will do much to fill your front room with rich, Christmassy character and take your decorative decor to the next level,' says Jonathan Hey.

Deck The Halls - Roller Blind, 247blinds

247blinds

Stockings

No space to hang stockings on the mantel? Why not hang your stockings up on the windowsill instead – all you need to do is invest in some stocking holders to hold enough for the entire family.

peace set of five family christmas stocking holders

Christmas window stickers and stencils

A really easy, fuss-free way to decorate your windows is to add stickers and stencils. There's no need to go OTT but a few sticker designs can really elevate your window panes. It's also a great decoration for children, as they'll love adding some festive decor to their bedroom windows.

Set Of 20 Festive Snowflake Window Stickers

Nutmeg Wall Stickers notonthehighstreet.com

US$12.00

White Window Sticker Christmas Decal

DizzyDuckDesignsUK etsy.com

US$19.98

5 Colourful Nutcracker Soldiers Reusable Stickers

Stickers4dotcom etsy.com

US$7.99

Christmas Village Scene Vinyl Stickers

Nutmeg Wall Stickers notonthehighstreet.com

US$26.94

Accessorise with ornaments

If you've got some spare baubles left, use them to create a small festive arrangement on your windowsill. Throw in some LED candles and mini 3D paper Christmas trees, or even a small Christmas tree (table top or letterbox) would look wonderful in this space.

Don't forget your roof lantern or skylight

Do you have a roof lantern or skylight built into your home? 'Be sure not to miss the opportunity to hang up some decorations that cater to the natural light spilling through,' says Jonathan Hey. 'Glass ornaments that refract the light and send a shimmering glow across the walls are highly recommended!'

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