50+ Christmas Light Ideas for Indoors & Outdoors. Get inspired to decorate your home with festive Christmas lights this year! Find ideas for every space, from the tree to the porch.
I absolutely love driving around to see those dazzling Christmas light displays during the holidays, don’t you? There’s something so captivating about twinkling lights against the winter night. But what if you could take that tour inside, and peek into homes glowing with festive cheer?
That’s exactly what we’re doing today! I’m thrilled to share a collection of beautiful photos showcasing inspiring Christmas lighting ideas, both indoors and out. I’ve teamed up with 12 talented home decor bloggers to bring you this festive tour, so you can gather lots of Christmas lights ideas for every corner of your home.
And of course, I’ll give you a glimpse into my own cozy Christmas vibe! Wait until you see how warm and inviting it looks all aglow with holiday magic. Get ready to be inspired… ✨
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Tour My Home in This Cozy Christmas Lights Video
Christmas Lights Ideas for the House: The Basics
Let’s start our tour with some general tips for decorating with Christmas lights.
- Choose the right type of lights. There are many different types of Christmas lights available, including LED, incandescent, and fairy lights. Consider the style of your home and your personal preferences when making your selection.
- Plan your layout. Before you start hanging lights, take some time to plan your layout. This will help you avoid any surprises and ensure that your lights look their best.
- Use a variety of lights. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different types of lights to create a unique look.
- Add some greenery. Greenery, such as garlands and wreaths, can help to create a more festive atmosphere.
- Don’t forget the details. Small details, such as ribbons and ornaments, can make a big difference.
- Safety first! Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when hanging Christmas lights.
Now, let’s dive into some specific ideas for indoor and outdoor Christmas lighting.
Outdoor Christmas Light Ideas
Where to Add Festive Cheer with Outdoor Lights
To me, the options are endless because you can use string lights with garland, add them to light stakes, or simply wrap them around tree branches and trunks. But there’s so much more you can do too. For a classic look, string white lights on outdoor trees. Or add warm white lights to the front porch.
Here are some more great ideas:
- Rooflines and eaves: Outline the architecture of your home with classic C7 or C9 bulbs, or opt for icicle lights for a whimsical touch.
- Walkways and pathways: Line walkways with luminaries, stake lights in the ground, or hang string lights overhead for a magical entrance.
- Trees and shrubs: Wrap trunks with lights, or hang net lights over shrubs for a blanket of sparkle.
- Porches and patios: Hang string lights, use lanterns, or create a lighted wreath for your front door. For Christmas porch inspiration, check out my post where I shared lots of festive ideas.
- Fence: Add a white pine or cedar garland strung with holiday lights on a fence. To create more of a holiday look, add red bows for that fun pop of red.
- DIY projects: Craft your own lighted wreaths, garlands, or other decorations using battery-operated lights.
While we didn’t do it this year, but we’d love to add an outdoor Christmas tree to the formal garden in the gazebo. Wouldn’t that look so pretty? Maybe next year.
And when it snows? Those outdoor holiday lights will look like a winter wonderland. I can’t wait to see it here since we decorated the outside with lights this year.
Before you head out with a set of outdoor string lights, make sure you know where each power source is and whether or not you’ll need extension cords. There are so many different options to create a holiday curb appeal for a classic Christmas look.
Types of Outdoor Christmas Lights
For some festive outdoor lights ideas for the front yard, check out these different options:
- vintage lights
- string lights
- twinkling lights
- icicle lights
- rope lights
- light projectors
- light balls
- net lights
Indoor Christmas Light Ideas
- Trees: Beyond the classic string lights, try adding fairy lights, ornaments with built-in lights, or a spotlight to highlight your tree.
- Mantels: Weave lights into garlands, place lanterns with battery-operated candles, or hang a lighted garland. For quick Christmas mantel decorating ideas, check out my post where I shared lots of festive inspiration.
- Windows: Frame windows with lights, hang a string of lights with festive ornaments, or create a faux window display with lights and greenery.
- Staircase: Wrap the banister with garland and lights, or hang lights along the underside of the railing.
- Dining Room: Hang a chandelier with twinkling lights, or use fairy lights to create a centerpiece.
Of course, you can keep things looking simple but you can also tuck in some organic decor like pine cones, branches, and berries to cozy up the look.
My Cozy Candlelight Christmas Home Tour
Now that we’ve covered different ways to decorate with holiday lights indoors, let’s tour my home so you can see how it all comes together for the Christmas season. This will be a quiet tour where we’ll go room by room to see all of the cozy looks. For all the decorating details, you can follow my holiday home tour here.
The Front Entry Hall
The Dining Room
The Living Room
A Look Back at Christmas Past
Since it’s only been a year since we moved and I decorated with Christmas lights a little differently there, let’s stroll through Christmas past for more cozy holiday lighting inspiration. I love to look back to see how much things have evolved.
The vibe is so different from my current home, right? It’s been so fun changing my decorating style to reflect the feel of our new home.
Final Thoughts About Decorating Your Home With Christmas Lights
I hope you enjoyed touring my home today and got some good ideas for your holiday home. Every time I put more lights outside, I learned something else I wanted to do. But I guess you can go on and on and on, but I have to cut it off somewhere so we can just enjoy it. There’s always next year!
Thanks so much for touring my home today!
Do you decorate your home with Christmas lights too? Do you decorate both inside and outside? I would love to know more in the comments below.
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
Shop Christmas Lights for Your Home
Click on the image below to shop for the coziest Christmas lights.
Christmas Candlelight Christmas Lights Home Tours
A home that’s decorated for Christmas always feels so special. When the sun has gone down and the lights are all twinkling it becomes so magical. Sit back and enjoy touring these beautiful homes by the glow of candlelight. You can visit each Christmas home tour by clicking the links below.
Monday
Simply2Moms: Anne // Cottage On Bunker Hill // Bricks’n Blooms
The Ponds Farmhouse // Southern Crush at Home
Tuesday
Simply2Moms: AnnMarie // The Tattered Pew // Pasha is Home
Midwest Life and Style // Vintage Home Designs // Life on Summerhill
