The holidays are right around the corner—if you’re looking to boost your holiday sales this year, consider drawing your customers in with a new, eye-catching, festive storefront display. Your storefront is what attracts customers to your business and gives the first impression, so it’s important to display your products effectively.
In this guide, draw inspiration from these 22 storefront decorating ideas and helpful tips to make your display as successful as possible.
There are many different types of holiday storefronts that stores of all kinds have tried out to help boost their foot traffic. Below are the most popular decoration displays that you can consider for your business.
A corner window display sits at the corner of your storefront where two windows come together. These types of displays are great for attracting customers from multiple angles and showcasing products from more than one side.
Best for: Small businesses that have larger products to showcase and want to create a sense of depth
Shadowbox window displays are the smallest version of window displays and are great for showcasing products that are petite and detailed. These are typically box-shaped windows that usually have room for two people to view at once.
Best for: Small businesses that sell jewelry, cosmetics, or other small products
Closed window displays have a screen or wall behind them that separates the display from the rest of the store. These wall separators can be a permanent addition to your business or you can have them temporarily installed for a specific promotion or for the holiday season.
Best for: Small businesses who want all of the customers’ attention solely on the products within the display, rather than the rest of the store
Open window displays allow your customers to see straight into your store—there are no walls or screens behind the display. Customers are able to see the activity going on inside the store, so it’s important to create continuity between your display and the rest of the store, as well as keep your store clutter-free.
Best for: Stores with a high level of interior design, in-store experiences, visual merchandising campaigns
Ready to get started but need some inspiration to help guide you? Keep reading for these 22 holiday storefront decoration ideas to help you attract customers this season.
Incorporate a digital sign installation into your storefront window. A digital sign can add a little extra to your holiday display. Plus, a moving screen showcasing products you offer or information helps catch the eyes of customers and influences them to come into your store.
Lighting is an essential component of a storefront display. Add some twinkle lights that change color throughout the day or get string lights that have adjustable brightness depending on the mood you’re going for.
In addition to string lights, you can also consider light-up signage with your brand name for some extra attention.
Get creative with chalk paint that you can draw right onto your window. Consider drawing your own holiday design or let people know there’s a sale going on with DIY chalk paint signage.
Tip: Create a message that entices customers to come inside. For example, if it’s cold out, you can write something like “Come in, it’s warm inside!”
To create the ultimate snowy scene for your window display, incorporate frosted windows. A frosted window can create the perfect viewing point for the rest of your display.
To create the frosted window look, you can use frosted glass spray paint that can usually be found at any craft store. Complete the snowy look with snowball garland and fake snow.
Garland is always a classic way to decorate for the holidays. Some creative ways to use garland for your display include:
You can even turn one of your products into garland material. Hang your garland around the perimeter of your window or wrap it around another element.
Create a storefront look with oversized ornaments. You can use a disco ball or anything from your storage that can be used as a holiday ornament. If you prefer the DIY route, you can take old toy balls and spray paint them to whatever color you like and hang them from the ceiling.
Use holiday-wrapped gift boxes in your storefront display to add some variety. These can serve as great display stands for your products, and you can stack them to create some height.
Create a tree out of your products. For example, if you’re a small business that specializes in the outdoors, you could create a tree made out of skis or another type of athletic equipment.
Cut out snowflakes to help create a winter wonderland display. This fun craft is easy to do and can be more sustainable and cheaper than purchasing factory-made materials.
You can also get creative and create snowflakes out of your own products. For example, if you’re a retail business, you can attach clothing hangers together into a snowflake shape.
Wooden crates in your storefront can help create varying heights for displaying your products and can hold different items. They’re also versatile, so you can alter them or paint them to your liking.
Tip: Consider using them for a cozy and rustic country-inspired holiday storefront display.
Gingerbread is a classic holiday favorite. Incorporate gingerbread men or even gingerbread houses within your storefront to help draw customers in—you can even make a gingerbread house that resembles your own store.
Create a fireplace scene to help draw people in with its coziness. This rustic and warm display can be created with dry logs and tree branches. To get extra creative, you can consider adding flameless candles to help mimic the look of fire or use a digital screen.
Get into the holiday spirit by adding some already-done-up gift bags to your setup. Get brightly colored and festive gift bags and stuff them with bright tissue paper. This fun design can be a perfect accent to other elements on your display.
If you’re a retailer, consider dressing your mannequins up in festive holiday gear and using them to help tell your display’s story. In addition to the mannequins, add a holiday backdrop to help set the scene.
Add a QR code as an element in your display that customers can scan for a discount on a product. For example, you can:
In addition to giving customers information about sales, QR codes can also help direct them to your business’s social media platforms or online store.
Attract customers with sound— while not a tangible decoration, adding holiday music to your window display can be a unique way of setting your display apart.
If you want to promote your new holiday gift cards, consider adding them to your storefront and place them in a fun design. You can even hang gift cards from string as garland decor.
Make your storefront look like it’s inside a snow globe—there’s no better way to catch the eye of customers and passersby during the holidays than by creating a giant snow globe in your window.
To achieve this look, use frosted glass spray paint and create a circular focal point, then fill your background display with other festive elements.
To get into the holiday spirit, add some nutcrackers to your window display. For example, if you’re a retail store, use large nutcrackers instead of mannequins to model clothes or pose with certain products.
Liven up your window display with some holiday-themed houses. Place these right on the windowsill or spread them throughout the other elements you choose to include in your display.
Take these window sill houses a step further and add lighting to them to create a cozy touch.
For a clean and crisp look, consider an all-white theme for your storefront display. This look will be sure to have your customers dreaming of a white Christmas this season.
For a more modern approach to your holiday storefront display, consider incorporating virtual reality try-on options for your products. This can be in the form of a headset that lets customers try on things like outfits or jewelry.
Looking to get a head start on your holiday storefront this year? Here are several helpful tips to keep in mind when crafting your holiday storefront and setting your small business up for success.
Making sure you know who your target audience is and what kind of customers you attract is essential in figuring out the direction of your storefront. Consider asking yourself these questions:
Telling a story with your storefront display can help you achieve uniqueness and set yourself apart from competitors. A storefront window that has a story or background to it can evoke feelings in your customers and potentially make them feel closer to your brand.
When placing products and items at your storefront, you’ll want to make sure that these items are at eye level. Having your items at eye level helps guide the customers toward what you want them to see and can help draw them into the store.
A storefront window display is your chance to show your customers what you can offer them and the variety you have. You can use elements and items from different categories and departments to form a display that’s nice and cohesive.
What’s the point of putting together a holiday storefront if your customers can’t see it well? Make sure the space is well-lit—both during the day and night. Consider adding string lights or even fun lamps to warm up the space.
Although having a wide range of products in your storefront is great at showcasing your range, having too many can actually clutter the space and create confusion. Aim to keep your space clean and to the point without giving away all of your best assets at once.
In a digital-first world, it could be very beneficial to add technology components to your holiday storefront. This could include:
Mix up your storefront to provide something visually different for people to look forward to. Consider switching it up each year, or switch from a fall display to a winter one. You can also keep customers updated on your storefront decor changes by snapping a photo and posting it on social media.
There are many benefits to decorating your storefront for the holidays, including taking advantage of the easy advertising ideas it creates. This also includes:
The holidays are an ideal time to create an experience that draws customers into your store and leaves them walking out with a lasting impression. With these storefront decorating ideas and tips, you can craft a unique and festive display that customers will love this holiday season.
In addition to your holiday storefront, sell gift cards to help make more sales. To simplify how customers pay you during the crazy holiday rush, take advantage of a payment processing solution like QuickBooks Payments.
Visit the QuickBooks Holiday Hub for more resources to help you prepare for and have a successful holiday season.
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