The holidays are just around the corner, and you know what that means—it’s time to deck the halls. But this year, why settle for the same old light string when there’s a dazzling array of choices out there? Choosing the right types of holiday lights can make your house glow, set the perfect mood, and impress everyone.
Whether you dream of a classic, warm ambiance, an icy winter wonderland, or a high-tech, color-changing extravaganza, we’ll break down some of the best holiday light options so you can create a festive display that’s truly you.
Different types of holiday lights go way beyond just twinkling bulbs; there’s a world of festive illumination to explore. Choosing the right ones depends on where you want to use them—inside or out—your budget and your decorating vision. It can even depend on your holiday traditions.
Classic Holiday Lights
Remember those warm, cozy lights that bring back childhood memories of Christmas morning? That’s the charm of classic holiday lights. This section is about going back to the roots of holiday decorating with light bulb options.
Incandescent Lights
These traditional incandescent bulbs create that warm, nostalgic glow everyone loves. Incandescent lights are generally cheaper upfront—think Prextex 100-Count White Christmas Lights on Amazon for $9.99—which can be a big plus for those on a tight budget. Plus, their classic look works great with all kinds of decorations, adding a cozy charm. You’ll recognize the iconic soft yellow light right away—a familiar sight on many a Christmas lights display.
Although incandescents are friendly on the wallet at the start, they use more energy than their modern cousins and have a shorter lifespan. Don’t forget that old tradition of spending hours hunting down that one burned-out bulb that’s killing the whole string. If you have an elaborate setup, USA Today reported that your electric bill could skyrocket by $350, and you’ll be buying replacement bulbs more often.
C7 and C9 Bulbs
These are the big guys in the world of Christmas bulbs—those larger bulbs are perfect for making a bold statement. The iconic Twinkle Star C9 Christmas String Lights, for example, are known for their high visibility and brilliant light bulb output. Often found outlining roofs and defining architectural lines, C7 and C9 bulbs really make your home shine, especially from afar.
The bright light of these types of holiday lights works wonderfully in outdoor displays, grabbing attention in even the biggest yards. You can see examples of well-executed C7 and C9 bulb displays at a dazzling Christmas light extravaganza. However, keep in mind that these big, beautiful bulbs go through energy like it’s eggnog, which can add to your electric bill.
Because these larger bulbs have thinner glass, they might also need more careful handling during setup and storage to avoid breakage.
Modern and Energy-Efficient Lights
The world of different types of holiday lights has really gotten a modern upgrade. While those classic incandescent lights have their nostalgic charm, there are amazing energy-efficient options now that can transform your decor AND save you some cash on your energy bill in the long run. For example, you might be interested in using LED Christmas lights.
LED Lights
These days, LED Christmas lights are taking the world by storm, and that includes holiday lighting. Instead of a heated filament like old-school bulbs, LEDs—that stands for light-emitting diodes—create light using a microchip. Think of it like mini computer brains making holiday magic. This clever tech means they use less electricity and last way longer than those energy-hungry incandescent.
That Twinkle Star LED Christmas light string I put on my patio last year still looks as good as new. So, although LEDs often have a higher price tag upfront, you’ll save money in the long run because they’ll last through many holiday seasons. LEDs are super versatile. These types of holiday lights come in a mind-boggling variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, letting you customize your light display exactly how you envision it.
String Lights
The ultimate holiday staple, string lights come in many different colors, lengths, and styles to fit every need and theme. From traditional white lights and warm yellows to dazzling multicolor strings, these flexible strands are super versatile for decorating trees, bushes, railings, and so much more.
You can even use them year-round to add some magic to patios and other indoor or outdoor spaces. A great example of that would be adding string lights around your pool area to create a relaxing and festive vibe, even when it’s not Christmas.
Now, because these types of holiday lights are usually thin and long, they do have a tendency to get tangled, which can be a bit frustrating to deal with when you’re excited to put up your decorations. But here’s a trick: carefully winding them around a piece of cardboard when you take them down helps avoid a knotted mess the following year. Just be sure to check the packaging for both LED and incandescent options—and always make sure they’re designed for outdoor use if you plan to decorate your house or trees outside.
Some string lights are even specially designed to withstand the demands of industrial applications. You can find many different sizes of string lights, including mini lights or larger ones.
Specialty Holiday Lights
These days, if you can dream it up, you can probably find a type of holiday light to make it happen. Here are some amazing specialty lights to add unique visual effects and take your decor to a whole new level.
Icicle Lights
Think glistening, frozen magic. That’s the vibe these LED icicle lights bring, with downward-hanging strands of lights that resemble delicate, sparkling icicles. These whimsical beauties look especially elegant lining your eaves or rooftop—it’s like transforming your house into a winter castle.
To get that perfect look, consider the Knoknew Christmas Icicle Lights, with over 98 feet of lighting and eight modes to create just the right icy sparkle. Though icicle lights offer a fantastic visual, keep in mind that their design might require more attention to detail when installing them—it’s important to space them out right and make sure they drape naturally. And, depending on the complexity of your setup, you might need to be extra attentive when checking for any bulbs that need replacing to keep them sparkling beautifully.
Net Lights
Picture this—you’ve got a ton of bushes or large trees in your yard, and the thought of individually wrapping every single branch is pretty daunting. Here’s where net lights become your decorating superhero. Imagine a giant net woven with shimmering lights. This cleverly pre-arranged grid design lets you easily throw these net lights over those hedges, shrubs, or even small trees, instantly bathing them in festive radiance.
Net lights like the Twinkle Star Christmas Net Lights are the champions of convenience when it comes to large areas because you can just spread them out and bam, you’re done. While net lights are fast and cover a lot of ground quickly, their preset design means you’re a bit limited in terms of creative shaping and specific placement of lights.
Curtain Lights
To instantly bring drama and magic to walls, windows, and other vertical spaces, curtain lights are an amazing option. These enchanting strands flow down, creating the illusion of a glistening light curtain that completely transforms the look of any surface they adorn.
Because curtain lights usually consist of vertical strands, installing them properly to get a polished look requires a little extra care and precision. A slight misalignment and your shimmery light cascade might look a tad less magical. This means you’ll need to spend a bit more time hanging these types of holiday lights to ensure the strands are evenly spaced and free of any twists that could affect their appearance.
Interactive and Innovative Lights
Holiday decorations keep evolving, just like technology keeps evolving. Let’s dive into some exciting innovations transforming different types of holiday lights, like color-changing options and more.
Color-Changing Lights
Here’s where the high-tech magic kicks in. Want your Christmas decorations to morph through different colors at the touch of a button, controlled from your phone or a remote? Then, you’ve got to check out color-changing lights. These incredible LEDs let you transform your decor throughout the evening—from serene icy blues and greens to vibrant party reds and even a rainbow of possibilities, all within the same lights.
While this color-changing brilliance comes with a higher price tag than those simple, single-color lights, think of the decorating potential. It’s an investment that lets you personalize your display every single day throughout the entire holiday season—so much flexibility and excitement. You’ll need a bit of extra time to learn the remote controls or app features—a bit of high-tech to create a high style.
Projector Lights
Looking to bathe your house in snowflakes or transform your garage into a starry night? Easy peasy. Projector lights offer a completely effortless alternative to those painstakingly strung Christmas lights. Think lasers and high-tech bulbs beaming moving patterns, holiday-themed imagery, and shimmering stars onto walls and surfaces, completely changing the look and feel of your house or garden with the flip of a switch.
Like LEDMall Motion Outdoor Laser Christmas Lights, these types of holiday lights can really take the work out of decorating. They do, however, need a bit of strategic setup, with angles adjusted correctly to achieve the best visual effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the Right Type of Lights
This holiday season, make your decorating dreams a reality. With so many different types of holiday lights to explore, you’re sure to find ones to create a dazzling and festive space that reflects your personal style, whether traditional charm, innovative color-changing effects, or energy-saving solutions.
If you require assistance in planning your design to be sure everything is set up and looking amazing by the time your favorite holiday comes around, reach out to Hancock Landscape, a holiday lighting company in Louisville, KY, that will bring holiday magic to your home.