Over 150 million sets of Christmas lights are sold each year. Does it matter which ones you choose?
Christmas lights are one of, if not the most iconic holiday decoration. They’re extremely versatile, having the uncanny ability to make a space instantly festive. Not to mention, they’re an amazing way to make your neighbors jealous each winter. With so many options and applications, it can be overwhelming to decide which lights to choose. Continue reading on as we take a closer look.
What types of Christmas Lights are there?
After hearing the phrase “Christmas Lights”, people tend to envision the plug-in, multi-colored miniature lights. And while they are a great choice, there’s a plethora of other options to choose from. I’ll list off just a few of them here.
Icicle lights
Icicle lights differ from your typical Christmas Lights. Instead of one continuous string, icicle lights have several smaller sections that dangle down. This is meant to resemble the icicles found under rooflines in the winter, hence the name. Icicle lights do come in a few different colors, but they’re most popular in white and light blues.
Net Lights
Net-style lights are usually found on exterior foliage like bushes, shrubs, and trees. They’re made up of many light strings, connected to form a grid-like pattern. This avoids the tedious task of weaving Christmas lights through branches. You didn’t hear this from me, but apparently these bad boys are the single best way to catch an elf.
Battery Operated
While not being a style of Christmas light necessarily, battery operated lights can be an absolute game changer in the right situation. Without the dependence in an extension cord or power outlet, you can put holiday lights on just about anything. It should go without saying that these are an absolute must for the ugly Christmas sweater competition.
What Color of Christmas Lights should I Use?
For years there’s been a debate regarding the color of Christmas lights. Some believe colored lights are far too tacky, while others deem white Christmas lights as non-festive and bland. And while I don’t think one is better than the other, I do believe they each have their strong suits.
Colored Lights
Colored Lights probably take the cake when it comes to recognizability. They’re an absolute classic and hit a nostalgic streak with many. While the multi-color strings are most common, there are plenty of solid color sets as well. These are a great choice if you intend on your display having a consistent color or theme.
White Lights
White Christmas Lights have become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially for outside use. This is partially due to them coinciding with the snowy roofs of winter. Having a more natural tone, White Christmas lights also aren’t restricted to a certain theme or color. gives them the ability to pair well with any environment.
Should I use Incandescent or LED Christmas Lights?
LED and Incandescent Christmas Lights each have their own set of drawbacks. Many people are switching to LED due to their effectiveness and longer lifespan. That said, there isn’t a right or wrong choice. At the end of the day, it depends on where they’re being used and what’s most important to you.
Incandescent Christmas lights
Incandescent Christmas lights have a cheaper upfront cost compared to their LED counterparts. Many also prefer the dimmer, vintage look that LED sets typically lack. The Incandescent bulbs usually have closer spacing on the string but also suck up a lot more power. This makes them a better suited for smaller displays.
LED Christmas Lights
While they fetch a larger price tag than Incandescents, LED Christmas lights use up significantly less energy, which makes them an overall cheaper option if you plan on using them long-term. LED string lights are also much brighter and don’t burn out. This avoids the issue of having to find replacement bulbs. Paired with their much longer lifespan, LED Christmas lights are a much better option for outdoor use.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, when choosing your Christmas lights, it comes down to personal preference. Hopefully this was able to help you better understand the variety of Christmas lights and the applications that best suit them. Jus remember, which ever ones you go with, make sure they’re gone before New Year’s Day ; )
