Christmas lights illuminate the holiday spirit outside your home. Changes in holiday lighting, over the past few years, have given homeowners many more options to create dazzling displays.

English Gardens Christmas Light Buyer and LED informant Dean Darin explains the latest trends, including LED lighting.

“LED (light-emitting diode) lighting has transformed outdoor holiday displays in the last few years,” explains Dean. “I decorate my house with LED lights every year. They have numerous benefits over traditional, incandescent lighting.”

Colors are Fantastic

“For the most brilliant and vibrant colors, choose LED lights,” recommends Dean. “LEDs can create a winter wonderland in your backyard with a wide array of colors from brilliant Ruby reds and Emerald greens to vibrant Sapphire blue. There are also warm white LED lights that mirror incandescent lights, for those who prefer a warm glow.”

Longevity

“LED lights can last up to 20,000 hours and they’re very durable,” says Dean.  English Gardens Premier Collection lights are specially made with “sealed bulb” technology, adding to their longevity and reliability. Most LED light sets in other stores have removable bulbs, which can contribute to premature failure of the LED set.

“This is what makes them ideal for outdoor lighting,” Dean explains. “LEDs can be exposed to extreme weather conditions and still last for years.”

Energy Efficient

LED lights are significantly more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional lights. They use up to 90% less electricity than traditional incandescent lights.  Because they last so long you will not have to replace them as often which proves to be beneficial for the environment.

Additionally, because LEDs use less electricity, they will reduce costs associated with lighting your house during the holidays. Although LEDs require a bigger investment at the beginning, they will save on electric bills for years to come.

Another benefit of LED light sets is that you can plug up to 41 sets end-to-end, while only 3 incandescent light sets can be plugged end-to-end. You can also plugin 800 sets on a standard household 20-amp circuit, which eliminates any power limitations homeowners once faced with incandescent lighting.

Versatility

“Outdoor light displays look their best when you use several different styles, shapes and sizes of LED lights,” says Dean. English Gardens carries many options to make decorating easier.  When decorating shrubs, use net lights to provide a uniform look when best draped over shrubs.

Battery-operated lights provide the same glow, and are a convenient option for displays that are not close to a power outlet or where cords would be unsafe. Due to their low energy use, one set of batteries will usually last an entire season.

“Lighted branches and twigs are particularly versatile, both indoors and out,” says Dean. Arrange them indoors in a large potted plant or place them in a container garden, with staggered heights, on your front porch. English Gardens has a large selection of branches and twigs to create a unique addition to custom-created evergreen container gardens.

Switching to LED lights is affordable, high-performing and environmentally friendly. Visit your nearest English Gardens location for a wide selection of LED lights and accessories for your holiday decorating needs.