a simple DIY :: up-cycle old windows

With Christmas now two weeks behind us and the decorations {finally} put away, my house is looking a little bear and drab. Time for a little Winter DIY Decorating!

Up-Cycled Old Windows ::

This is a great decorating {and really simple} project, especially if you happen to have old windows lying around. Or store this idea away for when you decide to remodel and replace windows or know someone who is. If you don’t want to wait, and I totally don’t blame you, check around with a local builder or the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for an old window.

what you’ll need ::

old window with glass intact
stencils and paint or decals

step 1 ::

Once you have your window, give a good cleaning. Both the glass and frame. If the paint is slightly chipped or scuffed, no worries! Leave it “as is” and keep that rustic or vintage look. If it’s badly chipped or you just want to give it new color or look, then you’ll want to get to work scrapping and repainting. Of course, depending on the age of your window, be aware that you might be dealing with lead paint.

Don’t worry, that’s by far the hardest step!

step 2 ::

Decorate! My window is going to be for winter decoration so I picked up some fun snowflake decals and a “Let it snow” decal online. Decals are great because they are easy to apply and take almost no artistic flare. Just find the decals that fit your decor and start applying them.

Another option is to grab some stencils and paint your own designs onto your window. Make sure you’re using a paint that works well with glass.

step 3 :: 

If you’re planning on hanging your window on a wall, you’ll need to attach some hanging hardware, which can be found at your local hardware store. Be mindful of the weight of your window when picking your hanging hardware. You don’t want that beauty to come crashing down.

Mine is sitting on my mantle for now. And I just can’t bear to put away the little white lights that I placed on the mantle for Christmas. Those might stay awhile!

options, options, and more options ::

If you love the window idea and want to reuse it for multiple seasons, just be sure to use window paint or glass paint that can be washed off. Decals can also be removed relatively easily from glass but can become costly, depending on the decals you’re using and how often you’re changing them.

You can also pick up a few smaller windows and create a window art collage for your wall.

How are you sprucing up your Winter decor right now?