This christmas lights buying guide comes down to three choices: LED over incandescent for cool, cheap running, the right IP rating for indoor versus outdoor use, and safe power with a timer and safety switch. Get those right and your Australian summer display will glow trouble-free for years, without tripping breakers or fading in the heat.
What matters most in a Christmas lights buying guide?
Start with three questions: where the lights are going, how they will be powered, and how long you want them to last. Answer those and every other decision falls into place. Everything below builds on them.
Modern LED sets have made the whole job safer and simpler than the tangled, hot strings many of us grew up with. They run cool, sip power and shrug off knocks around a busy household.
LED or incandescent: which should you buy?
LED lights are the clear pick for almost every Australian home. They draw a fraction of the power, stay cool to the touch, and last many times longer than old incandescent globes. That cool-running trait matters on a 38-degree December afternoon.
Incandescent strings still throw a warm, nostalgic glow some people love. The trade-off is higher running cost, more heat, and globes that fail one after another. For a big display left on for weeks, LED saves real money on your power bill.
Warm-white LEDs mimic that traditional glow indoors without the heat, while cool-white and multicolour sets suit bold front-yard displays meant to be seen from the street.
Indoor or outdoor: how to read the IP rating
Never assume a set is weatherproof. Outdoor Christmas lights carry an IP (Ingress Protection) rating that shows how well the wiring and connectors resist dust and water. Look for at least IP44 under sheltered eaves, and IP65 or higher for lights fully exposed to rain and sprinklers.
Indoor-only sets have no such protection and will short or corrode outside. Check the box or product page before you buy, and keep any transformer or plug pack up off the ground and under cover.
If you want festive light indoors with no wiring at all, a rechargeable option such as our battery wall sconces with remote and timer throw a warm, dimmable glow beside the tree with no cords to trip over. They sit happily alongside a wider decorative lighting range when you want more than a seasonal fix.
What colour and light effect should you choose?
Colour sets the entire mood of a display, so decide the look before you buy. Warm white feels classic and cosy and flatters a green tree indoors, while cool white reads crisp, modern and icy against a dark front yard.
Multicolour sets are playful and fun for kids, and single bold colours like red or blue make a striking statement on a facade. Pick one scheme and stick to it across the house so the display looks intentional rather than mismatched.
Many LED sets also offer effects such as steady-on, twinkle, chasing and fade. A steady glow suits an elegant look, while chasing and twinkle add movement for a lively street display; choose a controller with a memory function so it holds your favourite setting.
How do you power a big display safely?
Every extra strand adds to the load, so power is where most people come unstuck. Only join sets end to end up to the maximum the manufacturer prints on the packaging, and never daisy-chain beyond that limit.
Use an outdoor-rated power board or extension lead for anything outside, and plug into a socket protected by a safety switch (RCD). If your switchboard has none, a portable RCD from the hardware aisle is a cheap, sensible layer of protection.
Fit a timer so the display runs on a schedule instead of all night. It saves power, spares the globes, and means you are not out on a ladder in the dark flicking things off.
Battery and solar options
Battery and solar strings suit balconies, rentals and spots far from a power point. Solar sets charge through the day and switch on at dusk automatically, though a run of grey weather will dim them. Battery sets stay reliably bright but need fresh cells or recharging through the season.
Hanging Christmas lights without damage
You do not need to drill holes or bang in nails for a great display. Plastic clips made for gutters and roof tiles hold strings securely and lift off cleanly in January. Adhesive hooks work well on render, glass and painted surfaces, which is ideal for renters who need everything to come off without a mark.
Keep these points in mind before you climb up:
- Switch off and unplug before handling or adjusting any set.
- Use a stable ladder on firm ground, and have someone foot it for you.
- Keep connections off the ground and out of any pooling water.
- Never run leads under rugs or carpet where heat can build up.
- Check each strand for frayed wire or cracked globes before hanging.
- Don't overload a single power point or double adaptor.
Styling your space beyond the tree
Lights do the heavy lifting, but a few finishing touches pull a festive room together. A fresh natural seagrass entry mat gives visitors a warm welcome and scrapes summer grit off shoes during a busy season of guests.
Swap in seasonal cushions for instant colour, and plump out tired covers with fresh Australian-made cushion inserts so everything looks full and inviting in the photos. Browse the wider home decor range for candles, throws and finishing pieces that carry the mood right through the holidays.
Storing lights so they last
Half the battle each year is untangling last season's mess. Wind each set around a piece of stiff cardboard or a spare cable reel, then store them in a labelled tub away from heat and damp.
Put outdoor sets away fully dry so the connectors do not corrode over the year. A little care in January means you simply plug in and glow next December instead of binning a knotted, dead string.
Store the tub somewhere cool and stable rather than a baking roof cavity, as extreme summer heat can shorten the life of both globes and battery packs. Slip a spare fuse and any small remote into the same tub so everything you need is together next season.
When should you replace a set?
Retire any string with exposed copper, melted insulation, a cracked plug or scorch marks; no repair is worth the risk. Flickering that persists after you reseat the globes usually means the set is on its way out.
Old incandescent strings are also worth upgrading on running cost alone. Switching to LED pays for itself over a few seasons and gives you brighter, safer light for the whole family to enjoy.
Your quick pre-season checklist
- Match the set to the spot — indoor-only inside, IP44-plus for eaves, IP65-plus for open weather.
- Count your load and stay under the join limit on the packaging.
- Protect the circuit with a safety switch or a portable RCD.
- Add a timer to save power and extend globe life.
- Inspect every strand for damage before it goes up.
- Store dry and labelled so next year is painless.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave Christmas lights on all night?
It is best not to. Leaving lights on unattended for hours wastes power and adds wear that shortens their life. Fit a timer to run the display for a few evening hours, then switch off automatically. Always turn lights off before you go to bed or leave the house, and never leave a damaged set running.
What IP rating do I need for outdoor Christmas lights?
For lights under sheltered eaves or a verandah, IP44 is the minimum. For anything fully exposed to rain, sprinklers or pooling water, choose IP65 or higher. Indoor-only sets have no weather protection at all and will short or corrode if hung outside, so always check the rating printed on the box before buying.
Are LED Christmas lights cheaper to run than incandescent?
Yes, noticeably. LED sets use only a fraction of the power of old incandescent globes and run cool rather than hot. Over a season of daily use on a decent-sized display, that difference shows up clearly on your power bill. LEDs also last far longer, so you replace strings much less often, saving money twice over.
How do I hang Christmas lights without damaging walls?
Use tools made for the job rather than nails. Plastic light clips grip gutters and roof tiles and lift off cleanly, while weight-rated adhesive hooks suit painted walls, render and glass. These are ideal for renters, as they come away in January without leaving a mark. Avoid staples or nails through the wiring, which is both damaging and unsafe.
