Finding the best Christmas tree lights depends on the look you want to achieve, but LED lights are generally the superior choice for their safety, durability, and energy efficiency. Lighting is the foundation of your holiday decor, setting the mood for the entire room and highlighting your favorite ornaments. We know how important that perfect glow is because, at Holiday Road, we illuminate thousands of feet of displays every season in Calabasas to create magical experiences for families. In this blog, we will discuss the different types of lighting options. Keep reading to learn more!
Why LED lights are the top recommendation for Christmas trees
LED lights are the top recommendation for modern Christmas trees because they remain cool to the touch and use significantly less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. This safety feature is especially important for real trees that can dry out over the season, reducing fire risk in your home. We also love that LEDs now come in “warm white” tones that mimic the cozy glow of vintage bulbs without the heat or fragility.
Longevity: LEDs can last tens of thousands of hours, meaning you won’t need to replace strands every year. Durability: The bulbs are made of plastic rather than glass, making them resistant to breakage during storage. Variety: Available in wide-angle, globe, and traditional mini-light shapes to suit any style.
Choosing the right color temperature for your holiday decorations
Selecting the right color temperature is crucial because it drastically changes the atmosphere of your room and how your ornaments appear. Warm white lights cast a golden, traditional glow that pairs well with gold, red, and green ornaments, while cool white lights have a blue tint that looks stunning with silver, blue, and winter wonderland themes.
- Warm White: Best for traditional, cozy, and rustic themes.
- Cool White: Ideal for modern, icy, or minimalist aesthetics.
- Multicolor: Perfect for a nostalgic, playful, and family-friendly vibe.
Smart Christmas lights: are they worth it?
Smart Christmas lights are an excellent investment if you want customization and convenience without manually plugging in your tree every night. These app-controlled strands allow you to change colors, set timers, and even sync the lights to music directly from your smartphone. This technology is becoming a staple in holiday decorations because it lets you change your tree’s entire look with the tap of a button.
- Customization: Create custom color palettes to match party themes or sports teams.
- Scheduling: Set automatic on/off times so your tree greets you when you get home.
- Effects: Enjoy twinkling, fading, and chasing patterns that traditional strands can’t offer.
How many lights do you need?
The general rule of thumb is to use 100 lights for every foot of tree height, but doubling that amount creates a professional, high-impact look similar to what you see at commercial displays. Denser lighting ensures there are no dark patches and gives the tree a radiant, full look that anchors your holiday decor. We recommend weaving the lights deep into the branches toward the trunk, not just draping them on the tips, to create depth and dimension.
- Standard coverage: 100 lights per foot (e.g., 700 lights for a 7-foot tree).
- High-impact coverage: 200 lights per foot for a dazzling, professional effect.
- Technique: Work from the bottom up and inside out to hide wires.
Experiencing Christmas lights in Los Angeles, CA
Choosing the right lights transforms your tree from a simple decoration into the centerpiece of your holiday home. To see the ultimate display of lights and get inspiration for your own decor, visit Holiday Road in Calabasas for an unforgettable festive adventure this winter! Christmas lights are the most irresistible element of the holiday season, and the fascination goes way back to New York in 1882 - when the first Christmas tree illuminated by electric lights was introduced. Nearly 150 years later at Petitti Garden Centers, it’s still about those lights! That’s why we customize our pre-lit collections for six different light types, offering countless options within each.
RGBW lights combine red, green, blue, and white LEDs that can be controlled individually or in combination to create a broad spectrum of colors and effects. A remote comes with each tree, allowing you to leverage 8 colors (red, green, blue, yellow, teal, purple, amber, warm white) to switch through 54 pre-set functions including everything from vibrant, colorful displays to soft, elegant white lighting. As if the riveting display isn’t enough, RGBW lights last longer than traditional lights. They’re resistant to breakage, they consume less energy, and they stay cool to the touch. To help manage energy consumption, a convenient timer function on the remote offers the choice of 4 hours on (20 hours off) or 8 hours on (16 hours off).
Trees designed with Petitti Starlights feature 4x the volume of lights compared to any other tree. The ultra-brilliant, energy-efficient, Micro-LED lights with elongated bases produce color schemes in warm white, classic multicolor, and pastel multicolor. Dual-Color LEDs can switch between two different colors - warm white and multicolor - using just the one strand! This versatility allows you to alternate between a classic, elegant white glow and a more vibrant, playful display. Diamond-cap light bulbs feature a faceted cover that takes the shape of a diamond. The cap helps disperse and refract light, ultimately creating a sparkling effect. It also enhances the brightness and clarity of the light, making it appear even more vibrant and eye-catching. From a bulb protection standpoint, the caps are made of durable plastic, sheltering the LEDs from damage.
LEDs versus traditional incandescent bulbs
Lighting up the holidays since the late 1990s, LEDs look similar to traditional incandescent lights but consume far less energy, making them an eco-friendly option. Because they’re sturdier than the more fragile, glass incandescent bulbs, LEDs can also last for years without needing replacement. Even with all the technological advancements in Christmas lights, some people still love the aesthetic of incandescent lights. Incandescents are fabricated using the traditional glass bulb and filament, throwing off a softer tone. If your ornaments and holiday décor align with vintage or classic themes, and you take a more subtle approach to tree lighting, incandescent lights are a nice way to go.
Specialty options and unlit varieties
Last but certainly not least! For those who prefer a tree that’s au naturel, we offer select sizes of Blue Noble Fir, Green Noble Fir, and Fraser Fir completely unlit. NEW this season at Petitti Garden Centers, a selection of light-up tree toppers is available to purchase for your life-like Christmas tree! Customers appreciate that our life-like Christmas trees are stunningly real, inspired by the most beautiful evergreen varieties found in nature. Still, it’s the lights that really make the individual experience.
What professionals look for and common questions
What Christmas lights do professionals use? The Christmas lights used by professionals are usually LED lights with coaxial connectors, which are a little more hard-core than domestic lights. The wiring may be different, but the lights are not. What color Christmas lights are the best? Color depends on the decor theme and personal preferences. White offers a clean, classic look, while a single color adds mood. Cheerful multicolor lights bring fun to the holidays. Think about the look you want to create, and go with a color that supports your decor. Are LED lights better on a Christmas tree? Incandescent bulbs are approved for safe use on Christmas trees. However, LED Christmas lights don’t get as hot, which probably makes them a safer option for a live tree. How do I find a bad bulb on a string of Christmas lights without a tester? Remove each bulb one at a time, placing a piece of foil in the socket after removing the bulb. If the lights turn back on, you’ve found the bad bulb. How long do Christmas lights last? Longevity and durability vary by brand, but incandescent bulbs typically last two or three seasons, and LED bulbs typically last six or seven seasons. Both can last longer if cared for and stored appropriately. Certain conditions, such as living near the ocean or in an area that experiences extreme heat, can shorten their lifespan.
Top picks and notable options
After extensive testing and expert input, several standout options emerge. The Pro Christmas T5 LED Christmas Lights offer a superb balance of light quality, color accuracy, durability, and availability. They provide a close-to-incandescent color quality with safer, more durable LEDs and a long lifespan. The Twinkly Smart RGB-W LED String Lights offer 16 million color choices and a library of customizable animations and effects, plus a free app for mapping lights and syncing with music. These are highly versatile but come with a higher price tag and occasional app glitches. For traditional warmth with reliable performance, warm white incandescents like Kringle Traditions remain favorites for a classic look, though they’re less durable and energy-efficient than LEDs. ThePro Christmas 5 mm Wide Angle Conical LED Christmas Lights deliver a unique texture with a bright, almost twinkling effect and good outdoor suitability. The Tru-Tone Classic Light Set provides nostalgic incandescent radiance with a vintage feel, while the Vintaglo LED set mimics classic warm incandescent glow with the practicality of LED durability. The GE StayBright Mini LED Christmas Lights are a budget staple, offering reliable performance in bulk purchases, though with modest light quality compared to premium picks.
Regular Lights vs. LED Lights
Table: quick reference for light types
| Type | Typical Use | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED (standard mini) | Indoor/outdoor, most decor | Energy efficient, durable, low heat | Higher upfront cost |
| RGB-W / smart LEDs | Colorful, programmable displays | 19+ colors, effects, timers | Higher price, app reliance |
| Incandescent mini lights | Vintage aesthetics | Warm glow, authentic look | Higher energy use, fragility |
| Wide-angle / conical LEDs | Texture and depth | Distinct light projection | Specific look may require planning |
Distance to a power source is a concern when buying and installing Christmas lights. For indoor lights, power must come from electricity or batteries. Lights with an electric plug require access to an electrical outlet or an extension cord. Electricity provides consistent power that never runs out (unless the power goes out). Several strings can connect to each other to use power from a single outlet. Battery-powered Christmas lights are less common, though they are convenient. They can hang almost anywhere without proximity to an outlet. Wire lengths vary from short 10-foot strings to 66- to 100-foot strings. A longer cord means fewer outlets and connection points between strings; however, experts recommend using strings in lengths appropriate for the decor job at hand. Bulb size should be to scale with the rest of the holiday decor. Delicate ornaments may get overpowered by large bulbs. White, single-color, and multicolor sum up the Christmas light color options. Whites can be warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish), and single colors can be red, green, blue, orange, purple, and various hues in between. Pick a color or several colors that complement holiday themes. Shapes range from globes and small teardrop lights to vintage bulbs shaped like candleholders or snowmen. A few lighting modes include twinkle flash, slow glow, chasing flash, slow fade, and steady on. Smart LED Christmas tree lights offer the most lighting options. Some allow the user to set the colors by section or offer variable brightness adjustments. Music syncing, built-in timers, and other features add convenience for modern setups.
Regular Lights vs. LED Lights
FAQ
Q. What color Christmas lights are best? A: White offers a clean, classic look; a single color adds mood; multicolor brings fun to the holidays. Q. Are LED lights better on a Christmas tree? A: LED lights don’t get as hot and are safer for live trees. Q. How long do Christmas lights last? A: LED bulbs typically last six to seven seasons, incandescent two to three; longevity varies by brand and storage conditions.