Holiday Lights: Strong Feelings, Ahoy!

By Jonniker

Adam and I put up our Christmas tree this weekend, and we had a, err, strong disagreement on the choice of lighting -- color vs. white, blinking vs. non-blinking, ETC. 

Apparently this is something that's a big deal in my family -- I was indoctrinated, if you will, into believing that a certain choice was THE ONLY CHOICE, and that the other was A TERRIBLE CHOICE and I won't go into any more detail, lest I influence your answers, but tell me, O Style Lushers, do you have Strong Christmas Light Feelings? 

I'll update this post tomorrow to tell you what we have. Hit me, friends!

{Photo credit: Target.com}

Comments

[Paige]

I'm not a fan of the multi-colored lights, really. I'd rather go for white lights and use other colorful decorations...Something about the multi-colored lights seems too busy for me!

This year we did all of or lights in blue and white, and I thought that turned out very pretty.

[Jackie]

I have very strong feelings about Christmas lights. The main family tree and outside lights must be white, non-blinking. Separate children's trees can be colored lights, blinking or not.

[heidi]

White, non-blinking lights only. If you must have colored lights they need to be the old fashioned big bulbs and outside. Otherwise, white, white, white. And they should absolutely never ever blink. EVER.

[cate]

mostly I'm just convinced they should match. nothing looks worse than a house with half-assed mismatched lights.

[Brenna]

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I've always preferred multi-colored, non-blinking lights, both outside and on the tree. It just feels more festive to me. Outside, I love the big, old-fashioned bulbs.

[PomJob]

I was firmly in the white lights only camp but the colored, traditional lights are growing on me.

[Terri Codlin]

White, white, white and the more the better! There can never be too many white lights. Never, ever blinking though. I had to insist when we marry that the ways of his family were not to be followed, period. And, of course, I prevailed ;

[Jessica]

I love the colored lights, we always had them as a kid. We never had blinking ones either so I'm against those. My boyfriend always had white lights on his tree though. So this year, we have white lights on our tree and I decorated the mantle with pine garland and colored lights. For once, a compromise!

[Elizabeth]

Well, at our house we believe that white lights are fine, if you're a communist. Obviously.

[Holly]

White. Non-blinking. Definitely.

[craftyashley]

White. Non blinking. Only way to go. The multi colored are cheesy. Like fiber optic trees. And flashing is just... annoying.

[-Jen]

I have given up this fight in my marriage. My husband LOVES! colored lights - everywhere, the more colors the better. I think it looks tacky outside, but it makes him so happy.

I have drawn the line at different kinds of lights on the inside tree and none of the lights can move. Compromise - keeps us from yelling at each other while decorating.

[Rebecca (Bearca)]

White, non-blinking lights are where it's AT.

[Caitlin]

White & unblinking is what we have and what we both prefer. I cannot deal with blinking lights, but colored lights are starting to grow on me a little. (I had them growing up.) Not enough to go out and replace all my little white ones, though.

However, I feel that the most important thing to point out is that LED lights are of the devil, as I'm sure you know, and should never ever ever under any circumstances be purchased. They hurt my eyes! They are hideous and glare-y! (And my husband is one of those few people who can see them flickering so we will never be able to have them anyway. HALLELUJAH.)

[Stephanie M]

I've always preferred white lights on my own tree, non-twinkling. That being said...I love how both twinkling and non twinkling colored lights look on OTHER people's trees. Yeah, I know, I'm no help.

[Angela]

I am equal-opportunity in the white vs. colored lights debate but am strongly in the NO BLINKING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD camp. Fortunately my husband agrees with me.

[Maura]

Hi-larious! Will said we should get the big-honkin'-"Granny"-colored lights for our indoor tree and I said (naturally) NO WAY, JOSE. Then, yesterday on our way to purchase said tree, after thinking about it all night, I said to him that as a testament to how much I love him we could have colored lights on the tree. He laughed and told me he was just joking with me. So we have white, non-blinking lights, and only red and gold ornaments. With an Philadelphia Eagles stuffed bear as the topper.

By the way, greatest idea ever: use the "net" style lights on your tree. Done lighting the tree in 2 minutes, flat!

[Maura]

Oh Lordy. The comma misuse and article infractions in my prior comment are horrible.

[Airlie]

white, non-blinking lights are the only way to go!

[Elizabeth]

White, white, white and white.

No Blinking, no no no.
And definitely no colors.

Husband on the other hand thinks and different lights will do, colored, blue, white,all on the same tree or wrapped around the house.

No no no husband, you are wrong!

[Amanda]

The more color the better. Color everywhere! We do multi color non blinking on the tree most of the time, though this year we decided to add some blinking white snowflake lights on there too just for the hell of it. I like things on the whimsical gaudy side. We also do old fashioned bulbs-multi colored on the outside too.

[Carmen]

I have very strong feelings, so strong that I managed to steamroller over my husband's feelings on this matter. The tree MUST have coloured, non-blinking lights. Also? Those lights MUST be small & tiny, preferably now LED lights, but most importantly, small. There should be many many lights on the tree, so many that it teeters on the edge of being ridiculous.

You can have white lights outside, though, that's allowed. But really, coloured are better there too.

[JulieD]

When I was a kid we had this fantastic thing called a "Twinkie" or something that would twinkle the lights at whatever adjustable speed you wanted, from delightfully slow and magic to seizure-inducing.

I wish I could find one of those for my tree -- or something like it. I want twinkle again!

Anyone know where I can get something that will twinkle -- NOT FLASH my lights in a nice pattern?

[Jenny]

White lights, definitely. But if you think that's too plain, we mix white lights with red lights (or white and blue is cute too) and it looks so pretty.

[Jen]

White lights outside, white lights on the tree. Avery's mini tree has colored lights - totally acceptable for the mini tree, but not on the big tree. Nope.