Christmas Lighting Trends New England Homeowners Are Asking For

Holiday lighting tastes have shifted over the last couple of seasons. The big, busy displays are still out there, but most of the homeowners we talk to in southern Maine and on the New Hampshire Seacoast are asking for something cleaner: fewer colors, better lines, and a display that looks finished from the street.

Here are the looks people are asking for most, and what makes each one work on a New England home.

1. Warm white is the first choice again

Warm white has become the most requested color by a wide margin. It suits the houses we have here: capes, colonials, farmhouses and shingled coastal homes all look right with a soft, candle-toned light. It also photographs well in snow, which matters more than it used to now that most displays end up in a family photo or a social post.

If you like color, the common approach now is warm white on the house with one accent color on a tree or two, so the display has a focal point without looking crowded.

2. Clean rooflines with classic C9 bulbs

The large, traditional C9 bulb is back as the standard for rooflines. Run straight along the eaves and ridges, evenly spaced and cut to fit, it outlines the shape of the house and reads clearly from the road. The difference between a good roofline and an average one is in the details: straight runs, no sagging, no dark gaps at the corners, and no extra cord hanging off the end.

That fit is the main reason homeowners move from doing it themselves to a professional installation. See how we handle Christmas lights for homes.

3. Lit greenery: wreaths and garland

Wreaths on windows and doors and garland around entries are the quickest way to make a display look good in daylight too. Lights only show after dark. Greenery carries the house the rest of the day, and in December that is most of the hours people are driving by.

4. Wrapped trees and light spheres

Tightly wrapped trunks and branches have become the centerpiece of a lot of yards. A single well-wrapped maple or oak near the road can do more than lights scattered across every shrub. Light spheres hung in the canopy are the newer addition, and they are showing up at homes after years of being mostly a downtown and storefront feature.

5. App-controlled color and animation

Smart, programmable lights are one of the fastest-growing requests. They let you change color and pattern from a phone: warm white most nights, red and green on Christmas Eve, something different for a party. They work best as an accent on a tree or an entry, with the rest of the house kept simple.

6. Full-service installation

The biggest change is not a color or a bulb. More homeowners are handing off the whole job, from the design to the ladder work to the takedown in January. Our service covers the design, the installation, maintenance during the season, takedown and storage, and we supply the commercial-grade LED lights, wreaths and garland.

7. Booking earlier

People are planning sooner. Installation calendars fill well before the first snow, and the homeowners who get the dates they want are the ones who reach out in early fall. If you have a look in mind, it is easy to request a quote online in a few minutes.

Common questions

What color Christmas lights are most popular right now?

Warm white, by a wide margin. It is usually paired with greenery, and sometimes with one accent color on a tree.

Are C9 bulbs or mini lights better for a roofline?

C9 bulbs. They are larger, they read clearly from the street, and they give the straight, evenly spaced line most people want. Mini lights are better suited to wrapping trees, shrubs and greenery.

Do I need to buy the lights?

No. We supply the lights, wreaths and garland, and we store everything after the holidays. More answers are on our FAQ page.