Holiday string lights are universally adored. We hang them up indoors and outdoors to dazzle our homes during the holiday season and then sit in the attic gathering dust for the rest of the year. Christmas lights instantly make any setting feel warm and magical, so here are 10 creative ways to keep your Christmas lights up all year long!
1. Twinkling Nook for the Kids
Give the kids a new place of their own with a bit of fabric and some twinkle lights. Check out these images to see which ones inspire you! Your kids will speed through their summer reading with this Christmas-light lined reading nook. Another option is to transform a boring bed into a showstopper with a sheer curtain and some string lights. Use two curtain rods to attach the tulle or hang floor-length streams of fabric and lights from the four corners of the mattress.
2. Porch Party Lighting
LIght up your outdoor summer party with lots of lights! Wrap fairy lights around tree trunks to create a special seating area in your garden. Or even light up your outdoor summer party with twine Christmas light “lanterns.” If you have a pool, hang them directly above the pool for a cool mirrored effect at night. Now you have a nice soft light to relax and enjoy your evenings.
3. Light Up Your Mirror
Illuminate your special room mirror with extra lighting around. Adding string lights around a wall or vanity mirror adds extra light while getting ready. An oversized mirror especially makes an instantly glam dressing room with the addition of a string of basic white twinkle lights.
4. Shape Into an Inspirational Word
Need a pick-me-up? Hang a well-lit quote or inspirational word in your room using fairy LED lights. This makes a fun art installation in your home. Change it up to match your seasonal decor.
5. Flameless Fire Pit
Add extra “warmth” to your living space by creating a faux fire pit that’s maintenance-free. Assemble a few small logs in a fireplace grate or basket, and weave some string lights throughout. When the weather heats up and you no longer need the warmth of a fire, you don’t have to completely neglect your fireplace. Try wrapping logs with string lights for a glow you can enjoy year round.
6. Fairy Light Jars
Want to add a bit of sparkle to your mantel, dresser, or entry table? This is the perfect way to use holiday lights as year-round decor. If you have battery or solar-powered string lights, fill up a glass lantern, oversize bowl, wine bottle or some Mason jars. Simply fill a Mason jar with a bunch of string lights, then cluster them on a mantel or entryway table. They’d also look perfect on a patio or on an end table. Have a strand that needs to be plugged in? Try a birdcage – no matter the vessel, you’ll enjoy the glittering lights all year long.
7. Fairy Light Wall
If you have a barren white wall in need of some Christmas sparkle, try adorning it with fairy lights, then hang photos from the strand. We use some nice looking clothes pins to attach cards or drawings from our kids. It’s a fabulous way to highlight their art.
8. Lighted Chandelier
Wrap your dining room chandelier with a generous amount of Christmas lights for an illuminating holiday update. This add layers of lighting and a bit of whimsy and charm.
9. Picture Perfect Window
Give the kids a new place of their own with a bit of fabric and some twinkle lights. Check out these images to see which ones inspire you! Another option is to transform a boring bed into a showstopper with a sheer curtain and some string lights. Use two curtain rods to attach the tulle or hang floor-length streams of fabric and lights from the four corners of the mattress.
10. Lighted Mirror Garland
Create an incredible mirror garland using twinkle lights for a dramatically glamorous look! You can easily create your own garland with small mirror squares from the crafts store, fishing line, and a hot glue gun. Drape the mirrored strands and some string lights over a curtain rod or dowel, and enjoy the dazzling scattered reflections. It’s the perfect piece to brighten your space and warm up your walls.
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