The Christmas tree gets all the attention. But the window is where the real magic happens.
A well-styled Christmas window does something a tree cannot: it glows from both sides. Inside, the stained glass catches candlelight and lamplight and throws colour across the room. Outside, it is a lit scene visible from the street — the first thing visitors see before they reach the door, and the thing neighbours slow down to look at on their evening walk.
This guide is about how to build that window deliberately, piece by piece, so that the result looks intentional and stays beautiful through the whole Christmas season.
Step 1: Choose the Right Window
Not all windows are equal for a Christmas display. The best candidates share a few qualities:
- South or west-facing — these catch the most winter light, which is lower on the horizon from October through December and creates longer, warmer light effects through coloured glass
- Visible from outside — a display that can be seen from the street or front path creates atmosphere before anyone enters the house
- Near a focal point — a kitchen window above the sink, a living room window beside the sofa, or an entryway window are all spaces where the display will be seen repeatedly throughout the day
A single tall window works better than a wide bay for stained glass: the vertical format suits the natural hang of a suncatcher, and the frame creates a clean border that makes the composition read as deliberate.
Step 2: Start with the Glass
Hang the stained glass pieces before adding anything else. The glass is the light source — everything else in the display exists to support and frame it.
For a single-piece display: hang the piece at the upper third of the window, where it will catch the most direct light. The Christmas Tree Suncatcher works beautifully centred in a window on its own — its vertical shape fills the space naturally and the star topper reads clearly from outside.
For a two-piece display: pair pieces that use different glass types for contrast. The Snowflake Ornament (white opalescent glass, diffused light) alongside the Cardinal with Holly (ruby cathedral glass, projected colour) creates contrast in both colour and light quality — one glows softly, the other throws vivid colour across the wall.
For a three-piece display: use asymmetry. Hang the largest piece at centre-slightly-left, a medium piece at upper right, and a smaller piece lower right. Never line them up at the same height — offset heights create movement and depth.
The Christmas Charm Garland is a special case: hung horizontally across the full width of the window, it ties multiple elements into one cohesive composition without requiring precise placement of individual pieces.
Step 3: Style the Sill
The windowsill is the foreground of the display. The principle here is restraint: three to five well-chosen objects read better than a crowded shelf.
A Christmas sill that works:
- Height variation — one taller element (pillar candles in a cluster, a small potted pine), one medium (a sprig of fresh holly or mistletoe), one low (dried orange slices, pine cones, small bells)
- Texture contrast — smooth glass against rough pine, soft ribbon against hard brass
- One botanical element — fresh or dried; cedar, pine, rosemary, or eucalyptus. The scent matters as much as the visual
Candles on the sill change the display at dusk: the warm light behind the glass makes the colours shift and deepen, and the window becomes a different scene entirely from what it was at noon. Pillar candles in varying heights, placed safely away from the hanging glass, are the most effective choice.
Step 4: Frame with Curtains
Dark curtains pulled to each side of the window — deep red, forest green, charcoal, or navy — create the frame that makes a Christmas window display look considered rather than assembled. They do for the window what a mat board does for a print: they give the eye a defined border and make everything inside it more vivid by contrast.
Heavy velvet or linen curtains work best. Sheer voile behind them adds a soft diffusing layer that gives the display a slightly luminous quality at dusk.
Step 5: Photograph It at the Right Moment
The best time to photograph a stained glass Christmas window is the 20 minutes around sunset when the outside light is still bright enough to backlight the glass, but the inside candles are lit and visible. At this moment, the glass is lit from both directions simultaneously — from outside by the fading sky, from inside by the candles — and the colour quality is unlike anything that happens at any other time of day.
Set the window display up before dusk. Light the candles at 4:30 PM. Take the photograph at 4:45.
Which Pieces Work Best for a Window Display?
From the Sarah Customs Christmas collection, the strongest window pieces are:
- Christmas Tree Suncatcher — strong vertical shape, reads clearly from outside, available in 4 sizes to suit any window
- Snowflake Ornament — crystal prism dangles scatter rainbow light across the room at midday; at dusk it glows white and silver
- Moravian Star — the most geometric piece in the collection; casts a star-shaped shadow across the wall in direct light
- Poinsettia Suncatcher — the widest piece in the Christmas range; works best in a broad window where its horizontal spread can be seen fully
- Mistletoe Holly Ornament — the most traditional; works as a window piece or hung on the tree itself