At my house, we have huge front windows and it would feel weird to not decorate them for Christmas.
I usually don’t do anything over the top, mostly just lights so they look pretty from the outside.
But I’m starting to play around with decorating my windows so they look just as festive from the inside.
I love the look of things like ribbon, ornaments, and greenery. It looks simple but really ties the whole room together.
So I found these low-effort but beautiful ideas that can be mixed and matched depending on how big your windows are, your decor style, and how much energy you have.
I know I’ll be trying out a couple of ideas this year!
1. Simple Eucalyptus Wreaths
Hang a eucalyptus wreath in each window using a long strand of ribbon.
Choose a color that pops against the glass or blends into your curtains, depending on what look you’re going for.
Burgundy, forest green, or even a soft tan works great for that cozy winter feel.
If your windows are narrow, one wreath per window is plenty.
Use clear hooks or tie the ribbon around the curtain rod if you’re trying to avoid more holes in the wall.
2. Plain Wreaths
Mix and match plain green wreaths in different sizes for a layered, cozy look.
Hang them from ribbon at staggered heights to give the window a little dimension.
Keep the wreaths simple or add a few pinecones or bells if you want a bit more texture.
This works especially well on big windows or patio doors where you’ve got more space to play with.
Just make sure the ribbons are all the same color so it doesn’t start looking chaotic.
3. Velvet Bow Curtain Ties
Swap out your regular curtain ties with big velvet bows and you’ve got an instant holiday upgrade.
The texture alone adds warmth, and you can match the bows to your decor or go bold with red or emerald green.
Let the tails hang long for that extra bit of drama.
These look especially cute when the curtains are pulled back to show off window decorations behind them.
Use wired ribbon if you want them to hold their shape better.
4. Christmas Curtains
Hang a set of holiday curtains and let them do most of the decorating for you.
Look for patterns with snowflakes, trees, or classic red and green stripes.
If your regular curtains are light-colored, you can even layer a thin holiday panel right over them.
Tie them back during the day to let in light, then close them at night for that cozy glow.
This works especially well in rooms where you don’t want to hang things directly on the glass.
5. Simple Wooden Village
Line the bottom of your window with a little wooden village set and hang wooden snowflakes in the glass above.
The mix of horizontal and vertical elements gives the whole window some balance.
Use clear thread or fishing line to hang the snowflakes so they look like they’re floating.
Battery-powered fairy lights tucked behind the village make it glow just enough at night.
6. Cardboard Christmas Trees
Cut out two identical Christmas tree shapes from cardboard or thick cardstock, then glue them together down the center so they stand up on their own.
Bend the pieces gently to fan them out and give that 3D look.
Glue them to string and hang them along your window like a curtain.
You can leave them plain or paint them green and add glitter too!
7. Ornate Bulbs and Beads
String some beads across the top of the window and hang a few sparkly ornaments from them.
The beads act like a little curtain rod and add a fun, vintage touch.
Stick with ornaments in the same color family to keep it from feeling too busy.
Use lightweight hooks or mini clothespins to hang them without making it a whole production.
This works in front of sheer curtains so the light can shine through.
8. Glass Bulbs and Ribbon
Hang clear or tinted glass ornaments from long strands of ribbon across your window to create a soft, floating effect.
Use a mix of sizes and stagger the lengths so they don’t all line up in a straight row.
You can go with all one color for a clean look or mix a few muted tones like blush, gold, and smoky gray.
Tie the ribbons along a tension rod or tack them to the top of the frame to keep things simple.
When the light hits the glass, it gives just enough sparkle without going full glitter.
9. Hanging Garland and Matching Wreath
Drape a garland across the top of your window and hang a matching wreath right in the center.
If the garland feels a little flat, tuck in a few berry sprigs or ribbon pieces to make it feel fuller.
The wreath gives the whole thing a nice focal point and helps tie everything together.
This is great for a front window if you want the decorations to show from both inside and outside.
Stick with faux greenery unless you like vacuuming pine needles every day.
10. Garland and Gifts
Run a thick garland along the bottom of your window and tuck in a few small wrapped boxes like tiny presents.
Use leftover wrapping paper so it all matches your tree or decor theme.
Choose lightweight boxes or fill them with packing paper so they don’t weigh down the ledge.
You can add in battery-operated lights or bows for a little extra flair.
It’s a low-effort way to make a plain window look cozy and festive.
11. Rustic Ornaments
Mix up some rustic-looking ornaments like metal, frosted glass, or clear ones filled with faux snow and hang them from twine or thin ribbon.
Space them out across the window so they dangle at different heights.
Use thumbtacks along the top of the frame or tape the ends behind a curtain rod.
This works great in homes with more neutral or farmhouse-style decor.
Keep the colors muted if you want that calm, cozy feel.
12. Christmas Decals
My kids have so much fun with these!
Stick Christmas-themed decals right onto the windows for an easy, mess-free way to decorate.
You can find sets with snowflakes, reindeer, ornaments, or even full scenes.
And these peel right off when the holidays are over, so no scraping or scrubbing.
13. Christmas Cut Outs
Cut simple holiday shapes out of white cardstock like trees, snowflakes, stars and tape them to the inside of your window.
You can trace cookie cutters or grab a printable template if freehand isn’t your thing.
Layer a few shapes together or let them overlap for a snow-drift kind of look.
This one’s super cheap and easy to swap out each year.
They look especially nice at night when backlit by indoor lights.
14. Grinch Cutout
This one is super cute!
Cut out a big Grinch silhouette of him sneaking away with a bag of toys mid-heist.
Of if you want something a little more subtle, you can cut out a silhouette of his head to peak from the corner of your windows.
Either way, this one’s fun for front-facing windows where people walking by can get a chuckle.
15. Washable Window Paint
Grab some washable window markers or paint pens and draw your own holiday scene right on the glass.
Go for gingerbread houses, snowmen, string lights, candy canes, or even just stars and swirls.
Let the kids help if you don’t mind a little creative chaos.
Wipe off any mistakes with a damp cloth and keep going. It’s fun, low pressure, and totally customizable.
Making Your Windows Feel Like Christmas
You don’t need a full window display from a department store to make your space feel festive.
A few ribbons, some greenery, or even cardboard trees can go a long way.
And even one small window setup can make the whole room feel cozier!
