LED light chains can turn a freshly cut or artificial conifer into a true Christmas tree. Warm white or coloured lights can fill the living room or garden with ambience according to taste. A cordless light chain with rechargeable battery, or batteries are ideal if you are looking for flexible placement options . Timers or smart variants allow the lights to be specifically limited to individual time windows, which will benefit the environment and help you save on your electricity bills.
When it comes to the question of which light is suitable for the Christmas tree, the answer is simple: the fairy lights in all their facets. LED options are available in a variety of sizes, which you can select depending on the size of the tree and personal taste - from classic to fancy to modern. LED lights go perfectly with shiny baubles, and you can even combine this with several fairy lights. Tip: Smart fairy lights such as those from the brand Twinkly allow 3D mapping via the smartphone camera and thus control in individual patterns.
The lights on the Christmas tree in your garden ensure festive anticipation, creating a joyful atmosphere once it's dark. Christmas tree lights can be used with or without cables, depending on the placement. The lighting technology of choice in terms of longevity, energy efficiency and smart design is definitely LED.
Depending on the placement of the tree and the availability of sockets, cordless versions can be advantageous to light up the room with cosy warm white light. In contrast to the light chain with plug features, wireless light chains operate with batteries: A battery is attached to the shaft of each candle, and the lights are controlled via a remote control included in the delivery. Tip: To avoid wastage, rechargeable batteries can also be used for LED candles.
For real Christmas decoration professionals who want to delight the neighbourhood with an atmospherically illuminated garden, fairy light systems are a flexible and versatile option. Depending on the requirements, for example the number of trees and bushes to be decorated, a starter cable is first selected, which is connected to a distributor to connect several fairy lights at once. Extension cables can also be easily integrated into the light chain system. Equipped with an appropriate protection rating of at least IP44, the house will be filled with luminous joy. Tip: With an integrated timer, you can save electricity and still enjoy the lights.
Replacement bulbs for the fairy lights
Convert to LED to save on energy consumption
If the fairy lights break, they don't have to be disposed of immediately. Instead, replacement bulbs are a waste-avoiding option - ideally opting for LED versions to save electricity. The following applies: It is best to convert the entire light chain to LED and make sure you select the right socket and wattage when choosing the new bulbs. Depending on the light chain model, simply twist (E10 thread) or pull (push-in socket) the defective bulbs out and refit them - before doing so, be sure to pull out the plug. Then you can enjoy the Christmas tree lighting again.
An elegant way to add atmospheric light to the Christmas tree is with Christmas tree net lights - a string of lights with a ring at the top. Placed over the top, it traces the silhouette of the tree vertically and makes the individual light points look very structured. This is perfect for the classic Christmas tree, preferably in combination with many gold and red tones. Using a timer for these lights can be very energy-efficient.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Christmas tree lighting
Where does the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree come from?
The tradition of decorating a coniferous tree on festive days goes back to a pre-Christian custom. Today, the decorated and illuminated tree is a symbol of spending the festive period mindfully with loved ones - decorated with lights, baubles and handicrafts, it guarantees a homely feel-good atmosphere.
How can you light up a Christmas tree?
Depending on whether you like it festively traditional, modern or technically sophisticated, Christmas tree lighting offers a wide variety of facets: Starting with the battery-operated LED tree candle in classic form to warm-white glowing light chains and curtains to smart programmable and controllable LED light chains with multicolour function.
Which lights are suitable for a Christmas tree?
The following applies to Christmas tree lighting: Since a cosy atmosphere can be created with warm white lights below 3,300 Kelvin - the lower the Kelvin number, the more it goes in the direction of candlelight, which we love so much especially during festive periods. In terms of weight, the lights should not be too heavy so that the branches can support them well. Single LED candles or strings of lights with small light bulbs are the best option. Real candlelight should be avoided altogether because of the increased risk of fire.
How long should the fairy lights be and how many lights should they have?
Depending on the size of the tree, the optimum length or number of bulbs for the light chain will vary. The number of individual light sources and the length of the light chain in metres can be seen in the product description. In general, the density of the individual light points is a matter of taste and also depends on the dominance of the other decorations - from baubles to the candy canes. Tip: As a guide, you can calculate approximately 100 lights per metre of the tree.
How do you attach a string of lights to a Christmas tree?
Over the years, every Christmas decorator has developed their own technique - there is no right or wrong here. It has proven to be a practical method to wrap the lights around the tree. This is done best in a spiral from the top of the tree to the bottom. But it is also not unwise to start from the bottom up - especially if you start from the socket, so that everything is perfectly placed in terms of power supply. The distribution of the warm white shining bulbs looks particularly appealing if they are not only placed in the front but also in the middle of the branch and are not arranged too symmetrically. After all, with a tree we bring a piece of nature into our Christmas living room.
What should you look out for in Christmas tree lighting?
For lights on the Christmas tree, the times of wax candles and real flames should be long behind us for safety reasons. As far as modern LED fairy lights are concerned, there should be a few safety checks, such as checking the cables and lights for defects. Before putting the lights into operation, it is also worth looking at the label to see whether the corresponding test seals, such as the CE mark or GS mark, have been observed. Fairy lights should always be equipped with a timer function and switch off overnight, saving electricity and preventing an unnoticed short circuit.
When do you put up the Christmas tree lights and when do you take them down again?
There is no universal date for putting up Christmas lights. Many families do not decorate the tree until Christmas Eve, and others put their lights up at the beginning of December. Some also follow the calendar of the church year and decorate the tree only after Totensonntag (Sunday of the dead). For some Christmas decoration fans, the feast day of the Three Kings on the 6th of January is the right time to put the festive lights, baubles and the like back in the attic. If you want to follow the calendar of the church year, mark the 2nd of February in your calendar as the end of the Christmas season.
Great deals, current lighting trends, inspiration, guides and much more await you in our newsletters.
As a thank you gift, you'll get an extra €20 off* on your next order. You can unsubscribe at any time.
*Redeemable on Lights.ie in a single transaction. Must be entered when placing the order. Can only be used once. All products subject to availability. No cash alternative. Minimum order value is €119.Not redeemable on the following manufacturers: Homematic IP and Philips Hue. Voucher is valid for 21 days from the date the newsletter is sent.
