Window Wanderland Inspiration

Not sure what to create? These themes were inspired by local people and groups across Chadwell St Mary to help you get started.

As part of the Chadwell St Mary Art Trail launching this August, we’re inviting every household, shop, and community space to turn our streets into a magical outdoor gallery. Whether you are a seasoned artist or a first-timer, your window can help tell the story of our community. Why not try one creating something using one of the themes below:

Dream View

Inspired by Arthur Barnes Court residents. Celebrate nature and the “urban wild” by showing us what you’d love to see outside your window.

Try this: Use colourful tissue or paper to create “stained glass” sunflowers, oak trees, or the foxes and birds that visit our green spaces.

Try this: Find a picture of a beautiful landscape, like rolling hills or a peaceful park – in an old magazine or book. Tape it across your window to completely change your view for the weekend!

A Place to Belong

Inspired by the Chadwell Amateur Boxing Gym community. Celebrate the feeling of “Community as Family,” the friendly spaces where you can just be yourself.

Try this: Cut out shapes from black card of people holding hands, dancing, or training together. These create striking shadows on your floor when the sun shines through!

Try this: Use bold lettering for messages like “Come as you are” or “You belong here,” surrounded by glowing hearts or stars. Use cardboard from your recycling, along with any coloured pens or pencils to make the lettering really pop!

Pro Tip: To make text readable from the street, remember to fix your letters back-to-front on the inside of the glass!

Fictional Worlds

Inspired by USP-Palmer’s College Art and Design students. Let your imagination run wild with your favourite stories and dream worlds!

Try this: Create a scene from a favourite book or film using black card silhouettes. You can use scissors and glue to build your characters, then dig out the Christmas box and use fairy lights behind the card to make the scene glow at night.

Try this: Imagine a “Future Chadwell” filled with flying cars, floating islands, or mythical creatures. Use colourful markers, paints, or recycled plastics and cardboard to build a 3D futuristic world on your windowsill.

Growing Together

Inspired by the Emmanuel Church community. This theme is about how we care for one another and the simple joy of gardening.

Try this: Build a “growing” window by using tape or string to create a trellis. Add paper cut-outs of climbing beans, bright tomatoes, or giant pumpkins “growing” up your window.

Try this: Showcase “tools of kindness”. Design a scene with watering cans, wheelbarrows, and garden gloves to show how we nurture our community and our neighbours.

Other Ideas from Local Groups

Words of Inspiration: Share a positive message or what you love about Chadwell. What feeling do you want people to have when they walk past your home?

Celebrate People: Feature someone important to you, a neighbour who makes a difference or someone who has put Chadwell on the map.

Want more ideas? Check out the Window Wanderland website to see how other communities have transformed their streets.

Join a workshop

Need a spark of inspiration? Come to a FREE workshop hosted by the Pyramid Centre on any of these dates:

29th July 11am – 1pm
5th Aug 12pm – 2pm
12th Aug 11am – 1pm

Spaces are limited and booking is required.

Find out more about the Pyramid Centre workshops here.

Share and Win!

Help us spread the joy by sharing your creations! Find out more about our free prize draw here.