Design a Christmas Light Display
Easily create a beautiful Christmas Light display for your home.
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Find out electrical options. How much power do you have to work with? You may have several outlets but they might be shared with the freezer in the garage or the lights on the front porch. You should not start the designing process until you know how many lights you can install. Find out more here.
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Elements of Christmas Light Design
Focal Points
What are the main areas of the space to be designed? What are the main interests to the eye from the curb? The top focal points are the front door and the roof line. You want to keep the design clean so stick with those two if you can't decide on anything else. Entertaining areas and backyards are also good areas to look for focal points.
Be sure to cluster lighted trees by color or type
Hint: Remember to decorate focal points from the inside house too.
If you strongly wish to use silhouette lighting place it in locations that doesn't distract from the landscaping.
Color
Start with C7 or C9 lights on roofline
Use color to create consistency in landscape
* Same trees, sizes and types should be similar in color
Avoid like colors in landscape
* Don't use red w/pink, blue w/teal, etc.
Create contrast
* Use multiple colors
Design in odd numbers
Create depth by lighting foregrounds and backgrounds
Choosing Your Color Combinations
Most effective combinations: blue-green (pleasant and subdued) and red-green (symbolizes Christmas).
Other interesting combinations: blue-red, purple-blue, amber-purple, amber-red.
Deciduous trees: use no more than three colors.
Coniferous trees: use no more than five colors.
When using different colors of lights on one tree, install the colors in consistent combinations; for example, when using green-purple-blue, every third socket should be the same color.
Don't limit your imagination.
The most effective and vivid colors are green, red and amber.
Whenever possible, avoid using white in a color combination. The eye tends to see only the white, and accompanying colors are diluted and may lose their richness. If you are going to use white, it is best to use it on its own.
Try to match colors with architectural surroundings and other sources of light.
Architecture
Choose architectural interests that give the home dimension
Enhance roofline, peaks, and dormers
* Rooflines - Generally use clear bulbs
Create dramatic affect by illuminating large windows, doorways, arches, pillars
Place wreaths and garland in locations that enhance rather than distract from the architecture.
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Don't put up as many lights as there is room for.
"He with most lights only blinds his neighbors"
Don't clutter the yard
Don't design without first finding out electrical options.
Don't design with only one color/type of light
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