13 Creative Ways To Decorate With Christmas Lights All Year Long

Christmas lights still hanging up in July might sound like someone forgot to check a chore off their to-do list, but think again. The beauty and dazzle of festive lights can be enjoyed for longer than just the holiday season. They make stellar ornaments inside and outside your home, even while the other holiday decor is packed away in storage. We have 13 creative ways to decorate with Christmas lights all year long for an intentional design that beautifies your home.

If you don't have Christmas lights, standard fairy or string lights are a great substitute for all these decor ideas. Traditional Christmas lights usually have a green cord to blend in with the holiday tree, but spray paint can tailor the wire to your home. A metallic gold can give the lights a high-end look, while a similar hue to your walls will help the cord blend in for a seamless light-up gallery wall or fantasy-like overhead lighting. Just remove the bulbs before adding your new color. You can appreciate the twinkling lights 365 days a year, and, best of all, it won't look like you were too lazy to take down the holiday decorations.

Since they take up so much visual space, curtains are a major part of a room's decor. Turn the fabric into an eye-catching focal point by adding Christmas lights. Simple white bulbs create a cozy atmosphere, while colorful lights have a fun feel. String them on either end of the curtains, drape them across the front like a scarf, or dangle several strings behind the covering to create layers of light. This style works best with sheer curtains, but it can also work with thick or blackout curtains if you string the lights in front of the fabric.

A chic way to add curb appeal to your home and turn the large divider into an eye-catching feature is to add Christmas lights outdoors on your fence. Opt for white bulbs to complement any partition, then weave the string through chain links, wrap it around wrought iron, or drape it along wood rails. For privacy fences, you can place the lights on the inside, so only your invited guest can enjoy the light show,  or on the outside for the neighborhood to relish. Just ensure the lights are outdoor-grade.

You can also style Christmas lights around your window. The shining decor frames the glass, making your home feel brighter and cozier. Wrap string lights around the window frames so they're only visible from the inside, or place them around the glass where it can be seen from outside, too. The lights add flair and shouldn't block the view or get in the way of you opening and closing the window. Set one around the border for something simple, or layer multiple lights to create a dynamic design.

Give your wall shelves and bookcase a sparkling upgrade with Christmas lights. Wrapping the holiday decor around the border of the shelves turns the storage space into an ornamental display. Secure the lights underneath the shelf planks, along the edge, on the side, or anywhere there's empty space to bedazzle. You can use tape or hooks to drape the lights for added style or secure them tightly around the shelves for a glowing outline. It is a great way to complement decor displays, open shelves, glass cabinets, entertainment consoles, and other storage spaces.

You can still decorate the mantle with Christmas lights even when it's nowhere near December. Without mini pine trees, gift-wrapped presents, and garland, the lights alone on the mantle simply create a welcoming feel instead of holiday-themed decor. Hang them on the mantle shelf or use them as an ornament on the wall above it. The lights also pair well with candles, feathers, and flowers, but don't be afraid to leave the mantle simple with just the twinkling bulbs. Then, when it is Christmastime, the fireplace is already halfway decorated.

The ceiling is a unique place to keep your holiday lights, and they will instantly make the fifth wall a focal point in any room. Even when the lights are off, all the wiring will add a unique vein detailing to the ceiling. It is a stunning DIY ceiling design that will elevate any room in your home. You can also cover the lights with a layer of cotton or stuffing to create TikTok's iconic cloud wall. Lights in one room create an eye-catching display or go all in for a truly maximalist design.

A table runner adds extra flair to your dining table. But, instead of fabric runners, consider using Christmas lights. The holiday decor will add a unique element to your table setting, so much so that you won't need a centerpiece. Unless you have a discreet outlet underneath the table, battery-powered lights are best for this hack. It would look a little odd to have your decorative runner extending into a wall outlet. The soft lighting creates a cozy atmosphere for romantic dinners and a practical element for outdoor dining that continues after sunset.

You can turn Christmas lights into an easy DIY headboard to upgrade your bedroom. String the bulbs onto the wall nearest your bed and drape a sheer curtain over the lights. It's that simple. You'll have a one-of-a-kind headboard that can double as a lamp. Plus, when you want to switch things up, just swap the curtain for one of a different color or pattern to get an entirely new look. If you have an existing headboard, whether upholstery or wood, you can get a similar look by decorating it with the holiday lights.

Another stylish hack is to use the Christmas lights to create a photo display. Zig-zag the lights along a wall and use clips or clothespins to hang pictures between the bulbs. String the lights straight across all the walls in the room for something simple, or shape them into different patterns, like a heart or star, to add more dimension to the design. Place one in every room for a cohesive look. It's an easy DIY that transforms a boring wall into a light-up display of loved ones and cherished memories.

If you have a gallery wall, it's a stellar place to add your Christmas lights. Your art pieces will become a shining display perfect for ornamenting your home. Weave the lights between picture frames, canvas, and tapestry. You can even add the lights on top of your wall art for layers of style. If you have yet to start a gallery wall, Christmas lights also make a great base. Hang the lights in different shapes or words before hanging various pictures and art around the glowing bulbs. The pieces will bring the gallery wall to life.

A simple way to use Christmas lights is to string them onto your home decor. You can wrap the ornaments around sturdy houseplants, sculptures, signage, posters, and any other decorative pieces throughout your home. You can even add the lights to your existing fixtures by wrapping the festive bulbs around table and floor lamps. They aren't just decorative; the lights are functional, brightening up your home and becoming a stylish alternative to overhead lighting. When wrapped in lights, even old items can create DIY decor that upgrades your home on a budget.

To give your Christmas lights a fresh look, all you need is fake flowers. The artificial petals fit perfectly around the bulb of standard string lights to make a light-up flower garland that you can style anywhere in your home — wrapped around the banister, hung on the mantle, or draped across door posts. Instead of flowers, you can also use stock paper to cut hearts or stars and tailor the garland to your style or even for other holidays. Plus, you can remove the petals or paper whenever you're ready for something new.

It might not be Christmas, but you can still hang lights up in the backyard. Stringing Christmas lights around gazebos, trellises, trees, and other elements in your yard will add a warm glow against the backdrop of night, creating a cozy atmosphere in your outdoor space. It's a more intimate setting than harsh patio lights, and you can use the shining decor to section different areas: illuminating pathways, boarding the garden, or ornamenting water features. For more ideas, check out these DIYs that light up your backyard patio during summer nights.