Christmas lights are a staple when it comes to Christmas décor. Whether wrapped around the trees or hung on the houses, Christmas lights convey a cozy and warm feeling in the home, but what about inside the home? You may only think of the exterior when it comes to Christmas lights but when used inside, you can transform your home into a magical winter wonderland.
So, if you are searching for indoor Christmas light ideas to brighten up the interior of your house this season, we’ve got some wonderful options for you to explore.
Wreath with Christmas Lights
You may think that wreaths are a staple for the front door, but don’t forget that you can use them inside, too! Add some lights to your wreath and bring a soft Christmasy glow to any room in your home. This DIY option from Design Improvised is such an easy project and would look great in any home!
Brighten Your Walls with a Lighted Christmas Tree
Why not hang a string light Christmas tree up on the wall? This is an outstanding and definitive way to save space in a small apartment or dorm room where a Christmas tree is impractical. Use some adhesive hooks to create the shape, add some felt star ornaments to spruce it up, and use some twinkle lights and bulbs to create a warm Christmas ambiance in your room.
Banister Decor
Banisters are made for Christmas garlands! Pair a string of lights with evergreen garland and drape them loosely on the railing down your stairs. Add some red ornaments and some gold ribbon, and your Christmas decor is nicely underway. Easy, but gorgeous!
Festive Foliage
There’s no doubt about it, fresh Christmas foliage and soft, glowing lights are a match made in heaven when it comes to holiday decorating. Hallways, mantelpieces, and stairways are the most noticeable places for Christmas wreath ideas and garlands. Still, it’s worth looking at other areas around your home that might benefit from some sparkly festive foliage.
If you are lucky enough to have empty niches, sculptural archways, or even exposed beams across your home, illuminate the outline of these shapes with dainty fairy lights. Avoid unsightly, tangled wires by opting for pre-lit, battery-powered designs.
Twinkly garlands also make for a rather special Christmas window decor idea. Drape one just low enough so you can appreciate it from the outside, too.
Lanterns Filled with Christmas Lights
Lanterns are a popular Christmas decor item and look especially lovely, filled with warm white Christmas lights. Place them by your fireplace, use them as a table centerpiece, or even place them on your stairs.
Lighted Christmas Card Display
We still all love the emotional touch that Christmas cards communicate, and we all love displaying them, but sometimes a cheesy card holder just doesn’t cut it anymore. This lighted card display is absolutely charming.
Repurpose an old frame, string the colored Christmas lights up, and use clothespins to hang the cards. Adding a feature phrase gives it a focal point. Not only do you get to see those beautiful Christmas scenes and family pictures, but the twinkling lights get you in the holiday spirit.
If you want to recreate this project, here are some great lights from Amazon that already have clips attached!
Ceiling Twinkle Lights
The most uncomplicated Christmas traditions can make memories that last a lifetime. Add twinkle lights to your hallway or your kids’ bedrooms during the Christmas season. It’s incredible how something so easy can create a magical ambiance that the kids will ask for year after year!
Light Up Curtains
With vast expanses of walls to light up, Christmas living room decor can sometimes be tricky. So why not hang Christmas lights on your curtains? A single string of warm string lights can look a little lost, so it ups the festive ante by hanging a curtain of lights instead.
It’s easy to do: mount clear command hooks where the wall and ceiling meet, then allow the lights to cascade down. To keep things tasteful, steer clear of cool white or blue bulbs – warm white is best, and avoid any garish flashing.
Here are some great lights from Amazon that will help you get started!
Lighted Glass Vases
The reflection of the lights in these clear hurricane glass vases adds dazzle and is such an appealing indoor Christmas lighting idea. We love the collection of three variable sizes of glass jars or vases. All you need is to fill containers with some ornaments, pinecones, snowflakes, greenery, and lights, creating a straightforward holiday display you can put anywhere in your house.
Christmas Lights with Burlap Garland
Want to add a new garland to your indoor Christmas lighting decor? All you need is mini lights and burlap! Yes, it’s that straightforward. Tie strips of colored burlap around the wire — that’s pretty much it!
You can use it to decorate the mantle, tree, or door frame with a lighted burlap garland. This is surprisingly easy and would make a fabulous gift that even your kids could help with!
Lighted Branches
Lighted branches can add such essence to a wall. And it’s double the fun because first, you get to hike to find some impressive-shaped branches. Then, come home to paint them white and wrap lights around them to make your own DIY-lighted branches for so little to no money.
Use the lights with the white wires rather than the green ones to help them blend in better. And, of course, add some ornaments to complete the wall decor!
Light Up Galvanized Buckets
A staircase is a welcoming spot for these adorable galvanized buckets decorated with greenery and indoor Christmas tree lights. Of course, the gingham ribbon adds the perfect punch of color.
Christmas Star of Wonder
Traditional Christmas Carols still fill our homes with wonder and beauty during the Christmas season. As we listen to Christmas music, with the lights dimmed and the lighted star shining brightly, we are reminded of the very first Christmas.
You can build a lighted star. It is so straightforward that it’s a fantastic project to involve kids in. Use paint sticks, rulers, or yardsticks to make the star, and wrap the lights through it. We think the bigger, the better! More lights always create more atmosphere.
A Basket Full of Lights
In our opinion, indoor Christmas lighting should be spread everywhere! You can find fun old baskets and put them to good use. The more lights, the more spirit! Place a package of gold glittery ornaments or greenery into the basket. Add some twinkling lights, and you will have a beautiful display for the hearth. Just plug it in, and your ambiance is ready.
Merry and Bright Christmas Marquee
What isn’t to love about the soft glow of candles and indoor Christmas lighting? There is just something so fun about this merry and bright Christmas marquee on this mantle. To make your own, all you need to do is make a wooden backboard, purchase chipboard letters and paint them glittery gold, drill holes for the string lights to insert from the back, and tape the string of lights into place from behind.
Lighted Reindeer Centerpiece
Bring the reindeer indoors and light them up. This lighted reindeer centerpiece is adorable and super easy to recreate with a glass vase, some fake snow, warm color lights, and the reindeer accessories — curvy branches, jungle bell, and jute cord.
Wine Bottles
Now, here’s a useful way to recycle wine bottles. Use paint and stencils or vinyl to decorate wine bottles, and then add a string of mini-colored lights to give that bottle a gorgeous holiday glow. A collection of these on a shelf would add sparkle and warmth to any holiday decor.
Soft Glow Ping Pong Lights
Create a soft glow using ping pong balls over multi-colored LED lights. The LED part is very important, so it’s safe to attach the plastic balls. To make your own, make a cross-cut about 1/4 inch wide on the ball’s seam to fit in the little light bulb. Be gentle, so you don’t squish or dent the ball.
Decorate a Wall
Welcome your guests to your home this Christmas with a light display as they enter your foyer. Nothing is more attractive than the twinkling of lights at this time of year.
Hanging Christmas lights in your room is an affordable, simple way to make a room feel elegant and inviting. As an added feature, you could put up some fun, old black-and-white photos, which are sure to invite laughter and memories. A great conversation starter.
Tulle Firefly Lights
These tulle or lace firefly lights look so romantic! You can leave these up all year long. They’d even make a great addition to a teen girl’s room. All you need is some tulle and the lights. Cut 7-8″ squares of tulle and tie them in between the lights. So exquisite. And yes, this is safe with LED lights.
Iridescent Tin Can Lighting
All you need is tin cans, paint, and mini lights. Drill holes in a tin can, paint it, and add a string of lights underneath for a gorgeous lamp that creates stunning light patterns on the ceiling and walls.
You can get creative and punch holes to make interesting shapes and even string them together to hang from your mantle. More enchanted moments to add to your indoor Christmas lighting ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of lights are best for indoor Christmas tree?
LED lights are ideal because they’re normally waterproof and shatterproof and can last for up to seven years if you use them during the holiday season.
Do indoor Christmas lights use a lot of electricity?
So, how much electricity do Christmas lights use? Your display size and choice of bulbs, whether incandescent or LED, will influence your energy bill the most. For example, a 100-count string of incandescent mini lights runs at 40 watts, while a 70-count of 5mm wide-angle LEDs is approximately 4.8 watts total.
Can I leave Christmas lights on all the time indoors?
If Christmas lights are left on for too long, they can get hot and become a fire hazard. For this reason, turn your lights off when you go to sleep or leave your home.
Which is better LED or regular Christmas lights?
LED lights may cost more upfront, but they are more energy-efficient as they don’t need heat to produce light. According to the Department of Energy, LED lights consume 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lights.
Do LED Christmas lights stay on if one burns out?
If one bulb goes out, but it’s still intact, then yes, the light set will stay lit. But if the LED lens is significantly cracked or damaged, then anywhere from half to the full set will go out.
Are there LED Christmas lights that look like incandescent?
GE’s Energy Smart Colorite LED Miniature Lights are available in multicolor and warm white. They offer all the benefits of LED lights, including high durability, zero heat output, and a long life expectancy. They also produce a warm radiance that resembles the classic glow of incandescent bulbs.
Are LED Christmas lights cheaper to run?
An LED bulb can last up to 50,000 hours, compared to just 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb. Aside from lasting longer, they’re also cheaper to run. This can save you money on your energy bills.
