5 Window Sill Decor Ideas: Vintage Design

Bring charm to your room with simple decor ideas for your window sill! Get creative and learn how to decorate your window sill in 5 easy ways.

Decorating a window sill can be tricky, as they are often small and awkward. However, when done right, window sill decor can charm a room. Today, I’m sharing five easy window sill decorating ideas that I use for elevating a large window sill, one of which is in our dining room at our Coastal Maine Home.

Window Sill Decor Ideas

Tip #1 Window Sill Candles

I love tapered candles on the window sill. Here, I use a small vintage-designed pewter candleholder from my mother’s pewter collection with a red tapered candle. It rests upon a vintage “American Pewter” book, which adds height and a cozy charm.

Next, I added two taller pewter candlesticks with red tapered candles to the other end of the window sill. You will see how the different heights of the candles draw the eye in.

Tip #2 Windowsill Pictures

Photos are always special and personal to a home, and there’s no better place to showcase them than on a window sill. Again, I added a vintage photo of my parents on a local beach when they were young. It’s one of my absolute favorite photos of them.

Window sill decor allows you to personalize your space and make the most of a typically underutilized area. Get creative and have fun experimenting with different ideas to create a window sill display that reflects your own style and enhances the overall ambiance of the room.

Tip #3 Books

Collections of books scattered on bookshelves and window sills are great fillers of space. It’s just like having a coffee table book! Depending upon the room, collect books that are appropriate for that room. This is a dining room; therefore, I look for books that may be pulled off the window sill anytime as a conversation piece after or during dining.

These antique books were all collected by my mother.

You may also enjoy these 11 Creative Ideas to Display Your Vintage Collections and Decorating with Vintage Books: 20+ Ideas to Try posts.

Tip #4 Vintage Design

Here, I chose a beautiful white porcelain tea set that my mother also thrifted. It’s perfect for a dining room, and I like the simplicity of the white. The windows and view should always remain the focal point; therefore, I don’t want to add pieces that are too heavy for this space.

A simple pewter carrousel with glassware also rests on the window sill—another beautiful vintage piece from my mother’s extensive pewter collection.

Check out my featured blog series, In My Mother’s Maine Home, to see more of all the antique collections and makeovers in this dear inherited home.

Tip #5 Window Sill Decor Flowers

Flowers add life to a room. I once read that you should have something living in every room. I love that idea! A quick trip to Trader Joe’s, and I was able to add a dozen white tulips and greenery to the window sill for that living outdoor look—even though it’s February and the snow is still falling outside.

You may also enjoy How to Repurpose an Oil Lamp into a Unique Flowers Vase post.

I created this window sill decor in the early morning with a cup of coffee in my favorite thrifted lobster mug. It was so dreamy to decorate, as the morning sun was coming up and glistening off the winter snow outside, and the light was streaming through the dining room windows so beautifully!

Get more tulip inspiration in this 17+ Simple Tulip Arrangement Ideas for Spring post.

This morning, I was also creating a spring tablescape with my mother’s antique china; see more in the How to Style a Timeless Spring Table post.

Remember to keep the window sill clutter-free and leave enough space for opening and closing the window. Be mindful of the amount of sunlight and temperature fluctuations that your decor items will be exposed to. We don’t want those candles melting in the hot sun…