Magical Outdoor Christmas Lights

Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!
Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!

Once upon a time, when I lived in Iowa, I spotted the most fabulously decorated tree along a downtown street.  It was a deciduous tree decked out in colored christmas lights and every time I passed it I couldn’t stop looking at it.  It was magical.  There was something about it that made it stand out from all the others.

Finally, after closely inspecting the tree, I figured out what it was that made the tree’s look so special.  The colored lights hanging on the tree were of two types – mini lights and large solid bulbs.  The combination of lights created such a cool look that I had to replicate the effect!

Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!
Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!

The key to creating this look is to make your two types of lights as different as possible, while keeping the colors the same.  I used mini colored lights and large colored lights.

LED C7 Christmas Lights
LED C7 Christmas Lights

Large Christmas light bulbs come in multiple sizes.  I would suggest using size C9 – if you can.  Mine are C7, but I wish they were C9.  In case you haven’t already guessed it, all that C-talk is the bulb size!  C7 means it’s a 7 watt bulb, C9 is a  9 watt bulb!

Also, I would suggest using the  solid colored bulbs because the large clear bulbs look too much like the mini lights – so go solid!

Mini-Christmas LED Lights
Mini-Christmas LED Lights

Now the question – LED or traditional lights.  LED mini-lights are very bright and what I choose to use.  When it comes to the larger C7 or C9 bulbs, the traditional lights are brighter than the LEDs, but the brightness also dilutes the color of the bulb.  I prefer to use the large LED lights because the color is greater and the electricity use is so much less.  The picture below shows all LED lights both minis and C7s!

Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!
Mixed LED Christmas Lights!

There is one more benefit to this mixed up Christmas light look!  The large bulbs are clearly visible in the daylight hours, giving a nice look to your tree 24/7!

Christmas Tree Lights in Snow!
Christmas Tree Lights in Snow!
Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!
Mixed Christmas lights makes for a beautiful tree!

Happy Holidays!

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