Did you know that Christmas will be here before you know it? I know what you’re thinking — we’re in the middle of August! Who can be thinking about Christmas at a time like this? Well, I say it’s never too early to get started! After all, it takes a long time to prepare the toys, goodies, and lighting setups at the North Pole. And speaking of lighting setups, one question my friends at Twinkle Nights often hear is the difference between temporary and permanent holiday lights.
Yes, it’s me — Sparkle — here again to answer your burning questions about all things lighting. So sit back, relax, and let me walk you through the temporary versus permanent holiday lights debate!
Convenience of permanent holiday lights
I’m sure you’ve heard someone use the phrase “set it and forget it.” That’s kind of the idea with permanent holiday lights. For the Gainesville-area homeowner, this is a one-and-done deal. You hang your lights and never have to worry about climbing the ladder again.
Or do you? That’s one of the things about the convenience of permanent holiday lights: occasionally, Mother Nature might necessitate the need to rehang them. Whether because of high winds or another cause, permanent holiday lights might need to be reinstalled at some point down the road.
What about durability?
“So Sparkle, are permanent holiday lights durable?” In some ways, yes — and this is their greatest advantage. They’re meant to withstand the elements I just described, which makes them more durable than your off-the-shelf options. This is even more true if you use professional grade hangers, which helps to secure them even tighter to your home or business.
But hold that thought: I’ll revisit the idea of durability when we look at temporary holiday lights soon.
Are there aesthetic concerns with permanent holiday lights?
In some cases, yes. Permanent holiday lights should be installed strategically so that they’re not an aesthetic eyesore during the off-season. Some homeowners don’t like the look of the cords hanging along their roofline and gutters when it’s not Christmas; others have highly manicured lawns that feel this setup would contrast with too much.
Another aesthetic concern might be curb appeal. If you plan to sell your home soon and have permanently installed holiday lights, this might be a detractor for your buyer. The last thing you want to do is lose out on a lucrative sale because your home had permanent holiday lights during the home-buying process.
For business owners, you might want to consider how this could clash with other seasonal displays, such as during the Fourth of July or Valentine’s Day.
Temporary lights need to be stored
So you might think I’m not advocating the use of permanent holiday lights for your home or business. Not so fast! My goal here is only to share with you all of the things to keep in mind. There are some downsides to temporary lights as well. In the first case, they need to be stored somewhere.
Do you have a garage or attic? Then that might work well enough — so long as you have them carefully wrapped in an easy-to-unwrap way in a storage tote. Throwing them in a box, however, is only going to cause you frustration when it’s time to hang them again.
They don’t need to be as durable, but this is a minor point
Do you remember everything I said about durability? I wanted to highlight this, too, with temporary lights.
In previous blogs, I’ve talked about how you should only use C9 bulbs and professional-grade hangers. This is true whether you have a lighting company do the work for you or if it’s a DIY during your free time on the weekends.
C9 bulbs are pretty durable on their own! That’s why the durability consideration, while something to keep in mind when compared to basic bulbs, is less of a this or that detail when comparing temporary versus permanent holiday lights.
Temporary versus permanent holiday lights: which should you choose?
So with some of the pros and cons I’ve listed above, is there a right or wrong answer for the debate between temporary versus permanent holiday lights?
It’s going to depend on many different options. For some, climbing a ladder is a safety hazard due to health conditions. Being able to leave their lights in place all year long is far better for them than installing and taking them down every year.
For others, the aesthetic aspect is a bigger concern. It might be less of an issue with an inside display, but for your building’s exterior, it could be seen as an eyesore.
Then again, what if there was a way to install them without someone noticing that your permanent holiday lights are, well, permanent?
You might see where I’m going with this…
The easiest solution? Work with my friends at Twinkle Nights!
Isn’t it easier when you can let someone else handle all the decisions? That’s why, up at the North Pole, Santa lets his Head Elves work directly with us instead of managing it all himself.
Likewise, one of the easiest ways to decide whether you should go with temporary versus permanent holiday lights is to forget about it and call my friends at Twinkle Nights. If you don’t want the aesthetic concerns of leaving your lights up all year long, they can help.
Or, if you need someone to install permanent lights the right way, they can assist with that too.
In other words, Tom and his team can handle all aspects of lighting setup for you, including everything from lawn lights to beautiful backyard patio designs to your annual Christmas display and more. They’re the region’s expert in all aspects of the lighting industry and are here to serve you all year long with whatever type of lighting project you may have!
Would you like to chat with them to learn more? Then send them a message HERE and they’ll be in touch soon.
And with that, I’m off. See you next time!
Here are some other resources to help light up your holiday season!
What’s The Difference Between Professional And Standard Lights?
