Lighting color is one of the most important aspects of your entire decorating arrangement, which is why the question of colored or white Christmas lights is relevant to any holiday decorator. Each option holds the opportunity to explore a range of moods and decorating styles in a display—which is why it’s worth knowing the effects that either option can have on your arrangement and those who see it.

Discover the opportunities behind colored versus white Christmas lights below, as we help you choose the best look for your home. Find out what you need to know including the pros and cons, and get expert style suggestions for decorating with either colored or white Christmas lights.

The Case for White Christmas Lights

White is a classic color that can bring an air of elegance to a display, and pairs well with most décor styles. Simple yet stylish, white lights are the perfect choice for decorating in the styles of minimalist, modern, or sophisticated. White lights come in two different tones: pure white or warm white. Which white you choose has a powerful impact on the appearance and atmosphere of the space you decorate. Pure white lights fill a space with a clean feeling, while warm white lights bring cozy and classic vibes. Warm white LED Christmas lights have a color temperature that’s close to the look of white incandescent lights, which can make an arrangement feel timeless. Dive into a deeper discussion on the differences between pure and warm white lights in our expert guide.

Pros of White Christmas Lights

  • Versatility across a broad range of themes and styles
  • Ability to serve as a neutral backdrop
  • Candlelight-like glow for a cozy or vintage touch
  • Unifying effect when combined with greenery or other neutral tones
  • Powerful at highlighting textures, objects, and structures

Potential Drawbacks of White Christmas Lights

White Christmas Lights May Feel Less Playful or Whimsical

The neutral nature of white may not introduce as much vibrance as colored lights, depending on the display. Colored lights can be seen as more exciting when implemented in creative or curated theme arrangements.

White Christmas Lights Might Not Appeal to Children or Families Who Want More Color

White lights may not stand out as much for families with children, particularly for the children themselves. Bright colors are eye-catching sights that are easy for a child to see compared to muted or neutral tones, making colored lights a more suitable choice for families with children.

White Lights Can Feel Repetitive Without Variation

We love to return to what we like—and often. White is easy to work with and keep coming back to every year, but the repetition may leave you tired of the same arrangement. Adding or substituting with colored lights can spice up displays for a fresh look.

Why You Might Prefer Colored Christmas Lights

Colored lights offer a different way to experience holiday lighting. Certain colors can be associated with feelings such as nostalgia, joy, and festive vibes (red and green define the festive palette of Christmas). Colored lights are effective at evoking emotions when displayed in family spaces or themed arrangements. Red and green, or blue Christmas lights are prime choices if you love bold holiday energy or retro-inspired displays.

Pros of Colored Christmas Lights

  • Brings themes to life
    • Red and white lights evoke candy cane and gingerbread-themed nostalgia while retaining a classy Christmas appearance
    • Blue and pure white lights look winter-themed or modern, and offer unique contrast to traditional Christmas colors; can also be used to create displays for themes such as Hannukah and favorite sports team colors
    • Creative multicolor patterns can showcase a bold, exciting style that makes a statement
  • Ideal for decorating in children’s areas, at events, or in themed rooms
  • Produces familiar, creative, or unique color palettes
  • Works well in outdoor displays or along fences and roofs

Potential Drawbacks of Colored Christmas Lights

Colorful Christmas Lights May Clash with More Minimalist or Neutral Decor

Colors bring a character that can clash with minimalist or neutral decor. Colored lights might look out of place in some spaces that feature chic furniture and contemporary decor in neutral colors.

Colored Christmas Lights Can Feel Less Timeless in Certain High-End or Formal Spaces

Colored lights, particularly in festive combos like red and green, might not feel so nostalgic when placed in high-end or formal spaces. This can lead to a decorating contradiction in which the lights appear dated compared to the surroundings.

Color Christmas Lights Might Become Visually Overwhelming if Used without Balance

The vibrance from colored lights adds excitement to a display, but it can be overdone. Too many colors in one space can be overwhelming, especially if the colors don’t match. Likewise, using a certain color here and a certain color there can complicate an arrangement if they aren’t a good match that contributes to a unified look or style. When using colored lights, balance is key.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Colored and White Lights

Style

The tone of your lights expresses the style of your decorating. Warm and pure white lights exhibit a clean, sophisticated style that complement a wide range of holiday decor, from traditional to modern. Colored lights can tell the story of a specific theme: for instance, red and green lights help display the iconic look of a festive Christmas.

Theme

The motif that you’d like to create is a major consideration in the planning of an arrangement. The theme is instrumental in determining the types of decorations you use and the color of your lights. If you’re going for a winter theme that’s icy cool, blue and pure white make the perfect pair. Themes that are centered around gold, silver, or neutral color schemes are all strengthened by white lights.

Function

Color has a way of interacting with the elements of your arrangement that gives importance to the idea of how lights function. White lights are highly versatile and function well in different displays on foliage, houses, and other structures. They also play well with colored lights such as red and blue. White lights possess the ability to appear brighter than other colors, so they do a wonderful job of highlighting areas, objects, and structures.

Tips for Choosing The Right Color of Lights

Match Lights to Your Existing Decor

Planning your decor will help you every step of the way during the Christmas decorating process. With solid planning, you can incorporate your existing decor and come up with ways to decorate lights around what you have. Make planning your next Christmas lighting display easier with insight from our expert guide on planning a Christmas lights display.

Modern and minimalist styles of decor are solid foundations for white lights. Natural decor also coordinates tastefully with white lights. Vintage, creative, and bold holiday themes find expression in colored lights. Likewise, multicolored ornaments, vintage Christmas decor, and whimsical accents are all complemented beautifully by colored lights. Family-oriented or kid-friendly settings become more appealing for kids thanks to colored lights, as children are enamored by colorful displays.

Think About the Mood You Want to Set

Color can impact the way we think and feel. The ambiance of your space will be shaped by your choice in lighting color. Cultivate the ideal environment by knowing which emotions are commonly associated with either white or colored lights:

White Lights are associated with:

  • Peace
  • Elegance
  • Serenity

Colored lights are associated with:

  • Energy
  • Excitement
  • Nostalgia

Compare Indoor vs. Outdoor Considerations

Both white and colored lights can be used to produce stunning displays either indoors or outdoors. However, choice of color impacts the perception of the display. White lights on a home cast a clean, upscale look. Colored lights on a home give a lively impression, making for joyful curb appeal. White lights for indoor decorating help to develop a modern atmosphere, and lend well to minimalist interior spaces. Colored lights for indoor decorating introduce an energetic feel that’s often intertwined with the experience of an ambitious or heartfelt theme.

Combining Colored and White Lights: Yes, You Can Mix Them

You can mix it up in your arrangement up by combining colored and white lights. Doing so leads to a layered effect that helps both your white and chosen colors to pop.

Some ways to implement colored-white combos include white lights on the Christmas tree and colored lights on the mantel, or white LED net Christmas lights on bushes with colored icicle lights along the roofline. White lights project a radiance that place them nicely as primary lighting, while colored lights can be bold statement pieces. Consider wrapping outdoor trees in white and covering the bushes in red and green.

And here’s a unique twist for Christmas lights on the house: white lights along the roofline and color bulb accents at the peaks. Alternating patterns are also a stylish combo: one, two, or even three white bulbs in a row and then one to three red or green bulbs in a row will give your home the gift of an imaginative flair.

Suggestions Based on Tree Style

Green Trees

Lush green artificial or natural trees are flexible in the canvas they provide for either colored or white lights. Given how white lights’ can highlight greenery so well, white lights have an advantage when it comes to which color to pick for an indoor tree. White lights, especially warm white, brighten any room and channel classic Christmas vibes. Colored lights, like dynamic multicolored lights, are a lot of fun and will make your tree a a marvelous main attraction in a more playful holiday arrangement.

Colored Trees

Colored artificial trees come in styles such as white and red. Flocked trees are also worth mentioning here because their design makes them mostly appear as white trees. White lights on a white or flocked tree create a bright beacon of holiday cheer. Colored lights are perfect on colored trees when you’re adapting to a theme. A white tree with red lights is the ultimate tree-lighting combo for a candy cane lane theme. A frosty winter motif is realized on a white tree that features blue lights.

Best for Real vs. Artificial Trees

White lights are a true complement to a natural tree, as they enhance realism and texture. Colored lights mixed with artificial trees empower decorators to create displays that aren’t possible on natural trees.

Explore Premium White and Colored Lights at Christmas Designers

Both white and colored lights offer special possibilities to shape your displays. While each has its own pros and cons, either will elevate your displays when implemented thoughtfully. And to take your displays to the next level, go with pro-grade Christmas lights. Pro-grade lights are better than retail lights in every way that matters for decorators, from brightness that immediately catches the eye, to durability that outlasts retail lights by years. Discover both colored and white lights that will shine bright in your display from our selection of high-quality, pro-grade LED Christmas lights.

Need help with your specific lighting or decorating situation? We’re to help! Contact us at [email protected] or call 1-800-391-5280 to speak with one of our qualified Christmas Designers who will have you on your way to making your next decorating masterpiece.