A guide to outdoor Christmas lights

As the days grow shorter and the weather gets colder, there is nothing like the enchanting glow of Christmas lighting. You don't have to wait until December to start installing warm and evocative lights by the driveway, in the garden or on the balcony. In this blog post, you will get our best tips to selecting the right kind of lighting, good advice on safety and more. 

There are many different types of outdoor Christmas lights for wintertime. Which kind you should choose naturally comes down to personal taste and suitability for the place you want lit and filled with cheerful joy. First of all, the lights must be meant for outdoor use. If you are in doubt, you are always welcome to visit your local JYSK store and ask our skilled staff for guidance.

Outdoor Christmas lights include the following: 

• String lights and electrical nets
• LED light trees and figures 
• LED candles and lanterns for outdoor use 

Light strings are net lights are among the easiest ways to create outdoor Christmas cheer. They are an affordable way to decorate, and don’t take much effort to install, as they can be wrapped around most balcony rails, bushes, trees and even flagpoles, bringing a warm, inviting glow to any space. 

Cosy light trees are perfect for illuminating the outdoor spaces of your home. You can choose between different forms, heights, and expressions: Some look like genuine trees while others have a more sculptural flair to them. LED light trees are a hassle-free option to outdoor lighting – by choosing a light tree, you can simply set it up and plug in the cord without having to climb a ladder and spend time carefully securing it as you would with a string of lights.

Lanterns with LED candles for outdoor use are an enchanting match. With a timer function the LED candle will turn on and off again at a specified time, so you can enjoy the sight of the flickering flame from the cosy indoors. If you choose actual candles, remember to place the lantern on a safe surface and preferably a little sheltered so that the light is not blown out.

Mix and match your outdoor Christmas lights

If you are looking for the most beautiful and impressive outdoor Christmas lighting, combine light strings with light trees and lanterns to welcome both your guests and the darker months. 

A beautiful outdoor Christmas lighting doesn't necessarily require you to have a garden. If you have a balcony or a small outdoor area, you can easily hang string lights on the balcony railing or put up a small light tree. And cozy lanterns always look great by the front door or on a balcony. 

In order to maintain Christmas peace, it is important that you think about the placement of your Christmas lights and sting lights, so they don’t shine directly into the neighbour's living room or bedroom. 

Christmas lights with a timer function can help you ensure that the light is always on at the desired times, while preventing your neighbours from being disturbed by light during the night. 

When installing outdoor Christmas lights, it is important that you use products that are intended for outdoor use. Indoor light strings and light trees do not belong outside, as moisture can easily penetrate the cord, which can cause it to short out. Outdoor Christmas lighting is of a more robust quality that can better withstand moisture, frost and strong winds.

It will be clearly stated on the packaging if a product is for indoor or outdoor use. You should also choose products that are CE-marked, which means that they meet statutory safety requirements. Get more tips on how to get beautiful and safe outdoor Christmas lighting. 

Outdoor lights bring a bit of joy in the dark autumn and winter months, and they generally consume less energy than you might think – naturally, the energy consumption varies between different types of light and each individual product. All outdoor lights in JYSK's range are made with LED light. A LED light chain has a lifetime up to 50,000 light hours. To learn more, check out the product description for our lights where many of them list how much energy that specific light consumes over a 24-hour period. You are also welcome to ask our staff in your local JYSK store for more information and guidance about the energy consumption of our Christmas lights. 

The timer function means worry-free lighting

To further reduce the energy consumption of your outdoor Christmas lights, many of our lights come with timer functions that allow you to turn on the lights for set periods of time that you decide. By combining LED lights with a timer function, you can avoid energy consumption during the day, when the light is not visible anyway.

You should be aware that there are different white shades of LED light; for example warm yellowish white and cold bluish white. It is therefore a good idea to test that your outdoor lights have the colour you want. The easiest way to ensure this is to see the lights on before you choose your Christmas lighting.

For more inspiration about decorating your home in true Christmas spirit, check out our blog post about Christmas decorations.