Honestly, knowing where to buy Christmas lights is half the battle: that inevitably tangled mess of wires (and one blinking bulb) is always more bearable if you've sourced the very best indoor and outdoor lights.
Whether you're planning on draping them over one of the best artificial Christmas trees, stringing them from the ceilings, or giving the front garden (and windows) a festive makeover, it's important that your Christmas lights are of tip-top quality.
Why? Because nothing will bring your favourite Christmas ideas crashing down to earth quicker than, say, a spot of dodgy lighting. Trust us on this.
Thankfully, help is at hand! We've pooled together our expert knowledge to make a list (which we've checked twice, Santa-style) of our absolute favourite places to buy Christmas lights. You're welcome.
Where to buy Christmas lights – the quick list
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- Lights4Fun: high-quality Christmas lights that go the distance
- Homebase: a good range of indoor and outdoor lights
- Argos: a good range of Christmas lights
- Amazon: a surprisingly good selection of lights
- The White Company: a luxurious and extra-special collection
- John Lewis & Partners: a good selection of festive lights
- Wayfair: a bumper selection of festive lights
- Marks & Spencer: not just Christmas lights, but M&S Christmas lights
- Glow: Christmas lights for both indoors and outdoors
9 of our favourite places to buy Christmas lights
To paraphrase Home Alone's Kevin McCallister, 'You can mess with a lot of things. But you can’t mess with lights on Christmas.' Because, quite honestly, that warm flickering glow is one of those Christmas trends that will never go out of style.
With that in mind, then, it's time to make your home merry and bright as can be with our pick of the best Christmas lights around...
1. Lights4Fun
If you're wondering where to buy Christmas lights this year, you can't go wrong with Lights4Fun.
'We pride ourselves on sourcing high quality products that are built to last for more than just the one Christmas, so you know you’ll be getting Christmas lights that you can rely on each year,' promises Amy Mason, director of product.
So, whether you're looking for a garden display, or hoping to add some oomph to your Christmas living room decor, look this way...
Our favourite Christmas lights in Lights4Fun's bumper selection has to be this striking set of 3 Regular Harlow Rattan Dual Colour LED Light Up Reindeer Family.
Featuring a total of 540 LEDs distributed across the three figures, the outdoor light display boasts innovative technology that gives you the choice of illuminating your deer in three different shades: icy white, warm white, or a mix of both.
Which means, yes, you can tailor it to fit your home perfectly. If you're looking for something a little more traditional, though, the company doesn't disappoint...
2. Homebase
An oldie but a goodie, Homebase is a safe pair of hands when it comes to sourcing top-quality Christmas lights.
Plus, they have a 25% sale off all pre-lit Christmas trees and Christmas lights at the moment, so it's a good time to make your move...
If you want to make your front door the star of the show this Christmas, we're big fans of these LED Timer Icicle String Outdoor Christmas Lights from Homebase.
They come in four different sizes, so you're guaranteed to find one that fits your awning, and they add a touch of frosty magic to any home.
If you're on the hunt for those lights that will help you make your best Christmas tree ideas a reality, though, look this way...
3. Argos
Argos has been synonymous with Christmas ever since the days of its bumper catalogue (aka the Book of Dreams), so it makes sense it should be on your list of where to buy Christmas lights.
And, as ever and always, it has plenty of novelty items mixed in among the old classics...
If you are in love with your Christmas gonks this year (and, let's face it, who isn't?), then your head will likely be turned by this adorable light-up Acrylic Gonk Christmas Decoration from Argos.
If you prefer to keep gonks firmly out of your festive picture, however, don't despair; there are still plenty of twinkling goodies on offer...
4. Amazon
If you're trying to suss out where to buy Christmas lights that can be delivered to your door at near-astronomic speeds, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone more convenient than Amazon.
Especially as they have so very many goodies in their overwhelming range of indoor an outdoor lights...
If you're on the hunt for Christmas wall decor ideas, you'll undoubtedly be as impressed with these OAICIA LED Curtain String Lights from Amazon as we are. With four light modes, you can set them to twinkle, waves, flash and slow fade.
And, as if that weren't enough, check out these twinkling pretties, too...
5. The White Company
If you ask anyone where to buy Christmas lights (and luxurious ones at that), you're pretty much guaranteed that they'll steer you in the direction of The White Company.
It's a small but select collection (rather like a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates), and every single item in it is a gem. Still, if we had to pick favourites...
We can't stop raving about this pre-lit Christmas tree alternative from The White Company this year – its compact size makes it ideal for smaller homes, without scrimping on the festive spirit.
Whether you like things small and compact, or big and bold, though, there are more than enough Christmas lights to lose your heart to in The White Company's Christmas shop.
6. John Lewis
John Lewis has long been heralded as the king of Christmas, thanks to the department store's iconic festive advert each year, so it makes sense they should be on your list of where to buy Christmas lights.
Why? Because, whether you like things traditional, kitschy or ultra-modern, they have something for you...
If you're looking for a standout light display to add to your home this holiday season, you can't go wrong with this glowing holly sprig from John Lewis: made from moulded PVC and lit with LED chips, it works just as well indoors or outdoors.
And, if you have a few more lights to source from your Christmas checklist, there are plenty to choose from.
7. Wayfair
Another tried-and-tested classic when it comes to where to buy Christmas lights, Wayfair has plenty of options when it comes to adding some shimmer and sparkle to your home.
If you're looking for Christmas mantel ideas to style a fireplace, try picking up these Multi Action Cluster String Lights from Wayfair: they're guaranteed to add some sparkle and shine.
If you're in the market for something different, though, there's plenty more on offer...
8. Marks & Spencer
They may be good at food, butMarks & Spencer is also one of the best places to buy Christmas lights. And, yes, you better believe it's of the tip-top quality we've come to expect from the British store.
After all, these aren't just Christmas lights; these are M&S Christmas lights – so go in expecting some serious festive magic.
Our top pick from Marks & Spencer's range of Christmas lights is forever and always this softly-illuminated townhouse (also available as a woodland scene), as it's the perfect way to add some glow to your windows.
If you prefer a string of fairylights, a neon sign, or something completely different, though, don't despair: M&S has plenty more options when it comes to sussing out how to decorate a Christmas tree...
9. Glow
If you're still wondering where to buy Christmas lights, pay a trip to the aptly named Glow: they've certainly made a name for themselves as being the ones to light up any home over the holidays.
From indoor lights to outdoor lights, fairylights to light-up trees, there truly is something for everyone in their bumper collection, too.
If you're looking for Christmas wreath ideas with a difference, these Rose Gold Beaded Wreaths from Glow might be just the ticket: suitable for indoors or outdoors, they're sure to dazzle all who spy them!
Still, that's not to say there aren't more goodies on offer at Glow...
FAQs
What are the best Christmas lights to hang outside your house?
When it comes to buying Christmas lights, especially outdoor Christmas lights, you want to make sure they're peak quality.
'If you’re looking for a more traditional Christmas look, we recommend hanging icicle lights or festoon lights along your roof line to give your home the ultimate showstopping display,' says Amy from Lights4Fun.
'Alternatively, silhouettes of stars and starburst lights are a great option for a high impact display with minimal effort.'
Frances Clements, Christmas buyer at Homebase, adds that 'it’s best to consider where you want to use them and check if they are designed for indoor or outdoor use before buying them'.
'Some Christmas lights now use LEDs both indoors and outdoors, which are considerably long-lasting, cool to touch and saving you money on replacement bulbs and electricity,' she adds.
How do I style Christmas lights in my room?
'We always recommend dressing a room using a variety of lights at different heights to create a cosy, Christmassy ambience,' says Amy.
'Use light-up figures and 3D silhouettes at floor level, teamed with flickering TruGlow® candles and pre-lit foliage of wreaths and garlands placed upon on the mantelpiece or side tables for a warming display.'
Frances adds that you can 'double your glow by wrapping cluster lights around reflective surfaces like mirrors, windows or even your TV'.
'When it comes to Christmas dinner, make the table extra festive by laying lights down the middle or suspending them overhead,' she continues.
'And don’t forget about those in between spaces too, make your stairs, shelves and door frames festive by draping or wrapping lights around them.'
What can I use to put Christmas lights up?
'Depending on where you would like to hang your lights, there are lots of handy accessories available to make the job a little easier,' says Amy.
'Command hooks come in a range of sizes and colours and are a quick and mess-free way to hang lights and decorations on walls, doors and windows. For your outdoor lights, products like gutter hooks or floristry wire are a simple way to display lights along your roof line and the majority of outdoor spaces.'
How do I detangle Christmas lights easily?
It doesn't matter where you buy your Christmas lights, they're pretty much guaranteed to get tangled up at some point. So, how to detangle them?
'Our top tip is patience and perhaps a cup of tea or something stronger!' laughs Amy.
'To make decorating for Christmas as easy as possible, we recommend storing your lights away with storage reels so they don’t get tangled and they’re simple to display again each year.'
So, hopefully that answers all of your questions around where to buy Christmas lights this year. And remember, this time of year can get pretty dark and miserable, so don't be afraid to go wild with your light-up displays.
Hey, if it helps Santa find your home a bit easier, it'll be worth it...
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