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7 Elegant Outdoor Christmas Lighting Ideas
Oskar
To get your house’s exterior into the festive spirit without crossing into ‘tacky’ territory, check out these top tips and ideas for elegant outdoor Christmas lighting!
Key Takeaways:
- Warm or ice-white string, cluster or icicle-style lights are a versatile, elegant Christmas lighting option.
- Decorations like pre-lit Christmas trees, wreaths, and reindeer can add some festive charm to your home’s exterior.
- Try to keep your lighting in one or two colours for a high-end, sophisticated feel.
- Space out light-up decorations so that your decorative focal points can stand out, and to avoid a cluttered feel.
It might sound simple, but putting up Christmas lights can actually take quite a bit of planning and thought, as there are so many different options available.
You have to decide on the type of outdoor lighting, the colour and warmth of the lights, where you’ll put them, and how many you’ll use. Going overboard or using the wrong colour combinations can easily disrupt a high-end, luxurious look, so it’s important to get it right.
We’ll take you through the most popular types of luxurious Christmas lighting for modern homes, and our advice on how to put together a display that feels inviting and sophisticated at the same time.
1. Door Lighting
For a stylish outdoor Christmas lighting look with a subtle feel, try arranging LED string lights or a pre-lit garland around your front door.
Look for warm white LEDs to create a luxurious and welcoming feel, perfect for livening up your entryway with some festive cheer.
2. Light-Up Reindeer
While too many festive lighting decorations can make your home’s exterior look crowded and overly busy, a few carefully chosen pieces can work well to add some charm.
If you’re adding several light-up decorations, group them in threes and space them evenly, such as running alongside a garden path or towards your front door.
3. LED Wreath
Normal wreaths are a great seasonal addition to your front door, but LED wreaths take it to the next level, adding more cosy ambience to your entryway.
We recommend choosing either a light-up wreath or string lights framing your front door, as both at once can be quite overpowering. If you typically don’t have a seasonal wreath on your door, you might enjoy putting up a Christmas LED wreath and then lighting up the door frame on a different occasion, such as Halloween.
4. Light-Up Tree
Your indoor Christmas tree is usually the star of your home’s seasonal decor, but don’t forget that you can also add a lit-up tree to your outside decor.
You could use string lights on your existing shrubbery or outdoor faux tree, but for something even more elegant, why not try a pre-lit tree?
This gives your front or back garden the flair of a Christmas tree with a more minimalist, alternative look, adding subtle lighting to your display with micro dot LEDs.
5. Fence Lighting
If you’ve already planned your lighting for your house’s exterior, such as the doorway and roof, don’t forget about your garden fence! It’s the perfect opportunity for a little extra festive light, and a practical way to brighten your outdoor space on dark winter nights.
Cold white or blue string lights along your garden fence can create the perfect wintry light display, especially if you go for icicle-style lights that trail downwards.
6. Light-Up Snowman
One or two large decorative lighting pieces, such as a festive light-up snowman, can create a striking focal point for your garden.
Co-ordinate them with your other lighting, such as having nearby fence or door lights, but leave enough space to highlight the standout section of your outdoor Christmas lighting display!
It’s fun to keep a light-up snowman or similar large lighting decoration in your back garden, but they really shine in front gardens and near your front door - they’ll likely put a smile on the faces of passersby too!
7. Whole House Lighting
String or cluster lighting across the exterior of your house can create an elegant aesthetic as long as you keep it cohesive.
Use the same colour and warmth of light across the house, or use consistent alternating colours (such as white and blue). Cold or warm white is generally best for a high-end look and a classic, wintry feel.
The spaces you can decorate will vary depending on your house’s design, but the eaves and doorway are both usually great options. You may also want to decorate around windows - just keep in mind that if there is roof lighting close to the window, additional window lighting may feel too cluttered.
Frequently Asked Questions
All of your Christmas lights should be LEDs, as these are the most energy-efficient type of light. Common types include string, cluster and icicle-style lights, as well as light-up decorations like trees and wreaths.
Make sure the lights you choose are suitable for outdoor use, as this means they’ll be made from appropriate materials for withstanding the weather, which is especially important in winter!
Christmas lights will either be mains-powered, solar-powered or battery-powered. Mains-powered is the most reliable and consistent, but you will need either an outdoor plug socket or a way to have the wires run out of your home, such as through a window.
Battery-powered Christmas lights can work well as a flexible solution, although you will need to replace the batteries every so often. Solar-powered lights are eco-friendly and charge themselves during the day, but their effectiveness can vary throughout winter with reduced sunlight.
For an elegant look, choose Christmas lights in either one colour or two alternating colours, and keep that aesthetic consistent across your whole design.
Warm white is a great pick for a luxurious, modern look, and it creates such a welcoming atmosphere to return home to every day. Alternatively, cold white and blue pair together perfectly and create an icy feel that’s ideal for winter lighting.
To achieve a high-end Christmas lighting look without going all-out, simply choose a few key pieces of Christmas lighting.
It’s easy to add a light-up wreath to your front door, and it can change the feel of your entire entryway with its warm, welcoming glow. It’s also a lot simpler than putting up string lights around your front door, while still being super effective.
As well as a wreath, add one light-up decoration to your front garden, such as a pre-lit tree or reindeer. They’re quick to place outside and will catch people’s eye as they’re walking past!
Light Up Your Home This Festive Season!
Christmas lights are one of the best parts of the festive season, so light up your home with an elegant arrangement that works for you. The aim is to balance Christmas fun with a sophisticated look so that you get the best of both worlds: festive charm and luxury style!
Once you’ve got your exterior Christmas decorations sorted, it’s time to look inside your home and pick out the perfect Christmas tree, or cosy up underneath a comfy Christmas throw.
Oskar
Oskar is an expert home interiors blogger who loves sharing practical DIY tips and home inspiration. Alongside style advice, he also writes expert how-to guides with easy step-by-step instructions to help you update your space with confidence.