Christmas Window Painting: Simple Designs With Washable Paint

For temporary Christmas window painting, use a product made for decorating glass or a washable-paint mixture specifically recommended by its manufacturer. Start with a small removal test on compatible glass before painting the full design. White tree outlines, little houses, and a scattering of snowflakes make a readable display without covering the whole window.

Paint the room-facing surface so you can work from inside and keep the display out of the weather. Choose a window you can comfortably reach from the floor.

Choose paint that suits your window

Washable window markers offer the simplest setup. For a brush-painted design, Crayola recommends mixing equal parts of its Washable Paint and dish soap. That advice applies to the named washable paint; it does not establish that an arbitrary craft paint will wash off.

For a small starting batch, mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of Crayola Washable Paint with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of liquid dish soap in a shallow container. Stir gently. Make more only if needed. Keep the container labeled and separate from food preparation.

Use plain, smooth glass only when both the decorating product and the window manufacturer's instructions allow it. An exposed coating, tint, applied privacy film, or textured surface needs its own guidance. A test patch cannot establish that a product is safe for a coating the manufacturer says not to decorate.

Cleaning instructions also vary by glass type. Andersen specifies different care for some coated glass, including its HeatLock glass. If the surface is uncertain, use a freestanding sill decoration instead. Renters should check decoration restrictions before starting.

Prepare the glass and test removal

Gather the chosen paint mixture or window markers, a small soft brush, a shallow container, scrap paper, clean soft cloths, and a towel to protect the sill. White paint is enough for a complete design. A second color is optional.

1. Clean the glass using the window manufacturer's approved method. Remove dust and greasy marks, then let the surface dry.
2. Protect the sill and nearby floor with a towel. Keep paint and soapy runoff away from wood finishes, seals, and hardware.
3. Paint a small mark near a lower corner of compatible glass. Let it dry according to the product directions, then remove it by the recommended method.
4. Check the clean, dry area for residue or surface changes. Proceed only if the product is approved for the glass and the test removes satisfactorily.

Sketch the arrangement on paper before transferring it to the window. If you tape a paper pattern to the opposite side as a tracing guide, use tape approved for that surface and remove it afterward. On double-pane windows, the gap between panes can make a traced line appear to shift as you move, so keep your viewing position steady.

Paint a simple Christmas scene

Give the design one main area, such as a row of trees along the bottom, and leave clear glass above it. Check the arrangement from the place where people will usually see it. A design that looks detailed at arm's length may be hard to read from the sidewalk.

Trees and a little village

Draw a short vertical trunk, then add downward-sloping branch lines on either side, making the lower branches longer. Repeat with trees of different heights. Keep the branches separate enough that each tree still has a recognizable outline.

Beside the trees, paint a house with a square wall and triangular roof. Add a door and a few small windows. Vary the roof heights if you want a short village row. Leaving the houses as outlines reduces the amount of paint and keeps the scene light.

A narrow, uneven line beneath the houses can suggest snow. Avoid filling a deep band across the bottom of the pane, where cleanup would require removing much more paint.

Snowflakes and hanging ornaments

For a basic snowflake, cross three short lines at their centers to make six spokes. Add a small V near each tip. Mix a few larger snowflakes with tiny dots, leaving space between them.

An ornament border starts with thin vertical lines coming down from the top of the design area. Finish each line with a circle or teardrop and a small cap. Keep the strings at different lengths and leave the middle of the window open.

Use a lightly loaded brush and short strokes to limit runs. Let each layer dry as directed before adding details. If a line drips, remove that small section using the product's cleanup method, dry the glass, and repaint it. Thickening an entire outline to hide one mistake usually makes the design heavier.

Words need extra planning: lettering painted to read normally from inside will look reversed from outside. Decide which view matters before sketching the letters. Picture-only designs avoid that problem.

Keep the display clear and usable

Wait for the paint to dry before moving curtains or blinds against it. Check the lower edge of the pane for condensation during cold weather. If moisture smears the paint or carries it toward the frame, remove the affected area rather than letting colored water collect on the sill.

Keep the window operable throughout the display. Paint should stay on the glass, clear of weatherstripping, latches, vents, and tracks. Do not add varnish or another sealer to a temporary design.

For a display built from paper instead, the site’s renter-friendly window decoration guide explains attachment methods and freestanding cutouts. Those methods can be adapted to Christmas shapes when painting is unsuitable.

Remove the paint without scraping

Protect the sill again before cleanup. Follow the decorating product's removal directions and the window manufacturer's cleaning restrictions. For the Crayola washable-paint mixture described above, the manufacturer recommends wiping the design away with a wet paper towel. Work in small areas and change to a clean towel as paint comes off.

For its Washable Window Markers, Crayola lists water and several cleaning options, followed by a dry towel to clear chalk-like residue. Use only an option that is also suitable for your window. Dry the sill and frame promptly.

Do not use a razor blade, abrasive pad, or abrasive cleaner to speed removal. Andersen warns that metal blades and abrasives can damage glass or its coatings. If marks remain, stop and consult the paint and window manufacturers instead of trying stronger solvents.