16 Festive Christmas Window Decorations for Your Home
An easy and relatively cheap way to add holiday cheer inside and out.
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Decorating your windows instantly dresses up your home for holidays. Unlike the time-consuming task of setting up outdoor Christmas decorations or stringing holiday lights from the roof, window decorations require very little effort to get the job done. Hanging is accomplished with hooks, twine, or suction cups, or you can opt for easy-to-apply decals to create festive winter wonderland scenes. All are a cost-effective way to make merry, particularly if you have lots of windows, and choosing lighted decorations can help spaces feel cozy on days with less sunlight.
Options run the gamut from traditional wreathes to battery-operated LED candles to stained glass ornaments, and most decor lasts more than one season. So are there any downsides to this quick holiday decorating on the cheap? We can't think of any. Read on for our recommendations on the best Christmas window decorations, plus a few points to consider before shopping.
Best Christmas Window Decorations
What to Consider
Because Christmas window decorations are so varied in type, top considerations will depend on what you buy. Lighted snowflakes, stars, and other novelty items are usually corded, so you’ll need to have an outlet nearby or run an extension cord, and it’s fine to hang them outside as long as they’re under cover. The same holds true for pre-lit artificial wreaths, which are typically battery-operated. Other choices, like LED Christmas candles, stained glass ornaments, and decals require almost zero pre-thought or prep.
Most window decorations will last more than one season, almost all come with mounting materials, and some come with storage boxes. In terms of price, pre-lit wreaths are generally the most expensive, followed by lighted decorations. If you're on a budget and want to do all your windows, decals go a long way, as you can often get a pack of 300-plus for less than $10.
How We Selected
Every Christmas window decoration we cover has an average rating of four stars or higher. We read through countless reviews during our research, looking for comments about overall quality—like if lights burn out quickly and if suction cups hold—and other issues that raise questions. Our selection comprises the most popular options on the market across categories mentioned above, and we offer decorations across multiple price points to suit all budgets.
Looking for more festive decor to dress up your home for the holidays? Check out our stories on the best artificial Christmas trees, the best Christmas inflatables, and the best Christmas tree storage bags.
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
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