Buying guide

Holiday Lighting Guide

Great holiday lighting is planned in layers: a base layer for the tree, a structure layer for the house, and accents. Here is how to think through each.

1. The tree layer

For an unlit tree, a common planning figure is around 100 lights per foot of tree height for a full, even look. Work from the trunk outward and from bottom to top, weaving the strand in and out along branches rather than just wrapping the outside — the depth is what makes a tree glow instead of sparkle only at the surface. Pre-lit trees skip this step entirely.

2. The structure layer

Icicle lights along rooflines, string lights along fences and railings, and stake lights along paths define the shape of your home at night. Keep to one or two light colors (warm white is the classic; multicolor is the nostalgic choice) so the house reads as one scheme.

3. Projectors and statement pieces

Projector lights cover a whole wall or garage door with moving holiday scenes in minutes — ideal as a base layer for large, blank surfaces. Statement pieces like lighted lamp posts, archways and inflatables then give the eye a focal point. One or two statements beat ten competing ones.

4. Safety and practicality

• Use only outdoor-rated products outdoors, and keep plugs and connections off the ground and out of standing water.
• Never connect more strands together than the manufacturer's stated limit, and do not run cords through door or window jambs where they can be pinched.
• Put outdoor lighting on a timer so it runs when it is seen and rests when it is not — most displays look best from dusk to around midnight.
• Check every strand before hanging; it is far easier to find a fault on the ground than on a ladder.

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