When winter comes, there is nothing better than beautiful Christmas lights in the garden. Our creative ideas show what this can look like.
In the dark season, cozy lighting is particularly important. In the Advent season, garden lovers therefore like to use atmospheric decorations in the glow of Christmas lights. There are no limits to the imagination when it comes to the selection of glowing Christmas decorations. Whether colorful or colorless, flashing or quiet - there are illuminated Christmas decorations to suit every taste and every garden design.
Simple fairy lights and hoses, stars, sticks, Christmas figures or whole pictures that impress with their colorful luminosity should simply not be missing in the festively decorated garden. You are spoiled for choice. Should it be a warm or cool white light, or do bright colors like the typical Christmas red and green best suit your garden concept? Colorful light chains and figures with different flashing functions are also commercially available in a wide variety. After all, whatever you like is allowed.
Should the decoration only set light accents or illuminate the entire outdoor area?
But before you go and stock up on the most beautiful Christmas lights, you should first clarify the question of whether the Christmas decorations should only set individual light accents or illuminate the entire outdoor area. If the festive lighting in the Advent season has to replace the outdoor lighting of garden paths, stairs and entrance areas, it can be a little more. In this case, however, a light source with a permanent white light and the strongest possible luminosity is recommended.
In the case of colorful or even flashing lights, the light cast by the decoration can appear too diffuse to adequately illuminate all outdoor areas. However, if the chain of lights, the glow stick or the illuminated star is only to set an optical accent, there are no limits to your imagination in terms of colours, shapes and lighting effects.
Important: Only use special outdoor lighting
There are many variants of Christmas light decorations, but not all of them are intended for outdoor use. Since fairy lights and other illuminated decorations are in most cases electrically operated and rain, snow and ice often occur, especially in autumn and winter, you should only use lamps for outdoor lighting that are designed for outdoor use. Good insulation is particularly important so that penetrating moisture cannot cause a short circuit.
Hint:
It makes sense that you connect the outdoor Christmas decorations to a timer that regulates the power supply to the individual light sources. Since it gets dark very early, especially in winter, it makes sense to set a timer for the outdoor lighting from around 5 p.m. Your garden is already festively lit on the way home and gives the winter blues no chance.
If you use the timer to switch off the Christmas decorations in the late evening hours, you can also save on electricity costs (further energy-saving tips here), which that causes colorful sparkles, keep them as low as possible. You can find more helpful information about timers on this page.
Another tip:
Christmas decorations with solar cells or batteries are also a practical alternative to conventional fairy lights for the socket.
4 creative ideas for an atmospheric glow of lights
Idea No. 1 - Fairy Lights/Light Tubes:
A real classic of Christmas outdoor lighting are fairy lights and light tubes that frame windows or climb along balconies, banisters or garden fences. In combination with garlands of fir branches, colorful glass balls, pine cones or bows, the lighting looks particularly festive.
Christmas fairy lights and light hoses also conjure up festive light effects in bushes, shrubs and trees. And you can even set the scene for bed borders with subtle lighting.
Idea 2 - Glow Sticks:
You can also stick glow sticks into the ground, which then decorate fences, bushes and hedges. Which models you choose is entirely up to you.
Glow sticks with snowflakes and stars, for example, look particularly beautiful. Just have a look around in specialist shops. You will surely find some more interesting models here.
Idea No. 3 - light-up figures:
You can also attach decorative light figures to windows, on the roof or on the house wall. With colorful lights and special light effects, every surface becomes a real eye-catcher.
But there are also special figures for setting up in the garden. Of course, the sleigh with reindeer is particularly popular.
Idea 4 - Lanterns:
Lanterns with Christmas accessories are very suitable for garden paths and entrance areas. They provide a lot of light and can also adequately illuminate raised areas such as the bell or the door lock. Incidentally, you should provide the latter with an electronic door lock for security reasons, because the dark season unfortunately magically attracts burglars.
If you don't want to put real candles in the lanterns, you can also use battery-operated candles. Here, too, there are already models where you can set the lighting duration.
Conclusion:
Regardless of whether it is used to illuminate larger outdoor areas or as subtle light accents - an illuminated Christmas decoration always spreads a festive atmosphere and drives away the winter blues. With the right light bulbs for outdoor use, your garden will shine in pre-Christmas splendor in no time.