You don't need a big house to have the prettiest home on the street. You just need one window.
The window is the only part of your home people see from both inside and outside. In a flat or rented home it is also the easiest place to decorate, because nothing has to be screwed into the wall. Every Christmas window decoration below is no-drill, and most take ten minutes or less.
Before you start: three quick checks
- Measure your window in cm. Note the width and height of the glass, and the length of the curtain rod if you have one.
- Find the nearest power socket. If there isn't one near the window, pick battery-powered lights or a USB power bank.
- Check your tenancy agreement. Most landlords don't mind removable hooks and anything hung from an existing curtain rod. Screws and nails are a different matter.
Light up the window
1. Hang animated curtain lights from the curtain rod
Curtain lights were made for windows. They fall straight down from the rod like a second curtain, with nothing fixed to the wall. Our Smart Animated Christmas Curtain Lights do more: choose from 144+ animated scenes on your phone, from Santa and snowmen to reindeer and trees, and change the colours, brightness and speed whenever you like.
2. Write a message for the whole street
The same curtain lights let you type your own message, or draw a picture. "Merry Christmas from No. 12" in the window is the kind of thing neighbours stop to photograph. Living abroad? Try a short greeting in the local language. Everyone who passes will smile.
3. Project Christmas scenes onto a curtain or blind
A small projector such as Starlit has a bendable neck, so you can point it at the window. Aim it at a sheer curtain, a light roller blind or frosted glass. Clear glass lets most of the light pass through, so the picture shows best on fabric.
Add some greenery
4. Lay a garland along the window ledge
A 9 ft (2.7 m) garland is long enough to run along most window ledges and hang down at each side. Not near a socket? The Snow Flocked Garland with warm white LEDs is battery operated. Prefer something simpler? The Tribeca Blue Spruce Garland has no lights and is easy to dress with your own baubles.
5. Hang a wreath in the middle of the glass
Tie a long ribbon to the curtain rod and let the wreath hang in the centre of the window. A 24 in (61 cm) wreath suits a large window. With no socket nearby, the 24" Snow Flocked Wreath has battery-powered warm white LEDs, so there are no cables to hide.
Hang things from the curtain rod
6. Baubles on ribbon at different heights
Glass baubles catch the light beautifully in a window. Tie each one to a length of Classic Red Ribbon and hang them from the rod at different heights. Five to seven is plenty for an ordinary window. The Snowflake Glass Ornament is sold as a set of four.
7. Paper snowflakes
The cheapest idea on the list, and a lovely job for children on a December afternoon. Fold a square of white paper into a triangle, cut shapes along the edges, then unfold. Stick them to the glass with a little water mixed with washing-up liquid, or hang them from thread. They peel off without a trace.
Decorate the ledge
8. A tabletop tree in the window
No room for a full-size tree? Put a small one where everybody can see it. A 3 ft (90 cm) tabletop tree fits on a side table or a deep window ledge. A pre-lit one, like the Snow Flocked Tabletop Tree with 50 warm white LEDs, makes the window glow on its own.
9. A European candle arch
In Germany, a wooden candle arch called a Schwibbogen has stood in windows for generations. In Sweden, almost every window in December has an electric Advent candlestick. Borrow the idea with a row of LED candles along the ledge. You get the same warm glow without a flame near the curtains.
10. Take it out to the balcony
If your flat has a balcony, curtain lights work there too. They are weather-resistant, built for rain, snow and cold nights. Tie them to the railing with cable ties, and the whole street can enjoy them.
Order by 25 November for Christmas delivery
Free tracked shipping to the UK and Europe (12–20 business days) and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Shop curtain lightsShop wreaths & garlandsWhich size curtain lights fit your window?
Measure the width of your curtain rod or window frame, then pick the size that covers it.
| Size | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 1 m (3.3 × 3.3 ft) | Standard window or glass door | $69.99 |
| 2 × 2 m (6.6 × 6.6 ft) | Wide window, French doors or small balcony | $89.99 |
| 3 × 3 m (9.8 × 9.8 ft) | Large balcony, garden wall or fence | $99.99 |
Two windows side by side? You can link several sets together into one bigger display.
Window lighting safety
- Use LED lights near curtains. LEDs stay cool. Never put real candles on a ledge with fabric nearby.
- Outdoors, use weather-resistant lights. Check the product says so before taking anything onto a balcony.
- Keep cables tidy. Run them along the skirting board, not across the floor where someone could trip.
- Use a timer. It saves electricity and means the lights aren't on all night.
Christmas window decorations: FAQ
One window is all you need
Pick one idea for this weekend: curtain lights on the rod, a garland along the ledge or a wreath on a ribbon. Add something each week of Advent, and by Christmas your window will be the one people slow down to look at.
Planning the kids' room too? Read our guide to Christmas projectors for kids' bedrooms.
Bring the magic home
Order by 25 November for Christmas delivery. Free tracked shipping, 30-day returns.
Shop curtain lightsShop wreaths & garlandsShop the window decorations
Order by 25 November for Christmas delivery. Free tracked shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
