Lighting up your house with some outdoor Christmas lights is a big deal. Christmas decorations bring joy to so many, from your family to absolute strangers who happen to be passing. There's something so heart-warming about the fact that so many people go to great lengths to try and improve the day of someone they will never meet. It truly is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit.
These days there are so many different options when it comes to Christmas lights, that we wanted to offer all of these selfless people some guidance. We're going to run through the main types of outdoor Christmas lights, so whatever display you are planning on this year, you'll have the perfect lights for the job!
String lights
We'll start with classic, and the most common form of festive lights - the string lights. The huge appeal of these is the versatility that they offer you; you can use them along hedges or fences, they can be wrapped around a gate, intertwined in Christmas Wreaths or Garlands, they can light up a doorway or window ledge, or they can be used to dress an outdoor Christmas tree. Whatever your Christmas display, string lights can enhance it.
These days the best string lights tend to be LED bulbs, which are long-lasting, cheap to light and also come in a range of different options. Do you want warm white lights? Maybe cool silver/white? Or multi-coloured? You can find the perfect lights for your home.
Icicle lights
Icicle lights are a bit of a cross between string lights and fairy lights. They look great hanging over a porch, from your windows, or even from your guttering, hanging down to create an 'icicle' look.
They can save a lot of hassle - they cover a large area, and are easy to install. The bulb concentration means you get a big impact with very little effort. At the same time, though, they are quite subtle. A balance to add some festive cheer to your outdoor space.
Net lights
Net lights are the perfect way to transform hedges, trees, bushes or even a garage or shed. Again, they are relatively easy to set up - you just need to roll it out and pop it in position. The reward is a vast space covered in Christmas lighting. Simply plug them in and you're good to go!
Christmas Projector lights
If you're looking to move away from LED lights for your outdoor Christmas lighting, then you might consider some projector lights. This involves setting up a powerful light that shines onto your house, and you can control what it displays - usually Christmas silhouettes; something along the lines of snowflakes falling, bells, stars or even Father Christmas climbing up the wall!
They tend to be easy to install, without the need for a ladder, but it does involve a bright light shining directly into your house, which puts some people off.
Battery powered lights
Once you have decided on what style of lights you want, you next need to consider how you want to power them. Many will be mains powered, so you will need to have access to a plug socket. That tends to be fine for indoor lights, but not everyone has a power source outside.
For those people, a battery operated lighting solution could be the best option. They're best used with rechargeable batteries, so you can recharge them during the day when they run out, and it means you're not spending a fortune on batteries!
Solar powered lights
Another option is solar powered lights - this cuts out the need for batteries and extension leads, but the Christmas period is pretty much the darkest of the year, so you may struggle to get them fully charged from day to day. If you get them set up in a sunny spot, though, this could be the perfect solution!
Outdoor Christmas Lights - Top tips
Before you set up your Christmas lights, make sure that they are suitable for outdoor use. They must be waterproof (or water resistant) as they'll be sat out in rain for much of the month! Make sure all cords are kept away from areas where people may trip over them, and tape them down.
Use ladders sparingly - you can avoid risky situations by lining up your string lights by using a stick with a hook attached to it. When you do need to use a ladder, make sure you have someone with you to keep you steady.
And don't forget to test your lights before you go to the effort of putting them up!
Outdoor Christmas Lights - FAQs
How many lights does a Christmas tree need?
If you are setting up some outdoor Christmas tree lights, you should aim to use around 100 lights per 1-2 feet of the tree. That will give you a good density of lights on your trees. As you're unlikely to use any other form of decoration outside, we would say the more lights the better! Have a look at our carefully selected range of Christmas trees for some inspiration.
How do you know if lights are suitable to use outside?
If your lights don't explicitly say that they are for outdoor use, then it's safer to assume that they aren't.
Will Christmas trees survive outside?
Yes! Depending on what kind of tree you choose, you may even be able to keep it outside all year round - ready to be dressed up again next holiday season! Our pot grown trees can be kept outside to be used again and again!