When it comes to holiday décor, you might be surprised to learn just how complex the topic of Christmas lights can be. In fact, there are more than 200 different types of holiday lights available in our Denver Christmas store alone!
With the right holiday lights, you can make your Christmas tree glow, your mantel glitter, and your home’s exterior shine. But first, you’ll need to understand all of the light types out there – and St. Nick’s has you covered.
Types of Christmas Lights: A Helpful Holiday Guide
There are so many different types of holiday lights available, which makes it easier to find something that perfectly suits your decorating vision – but it can also be overwhelming!
We’ve created a handy guide that breaks down all of your options, explaining everything from bulb type and size to different color choices. With our help and the massive selection of holiday lights for sale from St. Nick’s, you’ll be ready to light up your home with holiday spirit in no time at all!
LED vs. Incandescent Bulbs
Wondering how to choose between LED and incandescent Christmas lights? Making the decision mainly comes down to personal preference. Each type of bulb creates a unique look, and also comes with its own pros and cons.
Incandescent bulbs are:
- Ideal for a warm glow and the classic holiday lights look
- Less expensive
- More fragile, and will generally need to be replaced more often
- Usually associated with higher electricity usage (and thus, higher electrical bills)
LED bulbs are:
- Ideal for an extra-bright, brilliant shine
- Able to emit more light
- More durable, and less likely to need replacement
- More energy efficient (and can lower holiday electrical bills)
The most obvious difference between incandescent and LED Christmas lights is their brightness and warmth. LED bulbs are brighter, with a cooler tone; incandescent lights have a warm tone but aren’t as bright.
Christmas Lights Bulb Sizes
If you’ve ever found yourself confused by the difference between C7 and C9 Christmas lights, or puzzled by the different letters and numbers used to label various sets, you aren’t alone. The different sizes of Christmas lights might seem complicated at first. But once you figure out the basics, you’ll be able to shop like a pro.
There are two standard sizes for Christmas lights:
- C7 bulbs measure about 2cm wide and 3.5cm tall
- C9 bulbs measure about 3 cm wide and 5cm tall
There are also round (globe) bulbs in various sizes:
- G8
- G12
- G20
- G30
- G40
- G45
- G50
- G80
Beyond that, you can find mini string lights, cascading lights, and a huge variety of novelty lights. If you prefer LED lights, there are also some unique sizes/shapes (like M5 LED lights) to choose from.
Christmas Light Bases
There are various types of bases for Christmas lights, but two are the most common by far:
- An E12 base is often referred to as a “candelabra” base, and is the smaller of the two. This base size is paired with C7 bulbs.
- An E17 base is regularly called an “intermediate” base, and is noticeably larger. This base size works with C9 bulbs.
The numbers relate to the width of each base type in millimeters. In general, you’ll only need to think about socket/base sizes when you’re shopping for replacement bulbs for an existing string/wiring.
Christmas Bulb Finishes
There are generally three surface finish types for holiday lights, and each one can bring a special sense of character to your decor:
- Ceramic/opaque/smooth bulbs evenly disperse light, which results in a solid glow
- Transparent bulbs allow the filaments/diodes to be visible for a more traditional (or even vintage-inspired) look
- Faceted bulbs have a crystal-like appearance for a beautifully sparkling effect
Christmas Light Colors
For many people, choosing colors for Christmas lights is one of the easiest holiday décor decisions they’ll make all season. Usually, you’ll find that you gravitate towards certain colors based on your personal style and taste.
From traditional to eclectic, there are holiday light colors for everyone:
- White/neutral holiday lights can be a beautiful backdrop for a sophisticated set-up, perfect for any “winter wonderland.” There are various options in this category, organized according to color temperature (measured in Kelvin (K)):
- Bright white (4300-4600K)
- Warm/clear (3200-3500K)
- Champagne (2000-2300K)
- Colored lights are available in every shade of the rainbow. Whether you want a monochromatic look or something vivid and vibrant, playing with color is a fun way to get creative with your holiday decor.
- Multicolored lights combine various colors on a single strand. On some strands, a basic pattern (like red, green, red) stays static, while others change colors according to certain settings.
How to Pick the Best Christmas Lights for Your Home
Now that you have a better idea of the different Christmas light types you can choose from, you’ll want to start thinking about which options best suit your home and style.
There are many factors that you’ll want to take into consideration, including:
- Where you will be hanging the lights (outdoors, on your Christmas tree, etc.)
- How many lights you need for your Christmas tree size/shape
- What kind of look you want to achieve
- How important energy efficiency is to you
If you still aren’t sure how to choose Christmas lights for your home, the knowledgeable holiday helpers at St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles can guide you through the shopping process.
Tips for Holiday Lights
Finally, here are a few of our favorite tips for picking Christmas lights and creating a stunning effect in your holiday home:
- Don’t be afraid to mix it up with white, clear, and/or colorful lights! It’s a great way to add extra flair to your tree.
- Using larger bulbs throughout your tree, and then layering in small LED lights, will result in a more dimensional look.
- Wrap Christmas LED twinkle lights to the tree’s main trunk for a gorgeously glittering effect.
- If you’ve chosen clear accent lights, keep bulb temperature in mind so that all your lights have a cohesive look.
- Novelty lights, such as vintage bubble lights, are a fun addition to a pre-lit Christmas tree. You can enjoy the convenience of a pre-lit tree, but also spruce it up just a bit extra with some unique lights.
Make this Holiday Season Extra-Magical with Décor, Gifts, and More from St. Nick’s
At St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles, we believe in the magic of holiday traditions, festive décor, and lifelong memories – and here, you can find everything you need to create a beautiful backdrop to your most special holiday moments.
We have an extensive selection of Christmas lights for sale online and in our Denver Christmas store, so you can browse every style, color, and size in one place. Plus, St. Nick’s carries an incredible variety of Christmas trees, ornaments, gifts, and everything else you could possibly want for the most wonderful time of the year. Here, shopping for holiday decor is just as fun as celebrating the season with friends and family!
Find all of your holiday necessities when you visit St. Nick’s Christmas & Collectibles or shop our online store today!
