The holidays are coming, and that means a market awash with the same old holiday lighting. Whether it's simple string light or huge, tacky inflatable Santas, there's a lot of bad lighting around - and most of it is all the same.
I worked my way through hundreds of products on dozens of websites to find unusual outdoor Christmas lighting that can heighten the festivities over the holidays.
I've found new takes string lights, clever faux candles, and even a light-up wreath holder. These 9 unusual - but stylish - Christmas lights are the perfect way to make a spot of difference in your Christmas decor.
Unusual outdoor Christmas lights
I know what you're thinking - a light-up wreath isn't that unusual. But it's not the wreath we're featuring. Instead, take a closer look at the wreath hanger. It's a cut gingerbread design with lights inside. It's a simple, inexpensive way to add a little wow factor to the usually-boring wreath hanger.
Minimalist, modern homes would benefit from this reindeer silhouette. It uses LEDs to ape a neon effect without the cost, creating a sleek, modern outline that's a far cry from tacky, plastic Christmas lights.
These ingenious little lights are perfect for hanging on a front porch. They're simple filaments covered in wool for a cozy snowball affect. Altogether, the effect makes for a sheet of warm light that's a welcome break from boring, traditional net lighting.
These lights are a fresh take on classic string lights. Rather than simple filaments suspended on a string, these lights look like berry twigs, adding much more visual interest than white lights on a black wire. Best of all, they work both indoor and outdoor, so you can use one set to light your porch and another over the mantle for visual harmony throughout your home.
I think this set of three lights offers excellent value, and they're perfect for staking in a front yard along a path. These red metal lanterns are stuffed with faux greenery, too, so they're a great compliment to a view of a Christmas tree in your front window.
A twist on the traditional icicle lights, these cascade lights are a great way of adding interest to trees in a front yard or along a driveway. These huge hanging lights are also perfect for front porches and verandas, offering bright, practical light that looks more interesting than inexpensive icicle lights from a bargain bin.
I like these metal solar lights because they aren't just for Christmas. While the red is festive enough to use throughout the holidays, these lanterns don't need to languish in storage for the other eleven months of the year. The red color is also perfect for summer and fall, making for a festive accessory that's useful for the rest of the year, too.
A little light like this is perfect for more low-key homes. It brings a little festivity without flooding the whole house in light, providing a jollity without completely overdoing it.
Mushrooms aren't always associated with Christmas, but combined with twinkling fairy lights and some other, more festive lighting, these mushroom lights can form part of a naturalistic display that's much less obvious than the usual Santas and snowmen. Just make sure you put the solar panel somewhere that sees a lot of light during the darker winter months.
There's a bit of a learning curve to perfecting your outdoor Christmas decor. There's lots to bear in mind - from why solar lights aren't always the best option for Christmas lighting, to making your own wreath to welcome guests to your home.
