Finding holiday window painting is easy. Copying it is not. A saved photo shows the finished pane, never the pen that made it, which side of the glass it sat on, or how it came off in January. So you buy the nearest marker and two weeks later you are scraping at a stubborn line.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
The glass adds limits. Panes are divided by mullions. Some are coated. Most are colder than the rest of the room. A street-facing window has to read from a distance, in daylight and after dark. What looks charming from 30 cm can vanish from the pavement.
This is for anyone decorating a home window, a rented flat, a classroom or a shopfront on a normal budget — including people who cannot draw. It matters in early December, before guests arrive, and in January, when you want the glass back.
What a painted window has to do
Three jobs: read from outside, survive the room’s light and temperature, and come off without damaging the glass. They pull against each other. Strong colour reads well from the street, and the strongest colour is usually the hardest to remove. Choose permanence first, then the design.
When a plan helps most
Use one when you have more saved ideas than supplies, when children are involved, when the window belongs to a landlord, or when lettering has to read correctly from outside. If you already own a washable window marker and one pane you like, skip the planning and draw.
The fix: choose the removable medium first
Four families of supplies, one decision. edding’s own glass and mirror guide splits its products into non-permanent and permanent hold, and says chalk-marker ink can be erased easily with a damp cloth while paint markers are the choice for permanent designs on glass. That split is the whole decision.
Chalk markers and glass markers: the low-commitment options
Chalk markers use opaque, water-based liquid chalk made for non-porous surfaces such as windows, glass and mirrors; edding says they wipe off with a damp cloth, though residue-free removal applies only to smooth surfaces. Nib widths matter: 1–2 mm for snowflake detail, 2–3 mm for outlines, a 4–15 mm chisel nib for wide borders. Shake, pump, then write — the pump system needs activating first. Glass markers are easily dry-wipeable from most glass surfaces, and edding’s glassboard markers are bright, opaque and dry-wipeable too. Both suit a rented window.
Tempera or acrylic paint: coverage with a clean-up cost
Tempera is the classroom option. Crayola’s washable tempera is water-based, washes from skin and most clothing, and gives opaque coverage. A brush is good for broad shapes, bad for fine lines. Acrylic is the opposite of temporary: edding’s acrylic markers are permanent after drying and aimed at canvas, paper, wood, stone and terracotta. Crayola’s own answer points to acrylic, not washable tempera, when a design needs to stay put. Keep it for a painted ornament or a cardboard template, not the pane.
Paint markers, permanent pens, and what to keep away from glass
Paint markers are opaque, permanent and smudge-proof on glass, with waterproof, quick-drying ink. Permanent markers are waterproof and abrasion-resistant on almost all surfaces, glass included. Calligraphy pens give lovely lettering, but edding notes their ink is permanent and cannot simply be removed with a damp cloth. Keep all three off a window you need to clean. For fine removable lines, non-permanent pens are water-soluble, wipe off with a damp cloth, and go down to 0.3 mm. Fineliners are built for paper, not glass — use them on the template.
Painter’s tape, templates, and stickers
3M lists ScotchBlue Original 2090 as suitable for glass, with clean removal for up to 14 days, applied to a clean, dry, dust-free surface and peeled back on itself at a 45-degree angle. Use it for straight ribbon lines and crisp borders. edding’s free window templates include Christmas and Winter sets; the instructions say to tape the printout to the outside of the pane and trace from the inside, so the drawing is sheltered from wind and weather, and to use the mirrored version for lettering. Christmas window stickers need no drying time, and they peel off before the paint does.
A fast way to check what a pen was made for
edding sorts its range by surface as well as pen type: glass and mirror, whiteboard and glassboard, chalk board, paper, carton and cardboard, plastic and foil. A pen listed under paper rather than glass belongs on the template. Sets help when a design needs four colours.
20 Christmas window painting ideas, grouped by how much time you have
Each idea is a standalone card: what goes on the pane, one move that finishes it, one thing to watch. Painted panes share the glass with other Christmas window decorations — clings, paper stars, lights — so keep it simple.
Easy Christmas window art: borders, silhouettes, and lettering
One marker, one sitting, no drawing skill needed. Good to hand to a child or try on a Tuesday evening.
1. Falling Snow & Snowflakes.
2. Christmas Tree Silhouettes.
3. Festive Greetings and Quotes.
4. Candy Cane and Stocking Motifs.
5. Pinecones and Holly Berries.
6. Holiday Garland & Wreath.
7. Gift-Wrapped Window.
Christmas window painting ideas for adults: full-pane scenes
More colours, more time, a sketch on paper first. Best on a large front window or a shopfront.
8. Snowy Winter Wonderland & Village.
9. Santa’s Sleigh and Reindeer.
10. Gingerbread Houses.
11. Snowman Family.
12. Candyland Theme.
13. Nutcracker Ballet.
14. Holiday Florals.
15. Snow Globe Window.
Winter window painting ideas and mixed-media designs
These stretch past December, mix materials, or suit a window that does not want a scene.
16. Frosted Corner Border.
17. Advent Calendar Window.
18. Stained-Glass Colour Blocks.
19. Christmas Window Stickers with a Painted Backdrop.
20. Starry Winter Night & Bare Branches.
A dark branch silhouette rising from one lower corner, a scatter of stars, a small moon. No red, no green, no lettering. Easy to leave up through January, and right for a window where you would rather keep the view.
Step-by-step guide: from clean glass to finished window
Allow about 90 minutes for a first window. Work in this order and the clean-up is decided before you start.
Step 1: Decide which side of the glass you are painting
Inside is the default: your work is sheltered from rain, and the template method assumes you trace from indoors. Outside is right only when you cannot reach the inner face — then the weather decides how long it lasts. Ask the building owner before taping a street-facing pane.
Step 2: Clean and dry the pane, then tape the border
Wipe with clean water and a mild, non-abrasive glass cleaner, then let it dry fully. The National Glass Association’s cleaning paper says cleaning should begin with clean water and a mild, non-abrasive solution, that razor blades and metal scrapers should not be part of routine cleaning, and that glass can be permanently damaged by improper cleaning — worth reading before you plan a January scrape-off. Apply tape to a clean, dry, dust-free surface, as 3M advises.
Step 3: Tape the template to the outside and trace from the inside
Print at the size you need. edding’s template instructions say size M fits an A4 sheet; L and XL are two to four sheets taped together along dotted lines. Tape the sheet outside, trace from inside so the drawing sits on the sheltered side, and use the mirrored version for words.
Step 4: Outline first, fill second, details last
Activate a new chalk marker by shaking, pumping, then writing on scrap until ink flows. Draw the outline and let it set before filling large areas, or a broad nib drags through the line. Add dots, berries and highlights last. Give adjacent colours a few minutes each.
Step 5: Check it from the street, not from the room
Step outside and look at the whole pane. Anything that disappears needs a thicker line or a bigger shape; anything that reads as a blob needs less. The view from outside is not the one you have been working from. Check lettering from outside too. Five minutes here saves a redraw.
Step 6: Photograph it and plan the wipe-down
Take one photo in daylight and one after dark — those are the ones worth saving. Then decide how it comes off: a damp cloth for water-based chalk, water for children’s window paint, no scraper on coated glass. Put the take-down date in your calendar and watch for condensation meanwhile.
Where window painting tends to go sideways
Using a permanent pen on borrowed glass. edding describes paint markers and permanent markers as permanent and waterproof on glass. On a rented window that is a deposit, not a decoration. Test any pen on a corner and wipe with a damp cloth first.
Tracing lettering from the wrong side. Words traced normally read backwards from the street. Use the mirrored template, or hold the phrase against the outside and copy it in reverse.
Designing for a close-up photo. Thin lines vanish at five metres. Keep key shapes around 4–6 cm, use a 2–3 mm nib, and check from outside.
Skipping the dry glass. Paint on a damp pane streaks; tape on a dusty pane lifts. Clean, dry, then tape.
Scraping at clean-up. The National Glass Association says razor blades and metal scrapers should not be part of routine glass cleaning. Choose a water-removable medium at the start, then a damp cloth and a little patience.
Forgetting the pane is cold. Canada’s National Research Council explains that condensation forms on inside window surfaces whenever glass temperature falls below the room’s dew point, and on double glazing appears at the bottom first. Water-based designs along the lower edge can soften. Put busy detail higher up.
Too many colours in one pane. Four is plenty. Pick two mains and one accent, then repeat them across the design.
Making it work in real situations
Rentals, shared buildings, and shopfronts
Assume the glass must look untouched when you leave. Use a water-removable medium, keep tape on for less than its rated window, and ask before painting a shared pane. 3M lists up to 14 days of clean removal for ScotchBlue Original 2090 — a limit, not a challenge. For a shopfront, agree the take-down date first.
Cold glass, condensation, and short winter days
The National Research Council note says condensation on double windows usually shows at the bottom first, where glass is coldest. Keep busy detail in the upper two-thirds and expect to touch up the lower edge. Winter daylight is short: paint in the morning, check again after dark.
Children, pets, and safe supplies
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says children’s art supplies should be labelled “CONFORMS TO ASTM D-4236”. edding’s children’s range is aimed at ages 3–10 and includes a window marker whose water-based paste wipes off with water from almost all surfaces leaving no residue, and washes out of most textiles at 60 °C; its chalk marker page notes the CE marking for child-friendly toys. Give children the lower pane, put a drop cloth down, and cap the permanent pens.
If you searched “Christmas window painting near me”
That search tends to mean one of three things: a shop stocking window markers, a local class, or a seasonal window-painting event. Add your town rather than relying on “near me” — Google’s own help says adding a location, such as “coffee shops in Chelsea”, improves local results. Then check the art-supply shop, the library noticeboard, and your local business association’s events page. If you hire someone for a shopfront, ask for examples of previous windows and confirm what paint they use and how it comes off.
Questions readers ask about Christmas window painting ideas
What comes off a window most easily?
Water-based liquid chalk. edding says its chalk markers wipe off smooth, non-porous surfaces with a damp cloth, and its glass markers are dry-wipeable from most glass. The children’s window marker wipes off with water leaving no residue. Washable tempera needs more patience. Anything permanent needs a solvent and a test patch: edding notes that permanent inks cannot simply be removed with a damp cloth and recommends testing an alcohol-based solution on an inconspicuous area first.
Do you paint the inside or the outside of the glass?
Inside, for most homes. edding’s template method tapes the printout outside and traces from inside, keeping the drawing sheltered from wind and weather. Paint the outside only if you cannot reach the inner face.
Can I use acrylic paint on a window?
You can, but treat it as permanent. edding’s acrylic markers are permanent after drying and aimed at canvas, paper, wood, stone and terracotta. Crayola’s own answer points to acrylic, not washable tempera, when a design must stay put. On rented or coated glass, skip it.
How do I make a template without a printer?
Draw the shape on paper, hold it against the outside of the pane, tape it there. A bowl makes a circle, a ruler makes rooftops, painter’s tape makes straight lines. With a printer, edding’s template page has free Christmas and Winter designs in several sizes.
How long will it stay on the glass?
That depends on the pen and the pane, so treat any fixed number with suspicion. A water-based chalk design inside a dry, well-glazed pane generally holds until you wipe it; condensation, direct sun and handling shorten that. Plan the removal date with the design.
Your next step: pick one pane and one pen
Choose one idea from the 20, measure the pane, and buy a single removable marker in the nib width it needs. Clean the glass, tape the template to the outside, and trace. Then step onto the pavement and look at what you made. A window that reads from the street and wipes off in January is the whole job.
