Nothing says Merry Christmas like twinkly fairy lights flashing from windows across the country. That soft, sparkly glow is synonymous with the festive season, and it really wouldn’t be Christmas without it.
Choosing and hanging Christmas lights can be a tricky task, though. Whether you’re decorating indoors or out, with subtle white lights or bold colourful ones, there are lots of things to consider. Our handy guide is here to help!
Safety first
The most important part of any Christmas light display is safety. It’s especially important to do a safety check on your lights if they’ve been in storage since last Christmas, as lights can be damaged by damp and pressure over time.
Start by untangling your lights and checking the wires carefully. Look out for damage to the plastic casing, smashed bulbs and wires poking out. Once you’ve given them the once over, plug in your lights and make sure they work – there’s nothing worse than carefully hanging your lights up only to discover they won’t turn on!
With your lights working well, take a moment to check the area you’re hanging them. This is particularly important if you’re hanging outdoor Christmas lights – check the plug they’re going into, make sure there’s no pooled water near your lights or the plug and test the strength of the support you’re using – for example, if you’re stringing lights along your guttering, make sure it’s securely attached to the wall so adding lights won’t bring the whole thing crashing down!
For indoor lights, check your lights are long enough to reach from the plug to their intended location – this is key if you’re wrapping your lights around the Christmas tree, as a short plug can be the undoing of all your hard work! Make sure you have an extension cord ready if you need a little extra length.
Choosing the right colour
Choosing the right colour for your Christmas lights is essential for creating a vibe that matches your festive décor.
Cool white lights are perfect for a crisp, minimalist look – think light blues and silver. We love these Christmas tree-shaped lights for creating a crisp, snowy scene.
If you want to get that cosy winter feel, warm white lights are your best bet. They give off a soft, gentle light that looks great alongside traditional Christmas décor in red and gold. These lightbulb style string lights will give you that warm, fuzzy feeling as soon as you spot them.
And for a fun, playful finish, colourful lights will add a pop of pizazz!
Lighting up your outside space
Every time the festive season rolls around, it’s our dream to light our house up like they do in American Christmas films. Picture it – lights across every inch of the house, including the roof. An inflatable snowman on the front lawn, and Santa himself (complete with full set of reindeer, naturally) waving from the chimney. Amazing!
Of course, it’s not really a realistic dream but we do love adding a bit of twinkle to our outdoor space. Here are some things to consider if you’re doing the same…
How to choose outdoor Christmas lights
Make sure the lights you choose are suitable for outdoor use. Seems obvious, but do a double check before you purchase just in case! Outdoor lights are clearly marked as suitable for use out of the house.
How to hang Christmas lights outdoors
Hanging Christmas lights outdoors is a team effort and needs extra consideration for safety.
Start by planning where you want your lights to go and how you’ll secure them. Make sure you have plenty of supply of the things you need – cable ties, plastic cutters, a ladder and a teammate or two to help. If you’re the one climbing the ladder, get someone to hold it steady and someone else to stand back and assess your work as you go so you can correct any wonky lines or dropped connections easily. And don’t forget to test your lights first!
Decorate with solar garden lights
If you don’t want to go up a ladder to achieve that twinkly look in your outdoor space, or if you don’t have an outdoor power source, why not try solar garden lights instead? These rattan lanterns will look great leading a path through your garden.
Add sparkle to your Christmas wreath
Battery powered fairy lights are really useful for adding a touch of twinkle outdoors – grab a couple of sets and wrap them around your Christmas wreath for a soft glow as you come inside.
Illuminate trees and foliage
Putting the spotlight on trees and foliage is a great way to create a celebratory atmosphere in your garden. This solar rope light is perfect for wrapping around bushes or winding up tree trunks.
Lighting up your indoor space
When it comes to adding lights to your indoor Christmas décor, there’s much more to light up than just the Christmas tree!
How to choose indoor Christmas lights
Before you buy your lights, think about our notes on coloured lights vs warm lights vs cool lights above – which style fits your aesthetic best?
Lights in green casing are good for wrapping round the tree, while lights in special shapes look fab along the mantelpiece and tiny fairy lights can nestle into a foliage garden. Just make sure the lights you choose are long enough for their intended space!
Brighten up hallway
Winding Christmas lights up a banister is a quick and easy way to add a soft, warming glow as you come into the house. Battery powered fairy lights are great for this, as they don’t need a power source close by.
Create lighting symmetry
Having symmetry within your lighting style will bring cohesion to your festive décor and allow the rest of your interiors to shine without stealing the spotlight. If you’ve chosen small, twinkly lights for your tree, repeat this style through the rest of your house. Similarly, if you love bright colourful lights with big bulbs, make that a theme throughout.
Dress up your mantlepiece
Don’t forget the mantelpiece! It’s a prime decorating spot – a bit of foliage, a festive ornament or two dotted about, and some little lights to brighten the whole thing up. Done!
Decorate your windows
If you can’t have lights outside your house, make use of your windows and create that festive sparkle from the inside. A long length of string lights will work well here – secure around the inside of your window frame, so the bulbs point inwards and can be seen through the glass.
Create a glow at the dinner table
How about some sparkle while you’re having your Christmas dinner? Candles are the obvious choice for a dinner table, but if you have small children or lots of guests they can be a fire hazard. Instead, place bunches of fairy lights inside clear glass vases and jars and dot them along the table to light up your festive food.
Wrap round your Christmas tree
When it comes to lighting up your tree, it’s all about choosing the right lights, making sure you have enough of them, and getting the placement right.
Choose some lights that work with your tree décor and don’t outshine everything else you’ve got going on – we think small fairy lights work best for the tree.
A tall, slim tree will need fewer lights than a short, bushy one – the general rule is 100 lights for every vertical foot of tree to ensure your lights are evenly distributed from top to bottom. It’s easier to start at the bottom of your tree with the plug end of the lights, wrapping them horizontally around and working upwards so the end of the light string is at the very top.
How to store your Christmas lights
Finally, once Christmas is over and it’s time to take all those lights down, they need to be stored properly to ensure you can use them again next year.
Keep a large plastic storage box free for your lights and don’t put anything else in it. Once you’ve taken the lights down, wrap each string carefully around your arm and elbow in a loop, taking care not to tangle the wire.
If you have any spare plastic carriers or tote bags, place each loop inside – this will stop them tangling with each other. Stack the bags neatly into the storage box and seal the lid on top to stop moisture creeping in. Safe till next year!
Here's to a light, bright festive season – for more Christmas inspiration, take a look at our blog post on decorating your Christmas tree like a pro.
