Every year when the cold hits, my window boxes look a bit sad for a while. The flowers are gone, the soil is frozen, and I always think, maybe I’ll just leave them empty. But then someone on my street fills theirs with evergreens and pinecones, and suddenly mine look embarrassingly bare. So this year, I’ve been paying attention to easy winter planter box ideas that actually look alive, even when everything else isn’t.
1 | Fresh Pine and Cedar Mix
You can’t go wrong with pine and cedar branches.
They last for ages in the cold, and even if they dry out a bit, they still look full.
You can add pinecones if you want it to feel finished, or just leave it natural. It smells amazing every time you open the window.
2 | Birch Branches and Twigs
A neighbour did this one year and it weirdly looked fancy without trying.
Just tall birch branches in the middle, shorter greens around the base, and maybe one red berry stem for color.
It looks better when it’s slightly uneven, so don’t overthink it.
You can even use trimmed sticks from your garden if you don’t have birch.
3 | Red Berries and Pinecones
If you like color but not sparkle, this one’s nice.
Just add faux red berry stems between evergreens, then scatter a few pinecones for texture.
My friend used a glue gun to stick the pinecones onto skewers so they’d stay upright.
4 | Frosted Branches and Twinkle Lights Winter Planter Box
You know those tiny battery lights you get in packs of two? Tuck them around frosted-looking branches (you can spray old ones with fake snow if you want).
The glow at night is soft, not too much. It makes the window area feel alive again.
5 | All White and Green Mix
One friend keeps hers super simple: white branches, white berries, and mixed greens.
It’s really seasonal and looks cozy of against the grey winter skies. She said she sprays a few twigs with white paint every year and reuses them.
Easy and surprisingly durable.
6 | Dried Hydrangeas in Winter Greens Winter Planter Box
If you saved hydrangeas from fall, they’re great in planter boxes.
Mix them in with cedar or juniper branches.
The dried flowers go a little papery, but that’s part of the charm.
7 | Eucalyptus and Fir
Eucalyptus holds up better than you’d think in the cold, especially the silver dollar kind.
Mix it with fir branches for a soft, wild texture.
You can spray a few pieces with water now and then to keep them fresh. It’s got that fresh, woodsy scent too.
8 | Simple Evergreen Base with a Bow
If you’re short on time, just pack the box with greens and tie one big bow in the center.
This is a great option if you have busy decorating the house for Christmas and need something quick for your empty planter boxes.
It ends up looking clean and classic. Go with fabric ribbon if you can, it hangs better than plastic.
9 | Rustic Twigs and Lanterns
One year I stuck two small lanterns (the kind with fake candles) in my window boxes and built greens around them.
The glow through the frost on the glass was perfect for winter and super cozy.
You just have to make sure the lanterns are secured so they don’t blow off in a storm or bad winter weather.
10 | Silver Accents and Juniper
Juniper is underrated.
It stays blue-green and smells nice.
Add a few silver-painted pinecones or ornaments and you’ve got something that catches light but doesn’t scream “holiday.”
You can even spray old pinecones silver with leftover craft paint if you want a bit more sparkle.
11 | All Natural Woodland Style
If you love a rustic look, you can grab what’s in your yard – fallen branches, moss, pinecones, whatever survived the wind.
Arrange it like a tiny forest in the box. It doesn’t have to be symmetrical.
It looks slightly wild, but it looks like a box from a fairy tale when finished.
12 | Mini Christmas Trees
If you’ve got small leftover evergreens or even faux tabletop trees, pop them into your window boxes.
Adding two tiny trees wrapped in a single strand of lights around each is perfect to add once you get closer to Christmas.
13 | Blue Spruce and White Twigs
That bluish tint on spruce branches looks really good against white-painted twigs.
You can get both at most garden centers or just trim from a big spruce if you have one.
It feels wintry without being Christmassy.
14 | Dried Orange Slices and Cedar
If you like a little color but don’t want red, try dried orange slices tied to twine and draped through cedar branches.
They hold up surprisingly well outdoors.
My friend made hers after Christmas and said it still looked fine in February.
Plus, it smells kind of sweet when the sun hits it.
15 | Boxwood and Magnolia Leaves
Magnolia leaves are glossy and rich-looking.
Mix them with boxwood for something structured but not stiff.
You can tuck in one or two small ribbon loops if it feels too plain. It’s a simple combo that lasts through cold rain.
16 | Recycled Christmas Garland Winter Planter Box Ideas
You can reuse garlands you’ve already got instead of starting fresh.
Coil them into the window box and secure with bits of wire or even old bread ties.
My neighbour swears by this – says she hasn’t bought greenery in years.
She just fluffs the garland and adds a few pinecones to make it look new.
7 | Snow Globe-Inspired Planter
This one’s a bit odd but really fun if you like something different. Take a few clear plastic ornaments, pop the tops off, and fill them with fake snow or little twigs, then nestle them into your window box among the evergreens.
When the light hits, they look like tiny snow globes scattered through the greenery.
You can even add a sprinkle of glitter on the soil for that frosty shimmer when the morning sun hits.
18 | Rustic Log Pieces
You can add cut log slices or small chunks of birch into the Winter Planter Box.
It gives height and texture without needing a lot of greenery.
My mom always did this near the holidays because she said it “looked warm, even in cold weather.”
It’s one of those old tricks that just feels right.
19 | Twine-Wrapped Branches Winter Planter Box
Wrap a few branches in twine or rope for a rustic look.
It adds just enough detail without needing ornaments.
My friend used jute from her shed and said it took her maybe ten minutes. It somehow made the whole box look more intentional.
20 | Pinecones and White Lights
A classic, really. Fill the Winter Planter Box with pinecones, then weave a single strand of white fairy lights through.
It’s minimal, but the glow makes it look fuller than it is.
I’ve done this a few times and it’s one of those “throw together in five minutes” fixes that still looks good.
21 | Mistletoe and Juniper Winter Planter Box
You can buy a bunch of faux mistletoe and mix it in with real juniper for texture.
It’s subtle but festive. Plus, you can always grab a sprig from your winter planter for your Christmas table or for a “kiss under the mistletoe” spot.
22 | Old Ornaments Reused Outdoors
When ornaments lose their hooks or the paint chips off, just stick them into the soil of your Winter Planter Box.
Mix them with some greenery and twigs.
This is a perfect way to use leftover ornaments or upcycle old ornaments that can no longer be used on your Christmas tree.
