It can be hard to nail your path lighting. Get it wrong and the outside of your house is lit up like a Christmas tree, too bright for anyone to relax and compromising your privacy.
December is also the darkest month, so if you underdo it, you might find that guests struggle to find their way to your home.
I spoke to designers and lighting experts about how to nail Christmas path lighting. These insider tips are all you need to know for a cozy path glow up.
1. Go for gold
If you can, opt for warm white lights or gold lights. These create a cozy aesthetic while offering practical lighting. The experts all agree that they're a much better option than multicolored lights.
Designer Elizabeth Vergara told me 'Lighting your path for Christmas is all about creating a festive, magical vibe while keeping things practical and safe. Warm white or gold lights are always a great choice – they give off that cozy, classic glow that feels timeless.
Lighting expert Marlena Kaminska agrees. She says that 'White and warm lights are preferred to light a path. This is because they offer a more classical and elegant look and radiate off the natural elements of the outdoors.
All of these lights are a better option than colored lights. Marlena says 'Although often associated with Christmas, the color red can come across as a little harsh and overpowering when it comes to lighting.'
I think this set of three lights is perfect for Christmas path lighting. These red metal lanterns are stuffed with faux greenery, too, so they offer practical path lighting with a festive twist.
These lights are much more interesting than the usual boring string lights. Instead of simple filaments suspended on a string, these lights look like berry twigs, adding much more visual interest than white lights on a black wire.
If you're on a budget, simple warm gold lights like these work for almost any home.
2. Use mixed light sources
When lighting a pathway for Christmas, it's important to mix up your light sources. You need both low-level path lighting and and fairy lights at eye level. This is partly aesthetic and partly practical.
The practical consideration is that winter often brings blizzards. Your usual path lights might be buried under snow, so they won't be useful as lighting. You need some lanterns and fairy lights as backup if your path lights fail. However, fairy lights also look great. Adding some fairy lights or lanterns to a pathway varies the usual lighting for a Christmassy feel.
This means that you best option is use a mix of path lights and accent lights. Elizabeth Vergara says 'Low-level lighting is a favorite for pathways, whether you use stake lights, string lights along the ground, or luminaries—they’re subtle, beautiful, and functional.
Marlena Kaminska agrees, and says 'Subtle low-level lighting will look more balanced, and also act as a guide for guests that are visiting. Yes, it’s important for your lighting to look good, but it also needs to do its primary job - light the pathway.'
Once you've achieved practical lighting, it's time to think about design. Elizabeth says 'Overhead lighting can also be a showstopper if you want something a little different. Think fairy lights strung between trees or over an archway to create an enchanting tunnel effect.'
Marlena agrees, adding 'You could even try lantern-style lighting to highlight certain areas of the path and add a more whimsical feel. You could trial draping fairy lights over the pathway hanging the lights between trees, or if you have a pathway with a pergola over the top, you could explore dangling the lights like icicles.'
3. Use mains or battery power
If you can, aim to use powered lights or those that run on batteries. These are both more reliable than solar lights, guaranteeing a bright light show every night.
Marlena explains 'If you’re looking to power a considerable amount of lights, mains-powered lights will work best for a pathway - especially if there is easy access to a mains power point. However, if you’re looking to use lanterns and fairy lights, solar lights would be the most sustainable approach. Battery-powered lights are also a great option, as long as they’re suitable for outdoor use.'
Ultimately, mains-powered lights are the easiest to use. Lighting expert Dara Greaney says 'I’m a fan of powered lights. You already have a lot of work to do in setup and layout to make your lights look good. Trying to figure out solar or low voltage lighting on top of that is just too much work.'
4. Keep wires hidden
The experts' top tip is to keep cables covered up. Exposed cables are easy to break, and they can also be a danger to general health and safety.
Elizabeth Vergara explains that 'Whatever you do, avoid leaving cables exposed –they’re a tripping hazard – and make sure all your lights are weather-resistant for the outdoors. With thoughtful planning, you can create a pathway that’s both magical and functional, making every guest feel like they’re walking into a winter wonderland.'
5. Don't go overboard
All the experts agree that less is more with outdoor Christmas path lighting. Good path lighting offers decoration and illumination - nothing more. Marlena says 'Don’t use lights that overpower - remember you’re guiding people into your home, they don’t need to see absolutely everything in your front garden.'
This also means that novelty inflatable lights are usually overkill. Elizabeth Vergara says that 'Novelty lights can be a fun addition, but less is definitely more. A few statement pieces, like snowflakes or stars, can add that touch of whimsy without feeling overdone.'
Marlena Kaminska agrees and says 'Novelty lighting is a great option at Christmas - however, it very much depends on the type of aesthetic you’re trying to create. If you’re opting for a fun, colorful look, novelty lights, such as in the shape of reindeer or Christmas trees, can help turn your garden into your own winter wonderland. If you’re opting for a more elegant, toned-down look - sticking to fairy lights and lanterns would be the best option.'
Paths aren't the only tricky place to light. Learning all the common deck lighting mistakes is another way to improve your exterior lighting game.
