10 Christmas Lights Ideas for Whole Home

10 Christmas Lights Ideas for Whole Home

by — Andra DelMonico
Published on April 28, 2021
Updated on March 10, 2025

The holidays are a time for friends and family. It’s also a time for spreading the holiday spirit and loves to everyone around you.

One of the easiest ways you can do this is by hanging Christmas lights and creating a holiday display on the exterior and interior of your home.

Some say you can never have enough lights. Others say that you should be strategic in how and where you hang your lights. Whatever your opinion, all that matters is that you love the outcome, and it brings you holiday cheer.

These Christmas lights ideas will help you be ready for the next holiday season so you can have the best display on your block.

1. Give Your Bedroom A Holiday Makeover

As winter descends and Christmas day comes closer, the bedroom can really come alive with the joy of the season. Decorate a bedroom with warm Christmas lights swirled around the edges of the walls, twinkling and radiating cheer wherever they go.

Place soft holiday decorations like little snowglobes and cotton fluffs around for extra comfort. Kids will surely love having a bedroom that says ‘Merry Christmas’ from every angle! It’s sure to be a bedroom full of festive spirit and exciting holiday wonders – great for little ones who can’t wait for Santa’s visit.

Festive bedroom with a metal bed, Christmas decorations, a "Believe" banner, wreaths, and a small Christmas tree with colorful lights — Source: @besidethemulberrytree via Instagram

2. Dress Up Your Headboard

From headboards featuring gentle string lights, to more elaborate displays featuring rainbows of vibrant colors hung from nearby trees and rooftops alike, the beauty of Christmas lights is incomparable. They’re more than just an elaborate design as they give us a sense of festivity and joy that remains unmatched no matter how big or small the display may be.

Nothing conveys the feeling of the holidays better than sparkling lights piercing through the night—warm and inviting, like a warm hug after months of enduring cold winter days.

Cozy bedroom with a wooden headboard, fairy lights, dreamcatchers, and a red bed runner. A small lamp and decor items on side tables — Source: @castelaom via Instagram

Cozy bedroom with a wrought iron bed, striped bedding, wooden accent wall, and festive garland with string lights, with two lamps and mirrors flanking the bed — Source: @clairelynnhome via Instagram

A cozy bedroom with a white bed, pine-themed pillows, and a decorative branch with string lights, mini Christmas trees line the front — Source: @my_exclusive_ideas via Instagram

3. DIY A Christmas Village

Christmas is a time of magic and wonder; it’s a season for dreaming of Christmas cheer and all the Christmas villages that we’ve ever loved or wished for! This Christmas is no different, why not add a little Christmas sparkle to your home with a mini Christmas village with lights?

Set up the Christmas houses adorned with miniatures like Santa Claus, snowmen, Christmas trees and so much more. Let the Christmas spirit shine throughout your home as these twinkling lights guide you back to childhood memories of Christmases past.

A festive holiday scene with a small, decorated house, reindeer figurines, stockings, a Christmas tree, and twinkling lights — Source: @gabyslittlehomes via Instagram

Festive mantel with two stockings, a wreath, mini Christmas trees, illuminated decor, and a small village display — Source: @kristipiercekelley via Instagram

A small, illuminated, snow-covered cardboard house with a red door, colorful lights, a snowman, and a tree in a fenced yard — Source: @stayathometradie via Instagram

4. Craft A Christmas Wreath

Christmas is a time to get creative. If you’re looking for a unique Christmas project, why not make your own Christmas light decorations?

Make a Christmas wreath with paper cut-outs, or string up lights along a wall or staircase to form Christmas trees and snowflakes. Hang mini ornaments on the branches and create sweet memories that will last! Add color and texture to your Christmas setting this season with DIY Christmas light decorations made by you, for you!

Decorative wreath with paper stars and fairy lights on a wooden table, surrounded by greenery and berries — Source: @paperstreetdolls via Instagram

5. Re-imagine This Year’s Christmas Tree

The holiday season is coming up quickly and with it, comes a unique spin on the traditional Christmas tree. May it be a peg board Christmas tree adorned with lights provides an elegant, minimalist look while still keeping the festive spirit alive or a large branch with lights that gives off a clean, minimalist look.

With just a few pieces of peg board, lights, and mounting material you can create your own re-imagined Christmas tree that will be sure to impress family and friends alike. If you’re looking for an easy and creative way to decorate your space this holiday season, look no further than this peg board Christmas tree with lights – it’s the perfect alternative to the traditional evergreen!

A triangular pegboard shelf with gnome figurines and fairy lights, resembling a Christmas tree, against a patterned wall — Source: @solidhorse_factory via Instagram

Cozy living room with a light gray sofa, fluffy cushions, and a lit decorative branch tree, dark accent wall with framed art — Source: @boutique_interiors via Instagram

3. Set The Mood With Diversified Lighting

During the Christmas season, diversified lighting is everywhere! You name it, you see them. Tree lights in the form of fairy or lanterns create a distinct ambiance and make your festive gathering look even more cheerful.

Decorative lights shaped into stars or snowflakes can bring an inviting sense to your winter decorations. For those who advocate going green and eco-friendly, candles are a perfect option with their warm (and sometimes scented) glow bringing a particularly cozy touch to your Christmas celebrations.

Cozy living room with a Christmas tree, silver ornaments, a lit fireplace, and festive decorations on a tray including a candle and lantern — Source: @bellwayhometorhead via Instagram

4. Be A Maximalist

Twinkling lights on roofs, trees, and walkways capture the maximalist beauty of the holiday spirit. Spreading across whole town blocks with a single house decorated in bright colors, it is impossible to miss an exterior Christmas lights display this time of year.

From multi-colored rainswept screens to illumination swirls surrounding sturdy pine trees and sprightly cutouts adorning each window, maximalist light decor can be seen everywhere from modest cities to sprawling metropolises. If we make just a bit of effort, this Christmas we can bring a touch of holiday magic to our own homes as well!

A house decorated with colorful Christmas lights, snowmen, and Santa figures under a starry night sky — Source: @russallisonloar via Instagram

House decorated with colorful Christmas lights and wreaths at night; lit bushes and icicle lights adorn the cozy front porch — Source: @peterongilford via Instagram

House decorated with colorful Christmas lights, featuring stars, snowflakes, and illuminated trees, glowing brightly at night — Source: @thechinchillalady via Instagram

House decorated with colorful Christmas lights, featuring a lit "JOY" sign and Santa figure on the steps — Source: @ttn_jon via Instagram

House decorated with festive lights, featuring inflatable Santa, snowman, nutcracker, and candy canes — Source: @stacey_dollshousehair via Instagram

5. Dress Up Your Patio

Watching patio lights twinkle during Christmas is a magical experience, and a patio may just be the perfect place for this to happen. Imagine the festive feeling lighting up your patio with Christmas lights can create – an evening in with family, hot chocolate in hand, and little ones snuggled up in blankets.

Whether it’s edging the patio or taking down existing patio furniture to put larger pieces that light up in their place, sprucing up your patio for the holidays will bring cheer to any room. And why not dress up your patio with some traditional hanging patio lights too?

An unexpected backyard patio decorated with festive Christmas lights will bring total warmth and joy which only enhances the spirit of togetherness of the season.

Cozy porch with festive white lights adorning the railing and door, small evergreens, and a decorative sled by the entrance — Source: @geliebte_heimat via Instagram

House with a porch decorated in colorful string lights and Christmas ornaments, including a lit tree sculpture and Santa decoration — Source: @ginaranae1 via Instagram

Santa figure stands on a decorated porch with lights, wreaths, and a birdhouse; house number 517 is visible; American flag hangs nearby — Source: @isaacsrustywagon via Instagram

Cozy backyard patio with lit umbrellas, a white picnic table, bench seating, a barbecue grill, and string lights at night — Source: @aitchyc via Instagram

Glowing star-shaped lights hanging from tree branches at night, creating a dreamy atmosphere against a dark background — Source: @l_carranza via Instagram

6. Make A Warm Welcome

The front door to any house during the holidays is a special sight to behold- especially if there are colorful Christmas lights surrounding it. As people drive by this front door with its welcoming vibe and festive decorations, it helps bring a festive atmosphere to an otherwise ordinary neighborhood and brings joy and warmth to anyone who passes by.

It’s almost as if each string of lights along the front door brightens up the spirits of those nearby and is symbolic of embracing joy during the holiday season.

Small wooden shed with blue door, decorated with string lights and a wreath, surrounded by plants in a garden setting — Source: @sheshedliving via Instagram

Hallway with a decorative archway made of twigs and greenery adorned with string lights, leading to a room with distant furniture — Source: @sweetpeas_great_tew via Instagram

6. Be Spontaneous

Brighten up the cold, dark winter months with the magical lights of Christmas! String lights spontaneously hung everywhere can turn your home into a sparkling winter wonderland. Forget about clustering lights around traditional holiday spots like windows and doorways; get creative with your placement this year!

Hang lights in unexpected places like garlands around open wall spaces or circles of lights above door frames. Transform any room with the instantly festive appeal, while generating a sense of coziness and warmth. Step back and enjoy the twinkling lights – they will be sure to bring some extra Christmas cheer this season!

Hanging Christmas decorations with branches, string lights, and silver, white, and black ornaments against a sheer white background — Source: @blumenschmuck.flower via Instagram

Room decorated with colorful string lights, snowflake ornaments, and toy elves hanging from the ceiling — Source: @regochristine via Instagram

7. Jazz Up A Macrame Plant Hanger

Spruce up your home this holiday with a macrame plant hanger adorned with faux pine, candle holders, and Christmas lights. This statement piece is perfect for rustic interiors that need an injection of holiday cheer.

Macrame decor will add texture and warmth to the room, while the Christmas lights will create a warm magical feeling. You’ll be delighted by how quickly a room can look festive with just one piece.

Hanging wooden wreath with greenery, fairy lights, and star ornaments, set against a floral patterned wall above a red bedspread — Source: @zdenka.kveteme via Instagram

8. Frame Your House With Lights

Christmas is an incredibly merry time of the year, and exterior Christmas lights are the perfect way to capture that spirit. Take your home’s silhouette and make it shine with Christmas lights, creating an enchanting display to welcome yourselves and any other visitors.

The warm light radiating from even those darkest of winter nights creates a bright entrance for you and your guests alike. You can also opt for a more minimalistic design, using Christmas lights to frame the silhouette of your house or porch.

Whichever route you chose, remember that Christmas is all about standing out in style!

House with white brick exterior adorned with string lights along roofline, glowing warmly at night, surrounded by a trimmed lawn — Source: @bcschristmaslights via Instagram

A large red house with Christmas lights and wreaths on the porch and roof, glowing warmly against the night sky — Source: @gigi_pix via Instagram

Single-story house with palm trees, decorated with white holiday lights at night — Source: @designsanddecors via Instagram

House at night with colorful Christmas lights outlining the roof and windows, and star-shaped lights on the lawn — Source: @happymadeco via Instagram

House adorned with Christmas lights, featuring illuminated reindeer and a sleigh on the lawn with a cloudy evening sky in the background — Source: @steelermanbc via Instagram

House with colorful lights decorating roofline and bushes, glowing at night; white-framed windows and brick facade visible — Source: @tidge5 via Instagram

8. Match Christmas Decor With The Interior

Christmas lights are an aesthetic way to decorate for the holidays that can be tailored to match any interior aesthetic in a home. Whether your style is sleek and modern or rustic, there’s a set of lights that fits perfectly. Investing in beautiful Christmas lights will add a classic, cozy touch to the home and create a warm atmosphere that cultivates holiday cheer.

A rustic tree house may be surrounded by wooden reindeer lit up from within with white lights, nodding to both its aesthetic outer facade and interior details. Nothing brings more holiday cheer than so many glowing orbs lighting up a neighborhood in celebration!

Tall Christmas tree with lights and ornaments beside a fireplace. Stockings hang above the mantel decorated with festive items — Source: @kladue13 via Instagram

A cozy fireplace decorated with stockings, Santa figures, and a "Merry Christmas" sign on a stone wall, with a rocking chair on the side — Source: @maple.and.dickerson via Instagram

A cozy living room decorated for Christmas with a lit tree, stockings on the mantel, and festive lights illuminating the space — Source: @mommyglitter via Instagram

A festive living room with a decorated Christmas tree, Santa decor, wrapped gifts, and a toy car, candy cane lights adorn the window — Source: @nook2kie via Instagram

Vintage Christmas decor with a small lit tree, "Merry Christmas" sign, and retro Santa artwork above a rustic wooden dresser — Source: @maple.and.dickerson via Instagram

10. Brighten Up Your Christmas Tree

Christmas tree lights, arranged with lovingly-hung ribbons and baubles, create a twinkling centerpiece to any Christmas celebration. No other Christmas decoration manages to evoke the same feeling of warmth and contentment as those Christmas tree lights – the cheerful glow of each bulb acting like a beacon of love in the heart of winter.

Hanging decorations with ornaments and ribbons are sure to bring a smile to any face; their unique beauty shines on, reminding us all that Christmas is here!

Bedroom with a white bed, beige curtains, and a small Christmas tree with lights in the corner, under soft natural light — Source: @ashleymdesigns via Instagram

Festive Christmas tree decorated with lights, ribbons, and ornaments; red bows and holiday decorations surround the tree — Source: @bonheuravotreporte via Instagram

Festive bedroom with a Christmas tree adorned with red and gold bows, next to a bed with red and white pillows and decor — Source: @fancymomofboys via Instagram

Cozy bedroom with a tufted headboard, plaid pillows, and festive lighting; a small lit Christmas tree and lamp on a side table add warmth — Source: @gatheredliving via Instagram

Cozy room with a glowing Christmas tree and a brick fireplace. Gifts are arranged under the tree beside holiday decorations. — Source: @homestyle_christmas via Instagram

Lit Christmas tree with ornaments and a red tree skirt, next to a TV and snowman decoration in a cozy living room — Source: @kimberlee_erin via Instagram

A Christmas tree adorned with red and gold ornaments and lights stands by a window with blinds, next to a shelf with trophies — Source: @l_m_0687 via Instagram

Decorated Christmas tree with white garlands, red and gold ornaments, and glowing lights in a cozy room with speakers and star lamp — Source: @mrcherokee via Instagram

A decorated Christmas tree with lights and ornaments stands next to a white fireplace with a wooden mantel in a cozy living room — Source: @surfacedesign.ca via Instagram

What are the best Christmas lights to put on your house?

Icicle lights are popular because they are a single string of lights that have multiple strings hanging from it. This gives you the greatest visual effect for a minimal amount of work. The icicle lights also add a nice accent to your home.

How do you hang Christmas lights outside without nails?

Instead of using nails or staples, try using plastic clips. These are affordable and easy to use. You’ll also find them easier to remove after Christmas. There are plastic clips that hook onto your gutter, roof, or other areas of your home.

Are LED Christmas lights better?

LED Christmas lights are a smart option because they don’t use a filament to produce the light. This makes them more efficient, have increased durability, and are longer-lasting. They won’t burn out the way filament bulbs do. They also don’t get hot to the touch, making them less of a fire risk.