16 Outdoor Christmas Lights Ideas

It’s no secret that the South has incredible holiday lights. Cities from across Texas to small-town Georgia dress up for the season with displays of lights in all kinds of festive designs and every color of the rainbow. While these drive-through experiences are fun to visit as a family activity or while on vacation, Southerners don’t always want to travel to see the lights. Sometimes, we want them right at home.

To help you decorate your home for the holiday season, we’ve rounded up outdoor Christmas light ideas from experts and Southern Living homes. Whether you decide to light up your front porch or illuminate the whole house, these outdoor Christmas light ideas are sure to make your house the most festive on the block.

What Type Of Lights Should You Use?

The struggle of choosing between a traditional outdoor glow of heavenly all-white lights or something cheery and classic like multicolor lights is the same every year. Gary McCoy, store manager at Lowe’s in Charlotte, North Carolina, has a theory: “Between multicolor and white lights, there really are no downsides to either lighting option. It’s all really a matter of personal preference.”

Multicolor Vs. White Christmas Lights

“White Christmas lights lend a timeless look, while multicolor lights are fun and festive,” McCoy says. However, for those who like to loop tunes to their lights or really play up a theme, he recommends color lights as a better option. “You can coordinate them to create complex designs or color block large areas with single-colored strands for a dramatic effect,” he shares.

Warm Vs. Cool White Lights

Often another holiday humdinger is deciding between warm-white lights or cool white lights. There isn’t a wrong or right answer, but mixing the two variations of white lights is a home decorating no-no. “Pick one kind of white and be consistent with that choice,” McCoy advises. “Mixing warm and cool lights together in the same area can look mismatched when hung side by side.”

Another pro decorating tip: Both white and multicolor lights can vary depending on the maker, so make sure all of your lights match pre-hanging.

What Type Of Lights Are Best For Outdoors?

There are a lot of options when it comes to Christmas lights. Many Christmas lights are compatible for both indoors and outdoors. Before you hang them, make sure your lights are labeled for outdoor use. Do not use indoor lights on the exterior of your home because they are not weatherproof and can be a fire hazard. All Christmas lights should be certified by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) to ensure their safety.

Here’s how to determine what size and type of bulb to buy:

Light Sizes

Choose from a variety of sizes to illuminate different areas of your house or yard. Here’s what you’ll find in stores:

• C7 and C9 bulbs are larger than the lights you string around your tree. They are typically designated for outdoor use and are good for covering large areas or hanging along rooflines.
• T5 mini lights are much smaller, making them a good choice for wrapping around porch railings, trees, wreaths, and shrubs.
• Rope lights are an easy way to line a sidewalk or wrap around a tree. They are flexible, so they can be bent or twisted into many shapes.

Bulb Type

You’ll find two types of bulbs at your store: LED and incandescent. We recommend LED lights because they are safer and last the longest of other types. They use a lot less energy than incandescent bulbs, up to 90 percent less. They also stay cool compared to incandescent bulbs that get pretty hot and can be a danger near Christmas trees and other potentially flammable objects. You can also string more LED strands together. While LED lights cost more upfront, they save energy in the long run and don’t need to be replaced as often.

Solar Lights

If you can find a solar option for your Christmas lights, they are great for small areas, so not the roofline, and charge in the sun all day to turn on and off automatically. This eliminates the need for a timer or having to remember to turn the lights on and off.

Where To Hang Christmas Lights

After your light colors have been selected, it’s time to plan where these lights will go. As a general rule, it’s best to hang Christmas lights where they will accentuate your home’s best features.

“If you’re looking to play up your home’s features, such as bay windows, eaves, and roof edges, white icicle lights are a great option to give your home a look of winter charm,” McCoy adds.

The Best Way To Hang Lights

For trees, railings, and bushes, simply wrap strands of lights around the object. To hang or attach Christmas lights to your home’s exterior, use plastic gutter hooks or decorating clips. They can be hung at 12-inch intervals on the edge of gutters or on wood surfaces like eaves, door frames, and fascias without being seen or damaging your home’s exterior. Avoid hanging lights from shingles to prevent damage. You can also use suction cups, Command hooks, or specially designed siding hooks to attach lights to other surfaces.

New Holiday Light Trends And Ideas

Don’t get too excited with your traditional light picks that you forget to add a few modern illuminated touches. “With so many new options available, you aren’t only limited to traditional white and multicolor string lights,” notes McCoy. “There are other trending options like snowflakes and other novelty lighting that can add a special touch.”

Some homeowners are also fans of holiday light projectors, which work by pointing one light toward a home and projecting thousands of tiny Christmas-colored dots or an illustration (snowflake, Santa, or snowman) onto the house’s exterior. Other trends we love are large-bulb lights, which McCoy says can create visual impact and lend a retro feel, as well as animated and color-changing lights that can create eye-catching action.

Looking for more outdoor Christmas light ideas? Take some inspiration from the 16 holiday homes below, then shop the best outdoor lights to dress up your own.