There's something about a glowing window at Christmas. You walk past a house at night, the window is lit up, and it just feels cosy. The good news? It's one of the easiest Christmas looks to get.
All you need is a set of curtain fairy lights. (In the US, you might know them as curtain string lights.) They're lots of little strands of LEDs hanging from one wire, so they drop down like a sparkly curtain.
Easy ideas for Christmas window lights
1. The classic glowing window
Hang the lights right across the top of your window, inside the frame. Close sheer or white curtains in front of them, and the whole window glows softly from the street. It looks beautiful from inside and out.
2. Behind the Christmas tree
If your tree sits in front of a window, hang curtain lights behind it. It gives the tree a lovely glowing background and makes your photos look amazing.
3. A bedroom backdrop
Hang them on the wall behind the bed instead of a headboard. It's cosy all winter, not just at Christmas, so you get more use out of them.
4. A party or photo wall
For a Christmas party, hang them on a plain wall and add a few baubles or paper stars. Instant photo spot.
How to hang curtain fairy lights neatly
- Measure first. Check the width and height of your window before you order, so the lights fill the space without bunching.
- Space your hooks evenly. Use small adhesive hooks or clips along the top so the strands hang straight.
- Hang from a curtain rail. If you'd rather not stick anything to the wall, you can hang the top wire from your curtain rail or pole.
- Hide the plug. Run the cable down the side of the window frame and behind a curtain so it's out of sight.
Which size should you get?
Our LED Curtain Fairy Lights come in 6 sizes, from 1m x 1m up to 3m x 3m. As a quick guide:
- Small window or bedroom wall: 1m to 2m wide.
- Standard living room window: 2m to 3m wide.
- Big window, patio door or party wall: 3m x 3m.
They're low voltage (36V or less), and they're splash-proof (IP44), which means they're fine on a covered porch too.
Want more colour?
If you love a bit more fun, try TreeGlow Smart Tree Lights. You control them from your phone and can make your own colour patterns and light shows, on the tree or around a window.
See all our Christmas tree lights and fairy lights. Free shipping to the UK and US on every order.
Quick questions
Can curtain fairy lights go outside?
Ours are splash-proof (IP44), so they're fine on a covered porch or under a canopy. We wouldn't leave them out in heavy rain or snow.
Are fairy lights and string lights the same thing?
Yes. In the UK people usually say fairy lights, and in the US people usually say string lights. They're the same kind of light.
Which size fits a normal window?
For most living room windows, 2m x 2m or 2.4m x 2.4m works well. Measure the width of your window and pick the closest size.