The holiday season is a joyous time, and one of the best ways to welcome it is by decorating your outdoor spaces with holiday lights. You can take your outdoor decor in several directions, from simple and classic to bold and whimsical.
For example, elegant all-white string lights can create a timeless look on your front lawn. Mix multi-colored lights with fun inflatables to add more pizazz to your decor. Keep reading for a complete list of Christmas light ideas for your outdoor spaces.
The best way to create a cohesive outdoor decor look is to choose a theme you want your decor to follow. The options are endless. The fun thing about choosing a theme is mixing it up every year for variety or adding to your existing theme to expand your decor.
Finally, practicing safety procedures is important when installing outdoor holiday lights. It’s easy to mix up outdoor and indoor holiday lights, but it’s essential to use outdoor lights outside because they are weatherproof.
For the best results, have a professional install your outdoor holiday lights. They will do the job safely and efficiently and can create the winter wonderland of your dreams.
Christmas Light Ideas for Your Outdoor Spaces
It doesn’t feel like the holidays until you’ve lit up your home with festive lights. When it comes to outdoor holiday lights, your options are endless. The following holiday light ideas for the outdoors will make your home sparkle and kick off the holiday season.
Classic Outdoor String Lights
Using classic string lights is the best place to start with your outdoor lighting setup. However, just because this option is a classic doesn’t make it boring. Opt for classic white lights or go bold with multi-colored string lights.
You also have options when it comes to where you hang your string lights. You can wrap them around a tree trunk, drape them over your bushes and even outline your home’s exterior.
Adding outdoor string lights to your front lawn creates an elegant, timeless look. Keep it simple or build upon the look with the following ideas.
Luminaries and Pathway Lights
Luminaries are small lights placed along pathways, driveways and garden edges. Similar to lanterns, they add a romantic low-light look to any path they illuminate. You can purchase holiday-themed luminaries or make your own using paper bags and sand.
Old-fashioned luminaries use candles, while modern luminaries use convenient LED lights. If you are hosting holiday parties this season, adding luminaries to your front lawn is the perfect way to create an inviting and festive atmosphere for your guests.
Other pathway light options include light-up candy canes, star stakes and large holiday lights.
Net Lights
Want to cover your landscaping with holiday lights quickly? Outdoor net lights make it easy to cover a large area at once. These timesavers are perfect for lighting up bushes and hedges.
Icicle Lights
You don’t have to live in a cold climate to make your home look like a winter wonderland. Icicle lights create a dazzling display on the roofline of your home. The lights hang down to look like real icicles, and you can purchase icicle lights in white or frosty blue colors. Additionally, some icicle lights come with blinking features to add even more intrigue.
It’s important to note that hanging icicle lights requires a ladder or climbing onto your roof. This job is best for holiday lighting professionals with the experience and tools to do it safely.
Projector Lights
Want to project a festive image onto your house? Projector lights offer a ton of bang for your buck. They’re easy to set up but still make a dramatic statement. You can project fun light patterns onto your home or holiday-themed images, such as Santa Claus with his reindeer.
Projector lights are a great way to bathe your home in color and festivity while keeping the installation process simple.
Tree Branch Lights
Many homeowners wrap their tree trunks in string lights and stop there. However, your tree branches deserve to be lit up for the holiday season, and there are plenty of ways to get creative with them.
For example, you can drape string lights over your branches to create a stunning canopy of lights. You could also hang large light orbs in your branches to draw the eye upward. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on adding more holiday spirit to your lawn by dressing up your tree branches.
Light Up Your Home’s Architecture
You can accentuate your home’s architecture in several ways with holiday lights. Framing your doorways, windows, eaves and roofline with lights draws attention to your home and creates a beautiful display.
Add Inflatables to Your Lawn
You can tell a holiday story on your lawn with light-up inflatables and figurines. Adding holiday characters to your lawn, such as Santa, Frosty and Rudolph, is fun and festive. Inflatables come in various sizes and characters, so your options are endless.
Wreaths and Garlands
Your outdoor wreaths and garlands are another great place to add holiday lights. If you have steps that lead up to your front door, you can wrap the railing with a spirited garland and string lights. Alternatively, you could use rope lights with your garland. You can also intersperse lights into your wreaths or add a lit-up bow. Adding lights to wreaths and garlands makes them more visible at night and ties your lawn display together.
Ready to create a gorgeous holiday light display on your lawn? Contact a local holiday lighting company to get the job done for you. With their expertise, they can save you time and create the display of your dreams. They can also help with lighting issues, like if half of your Christmas lights aren’t working.
What Are the Different Christmas Light Themes?
There are so many holiday light themes that you can use on your front lawn. The key is to choose a theme and stick to it so that your lawn looks cohesive. Here are a few holiday light theme ideas:
- Candy cane theme using red and white lights
- Classic theme using red and green lights
- Winter wonderland theme using blue and white lights
- Elegant theme using all-white lights
- Festive theme using multicolor lights
- Rustic theme using warm white lights
- Nautical theme using blue and gold lights
- Whimsical theme using bright colors and lights with unique shapes
Once you pick a theme and the lights that accompany it, you can choose the rest of your outdoor holiday decor. For example, with a rustic theme, you should choose a wreath with natural elements, such as berries and pinecones. With a candy cane theme, you can line your pathways with candy cane lights.
You can hang large ornaments from your tree branches for a classic holiday theme with red and green lights. A whimsical theme goes perfectly with fun lawn characters like figurines or inflatables.
Choosing a theme for your holiday lights can guide the entire process. You can change your theme each year or expand on it by adding new decor matching your theme.
What Kind of Christmas Lights Can Go Outside?
Using outdoor lights for your lawn display is important as they are more weather-resistant than indoor lights. However, it’s easy to mix up outdoor and indoor holiday lights. Luckily, when you work with a professional to decorate your yard, they will know the right kind of holiday lights to use outside.
There are several types of outdoor holiday lights, including LED lights, string lights, rope lights, net lights, icicle lights, projection lights and pathway lights. Outdoor lights are made to withstand varying weather conditions and last all season long.
LED lights are an excellent choice for outdoor lights because they are energy-efficient and durable. Their longer lifespan means you can use them season and season without having to replace them.
Keep the following safety measures in mind when it comes to installing outdoor holiday lights:
- Always make sure your lights are meant for outdoor use.
- Inspect the lights for frayed wires, damaged sockets or broken bulbs before you plug them in.
- Make sure your extension cords are weather-proof.
- Use multiple outlets or a power strip with a circuit breaker to avoid overloading your circuits.
Work with a landscaping professional to install your holiday lights this year to ensure complete safety.
Trust the Experts to Create Your Winter Wonderland
There’s no better way to welcome the holidays than with decorating your lawn for the holidays. Working with professional installers is the safest and most efficient way to do the job. The experts will create the holiday landscape of your dreams while saving you time and hassle.
