Christmas candles in windows at holiday time

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am thinking way ahead! We recently moved to a new house and I’d like to put battery operated taper candles in our windows this year for Christmas. Would it look off if I only put them on the windows of the first floor that face the street? About ten in total. I’m hesitant about putting them in our upstairs windows because my kids bedrooms face the street, each room with three or four windows apiece, and I know I’m gonna have a little kids constantly turning them on or off all night long or being kept awake by the light. What do you all think?

[Anonymous]

You have ten windows on the first floor that face the street?

When I've seen them in New England, there is one candle in each window, and yes, it looks better if they are in all the street-facing windows.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with them, and like them, but I think it would look weird to have them only on the first floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have ten windows on the first floor that face the street?

When I've seen them in New England, there is one candle in each window, and yes, it looks better if they are in all the street-facing windows.

Yes, we are on a corner lot. Adds up fast that way!

[Anonymous]

I am also on a corner and do all windows facing the street (both of them). I agree I think just the first floor will not look right. I even think that would look worse/weirder than just the second floor somehow. If you get ones with a timer no one has to turn them on and off so just tell your kids hands off.

[Anonymous]

Do what you want. Put them on the first floor windows. If you think it looks silly, add them upstairs. If they cause problems with the kids, take them out.

[Anonymous]

Another option is those Scandinavian paper Christmas stars. They look really cool in the window and there's no on/off.

[Anonymous]

My kids never messed with the candles. If you are worried, tell them Santa needs the lights on to find them.

[Anonymous]

Put them in all the windows. The ones in the kids' rooms will get turned off at bedtime but for most of the evening the house will look better with candles in all windows.

Alternative would just be a wreath at each window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids never messed with the candles. If you are worried, tell them Santa needs the lights on to find them.

+1 And when I was a kid I loved that "special" light, did not disrupt my sleep at all.

[Anonymous]

My mom always put candles in our bedroom windows (all the windows for the whole house, front and back, upstairs and downstairs) when we were kids. I don't remember it ever bothering us and we were kids who never had a nightlight or anything like that. However, OP, you know your kids best. If you think it will bother then then don't do it and just put them on the first floor. Or put them in the bedrooms, too, only set the timer to go off by your kids' bedtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put them in all the windows. The ones in the kids' rooms will get turned off at bedtime but for most of the evening the house will look better with candles in all windows.

Alternative would just be a wreath at each window.

I agree with putting them in all windows, both floors (and the attic too ideally). People typically see sides of the house obviously, and it looks cohesive and I think very pretty when they are in every window. (this means one sits in the upstairs bathroom window, my walk in closet, the kids rooms, etc. It's a little wierd from inside but outside it looks good). If it's too expensive, start with fronts this year and just add more gradually for next year. I do lights every year, we have a white Victorian with black shutters. I add a leaning vintage sled, some fresh garland over the door and a nice front door wreath and call it a day. It makes decorating easy.

[Anonymous]

I had them in all the windows last year, including the bedrooms and they are behind the blinds and don't bother anyone at night.

There are all kinds of different models on the market now, and most work on timers, so you can schedule them to go off before bed time, if the light is an issue. Many have remotes, so turning on and off is easy. I left a remote on my DC's bedside table in case the light bothered him, but he never used it. Look on Amazon, as well as catalogs that specialize in seasonal decor (I think Plow & Hearth has a bunch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids never messed with the candles. If you are worried, tell them Santa needs the lights on to find them.

+1 And when I was a kid I loved that "special" light, did not disrupt my sleep at all.

Me too - it was that magical time of the year. It makes me so sad how little the DC area decorates. I never see window candles in Montgomery County.

But we have a brick colonial with 4 downstairs and 5 upstairs and put candles in them all. We have the ones that are 8 hours on, 16 hours off. They turn on at 4pm and go off at midnight. LOVE THEM!

OP - use the suction cups. They work fine.

[Anonymous]

Dropping I to the thread to ask for specific recs for candles. I have some from Plow and Hearth with very anemic lights that never seem to last a season, even with fresh batteries every year. I feel like I spend half my holiday season trying to fix the window lights. The ones I have are battery operated, sit on the window sill, work by turning on when you screw in the bulb to the base. No remote. No suction cups.
Sources you would recommend?