Christmas lights transform spaces in ways that other decorations simply can’t. There’s something about that soft glow that makes everything feel more magical, more festive, and more like the holidays are here. And while most people default to stringing them on the tree and calling it a day, there are so many other places where lights can make an impact.
One year, I had extra strands of lights left over after switching to a smaller Christmas tree, and I started experimenting with other spots around the house. Turns out, lights work almost anywhere you put them. Some placements are obvious, others less so, but nearly all of them are worth trying. These are some of my favorites.
The ideas here range from standard to slightly unconventional. Some require barely any effort, others need a bit more setup. None of them is complicated, though, so if you can drape or wrap a strand of lights, you can pull off any of these.
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Decorate Your Christmas Tree
Obviously. This is where most Christmas lights end up, and for good reason. A tree covered in lights is the centerpiece of holiday decorating, and there’s really no substitute for it. But even this traditional use has room for creativity.
We always wrap lights around the tree in a spiral from bottom to top. But if you really want to make your tree look magical, place lights deep into the branches rather than just over the surface. This creates depth and makes the tree glow from within instead of just around the edges.
Your choice of light colors should match your Christmas color scheme for maximum impact. White lights stay classic and elegant. Colored lights bring nostalgia and whimsy. Whatever you choose, use more lights than you think you need to make your tree look fuller and more impressive than a sparsely lit one.
Brighten a Mantel
Mantels practically beg for Christmas lights. All you have to do is drape a strand along the edge, weaving it through a garland if you have it, or letting it stand alone if you don’t. The lights draw attention to whatever else you’ve displayed there and create a warm focal point in the room.
Battery-operated lights work particularly well here since you’re not always near an outlet. Tuck the battery pack behind a decoration or at the back of the mantel where it’s hidden. The lack of cords also means cleaner lines and easier arrangement.
Combine lights with other elements for more impact. Wind them through pine branches, around pillar candles (carefully), or between framed photos and holiday cards. The glow makes everything else on the mantel look better.
Illuminate the Stairs
Stairs are an underutilized spot for holiday decorating, probably because they’re awkward to work with. But lights make it easier. Wind a strand along your stair railing, securing it with small clips or twist ties as you go (otherwise the strands can shift downwards over time and bunch).
This works especially well if your stairs are visible from your main living area. Coming down lit stairs in the morning feels unnecessarily fancy in a way that’s perfect for the holidays. And going up them at night with just the glow of Christmas lights creates the perfect magical holiday atmosphere.
For a fuller look, add a garland along with the lights, or tie small ornaments to the railing at intervals. But honestly, lights alone provide plenty of visual interest without adding anything else. Sometimes, simple is better.
Light Up a Mirror
Draping lights around a mirror’s frame is a great way to maximize the luminance of the bulbs. The lights reflect in the glass, doubling their impact and making the whole area glow. Any mirror works, though larger mirrors show off the effect better.
Use adhesive hooks or clips to secure lights around the mirror’s perimeter. Let them drape loosely rather than pulling them taut for a cozier look. Warm white lights generally look better here than colored ones, though whatever you choose is totally up to you.
This technique also works on large artwork or even a blank section of wall if you arrange the lights in a deliberate pattern. The reflection element obviously disappears, but the lit frame concept still holds up. It’s a quick way to set up a photo booth area for a holiday party if you’re hosting.
Create a Centerpiece
Coiling lights in a clear glass bowl or around some candles instantly creates a glowing centerpiece for your dining or coffee table. This is my go-to, especially if you add some fragrant greenery like rosemary for additional holiday touches. Or you can add ornaments or pinecones to match the rest of your holiday decor.
Battery-operated lights are mandatory here unless you want cords snaking across your table. Choose lights on thin wire rather than thick cables, as they coil more easily and look less bulky in transparent containers.
Frame a Window
Outlining windows (or even doors) with lights creates a welcoming glow that makes houses look festive from the outside and in. They give you another source of ambient light that makes rooms feel instantly cozier with almost no effort.
Adhesive clips make this process painless. Stick them around your window frame, then snap the lights into the clips. No nails, no damage, and easy removal when the season ends. Run lights around just the top and sides, or go all the way around, including the bottom, if you want full coverage.
This works on any size window, though larger ones make more of a statement. If you have multiple windows facing the street, lighting all of them from the outside creates a cohesive look that elevates your whole house’s curb appeal. Just make sure you use outdoor-friendly lights to avoid any weather issues.
Highlight Outdoor Trees
Wrapping outdoor trees or large shrubs with lights makes your entire yard feel festive, especially if those trees are shaped like Christmas trees. If you use the right color lights, you can keep them up for the rest of the year, too.
Start at the base of the tree and spiral upward, wrapping the trunk and major branches. How much you wrap depends on how dramatic you want the effect.
Like framing windows, outdoor lights need to be rated for exterior use. Check the packaging before you buy. They’re built to withstand moisture and temperature changes that would ruin indoor lights. Extension cords also need to be outdoor-rated, and plug connections should be protected from rain.
The effort-to-impact ratio here is incredibly high. One well-lit tree in your front yard changes the entire look of your house at night.
Bring a Decorative Christmas Village to Life
If you display a Christmas village with ceramic houses, tiny trees, and miniature figurines, adding lights underneath or behind the scene makes it come alive. The glow gives dimension and creates shadows that make everything look more magical.
String lights can go behind the village to backlight it, or lie flat underneath to uplight it. Small battery-operated tea lights placed inside buildings with windows create the effect of homes with their lights on. Many have spaces to leave candles for this exact reason.
I will admit, hiding the actual light sources takes some finessing. Tuck them behind buildings, under fake snow, or beneath the platform you’ve arranged everything on. You want a visible glow without visible bulbs. White lights work better than colored ones here if you’re aiming for realism.
Design a Glowing Wreath
Wreaths are a great way to decorate for the holidays, but plain wreaths can be a little boring. Adding Christmas lights changes that.
Weave a strand of battery-operated lights through your wreath, distributing them evenly throughout. Secure lights with small zip ties, making sure they’re tucked into the wreath enough that you don’t see the mechanics of how they’re attached. The lights should look like they’re emerging naturally from the greenery.
For extra effect, hang your lit wreath in a window rather than on a wall. The glass behind it reflects the lights and amplifies the glow, similar to the mirror trick mentioned earlier.
Emphasise Holiday Gifts
Wrapped presents under the tree or arranged elsewhere have even more impact when surrounded by lights, adding to the excitement of opening day. Nestle strands between packages, letting the glow highlight the wrapped paper and ribbons. The presents become part of the decor rather than just gifts waiting to be opened.
This works best once you’ve accumulated several presents and have an actual display rather than one or two lonely boxes. Arrange packages in tiers or clusters, then add lights behind them, beside them, or woven around them.
Battery-powered lights eliminate the hassle of routing cords to wherever your gifts are displayed. You can arrange everything exactly how you want without worrying about reaching an outlet.
Decorate Your Houseplants
Houseplants become instant holiday decorations when you add lights to them. Wind a strand around a fiddle leaf fig to turn it into a unique Christmas tree, or circle them through holiday plants like poinsettias. The combination of living greenery and twinkling lights feels fresh and different from typical holiday decorating.
This works particularly well with larger floor plants that have some height and structure. Small tabletop plants can handle lights, too, but the effect is less dramatic. Use lights on thin wire so they don’t weigh down branches or leaves.
Keep lights away from the soil where moisture could cause issues, and make sure any light contact with leaves is gentle.
Make Giant Outdoor Lights
If you’re into DIYs, large LED beach balls strung together create surprisingly convincing oversized Christmas lights. The beach balls already have the right shape and size, and when lit from within, they glow exactly like giant vintage bulbs. You can learn how to make those here.
The translucent quality of beach balls diffuses light, giving you that soft glow of real lights. The lights can also be programmed to flash different colors, just like real Christmas lights.
Beach balls are lightweight, easy to store deflated, and cheap to replace if one gets damaged. They’re also less likely to get destroyed by weather since they’re designed to handle outdoor conditions already.
The scale makes them visible from a distance, so they work well for hanging from balconies or along trees and fences. And at the end of the season, deflate them and toss them in a box. Storage takes up almost no space, and you don’t need to spend hours untangling either.