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White or Colored Christmas Lights?
Let’s Discuss.

by | Nov 23, 2009 | Christmas, Christmas Decorating, Seasonal Decorating & Entertaining

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White or Colored Christmas Lights?<br> Let's Discuss.

Since it is Thanksgiving week and our brains are kind of busy thinking about holiday plans, let’s have some fun today and all throw in our two cents on this highly sensitive, and controversial topic, shall we?

I threw this question out last year and it was fun to hear everyone’s answers and their reasons. I was an “all white lights girl” at Christmas for our entire married life because I loved the look at Disneyland, but last year I added in some colored lights to our garland, including some soft ambers and greens and I LOVED the freshness of it. We still have tons of white lights though so I am undecided which way I will go this year. I might do a mixture again.

I’m wondering what color of lights YOU are all going with this year? I know, it is kind of trivial, but I know you all have an opinion on what you like so go ahead and let’s discuss!

Ready, set GO.

Christmas Tree inspiration photo: BHG

Need some Christmas inspiration? Check out the Friday Holiday Linky for 100 links to holiday ideas!

142 Comments

  1. gina

    All of my life, we had colored lights and an assorted mix of tresures on our tree- handmade and store bought. I always said when I grew up I was going to have just white lights and red decorations. Then my first Christmas in my own apartment was my first Christmas with a baby and colored lights and starting my own collection of memories for the tree just seemed right. Fast forward about 8 or 9 years- when John and I had our first Christmas together- he convinced me to go with white lights and I LOVED it. I put well over a thousand on. My two youngest ended up allergic to Christmas trees, so now we have a fake one that comes with white lights on it- about 700+. I still use the strings of colored lights around the girls bedroom windows this time of year- they make for festive night lights. :) And outdoors- white.
    .-= gina´s last blog ..serve it up. vintage style… =-.

    Reply
  2. Stacy

    I go through this debate every year with my kids. I want white lights and they of course want colored. We usually compromise with white lights everywhere except for the tree. This makes everyone happy!
    .-= Stacy @ Red Door Home´s last blog ..Bag of Tricks =-.

    Reply
  3. Kim

    WHITE!!! Both inside and out! Call me traditional!
    .-= Kim´s last blog ..Seasonal Decorating =-.

    Reply
  4. Sara

    I switch around from year to year. I have so many ornaments that I like to vary the theme. I’m trying to decide what color/theme to go with this year. I love that tree in your post. Some years, the theme is “everything goes on the tree!”

    But I should say, I love the simplicity of white lights.
    .-= Sara´s last blog ..7 Quick Takes =-.

    Reply
  5. Sarah Caldwell

    I’m going to have to vote white–inside and outside! I love the crispness of it next to the greenery. I especially love it on our mantle with candles burning around them. I think the best thing is to turn off all the lights in the room and just have the Christmas lights on. Because of tradition, we wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate…argh! I might have to start a new tradition next year and break out the lights BEFORE Turkey Day!
    .-= Sarah Caldwell´s last blog ..20 minute project =-.

    Reply
  6. Tracy Rizzo

    I love only white lights-but my husband and kids loved colored,which must be why he bought a pre lit tree with colored lights……hmm. ONE DAY they will be all white!!

    Reply
  7. Passementerie

    Not a trivial question at all! When I was growing up we always had coloured lights so I always thought of them as rather childish and immediately switched to white when I started buying them myself.

    However, since getting more involved in reading (and writing!) blogs, I have learned to question things that I do simply because I have always done them (oops! Is this getting too profound for a Christmas lights post?) and so the vexed question of what sort of lights to get is relevant.

    The soft glow of pink lights is irresistible, I think, but I’m not sure they would go in my sitting room very well (chartreuse and grey/blue velvet couch & sofa, brown leather moroccan pouffes, white walls, oak floors), so I’m not sure. Maybe they would be perfect? I certainly feel that white might be just a tiny bit dull though. So I will keep on thinking.
    .-= Passementerie´s last blog ..Autumn Colours, Textures: Tan Leather =-.

    Reply
  8. Courtney

    I am an all white light girl! I have a very, very old home and I just think those lights bring out its beauty. Of course, now that I have a little guy, I feel drawn to those big bulb colored lights!!!
    .-= Courtney´s last blog ..oh look at that… another week has gone by! =-.

    Reply
  9. TidyMom

    I LOVE all white, but my hubby LOVES color – and it means more to him, so I let him have color! LOL – but a few years ago I tried something and liked it – I put all white up and down in the center of the tree and color on the rest of the tree and I liked it! It really “lit up” the tree more!!

    ~TidyMom
    .-= TidyMom´s last blog ..Girlfriends Guide To The Business of Blogging Online Conference =-.

    Reply
  10. Gina Lynn

    Colored lights, the big old fashion ones! But I leave out the blue ones.

    Reply
  11. Lillian

    This year – colored everywhere:) I love white lights, but the little ones are so enthralled by the color and seeing them so fascinated and joyful is what it’s all about!
    .-= Lillian @ Domestic Simplicity´s last blog ..Two exciting new product lines in one day! =-.

    Reply
  12. Judy

    I used the big colored lights until we bought an artificial tree two years ago with white lights. It is easier to see the ornaments with white lights, but I admit I am nostalgic for the live tree with those big colors! It’s all magical though, isn’t it.

    Reply
  13. Jan

    As I have, for many, many years…once again have WHITE lights only! And I will put them on my white “Forever” Tree.

    However, my white tree will be PINK!!!

    I have found a way to change the color of my WHITE Christmas and still keep my WHITE lights. You can read about it in my LAST post – from Saturday!!
    .-= Jan´s last blog ..A PINK Christmas for PINK Saturday! =-.

    Reply
  14. Diana

    We always use white. Especially inside. I just like the way it looks better than colored. Nice and classy. :)

    I’m kicking off a linky party called “just something I whipped up”. I hope you’ll join us. :) Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving.
    .-= Diana @ The Girl Creative´s last blog ..{Just Something I Whipped Up is HERE} =-.

    Reply
  15. denise

    Both!! Some lovely friends gave us white lights and decorations when we got married, but when we had kids, we started having two trees. Colored lights for the kids (and I love them, too); white lights on the other tree and colored lights in the kids rooms.

    We still stick with white lights outdoors — mostly so we can put them up early and keep them up late!
    denise in nc

    Reply
  16. Alanna

    We’ve done all white lights for a few years now, it looks very clean. Our Christmas tree is pre-lit with white lights but I think I might add some colored bubblers this year. After Christmas last year I bought colored C4 strands for our exterior. I just felt like I needed more color!
    .-= Alanna´s last blog ..Chocolate Ornaments =-.

    Reply
  17. Jess

    I do love the look of all white, but I use colored on our tree. All of the ornaments range from my childhood to ones my children have made or collected over the years, so it is very colorful and whimsical. My children are still young and I will probably keep the colored lights until they are more mature. I do wish that I had another tree to decorate just for me…maybe just a small one. :)
    As for my other decorations, like the mantel, banisters, and for outside, they have all white lights.
    .-= Jess´s last blog ..Lucky Duck =-.

    Reply
  18. Sherri S

    White lights here. And NO blinking! I can not handle the blinking lights in a room glowing on the tv. LOL Something about that makes me a bit crazier. I used multi color lights for years. Finally several years ago I went all white. Now I have a pre-lit all white. I love them.
    .-= Sherri S´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Dinner, Menu & Craft =-.

    Reply
  19. Stephaine

    I love both…to me white is classier and prettier….but it’s Chritmas and my husband loves colored Christmas lights….so i am gonna go with colored this year!
    Great post!
    .-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..Gift Ideas … has any started shopping yet? =-.

    Reply
  20. Denise

    I love simple white lights, but do let my boys put the colored ones in their room if they want to~

    Reply
  21. Kristen

    Mom and Dad always put white lights on the tree and every year my brother and I begged for colored ones. I can so clearly remember the year of the color lights…my brother and I woke on Christmas morning to a tree covered in them along with candy canes and red bows. We thought Santa brought it to us. Years later we would learn that with the help of a couple friends, my parents stayed up all night on Christmas Eve carefully taking everything off the tree and then rehanging it all after the while lights were replaced with colored ones. It is by far my favorite Christmas memory.

    Now that I’m grown, I prefer white lights. But I have a feeling colored ones will make it on the tree once we have kids of our own around.
    .-= Kristen´s last blog ..A Beautifully Imperfect Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner =-.

    Reply
  22. LeAnn

    Hi Melissa,
    I have this same exact question as a poll on my sidebar. In our early years of marriage, we always did colored lights, then I got into the all white lights phase. We are still debating this year which way we want to go but we are leaning towards colored lights. I am going back and read everyone’s answers because I think this is a great discussion.

    Hugs,
    LeAnn:)
    .-= LeAnn´s last blog ..Sensible chic shopping from Homegoods =-.

    Reply
  23. Rhonda

    We have always had white. But this year I am feeling a pull towards some color. I am not to the rainbow scheme yet but maybe some white and red, I think… yes white and red…

    Reply
  24. Jaimie

    I like to go colored. When I was a kid, we had colored and an assortment of ornaments. Nothing super fancy or store bought. Mostly special memory ones or gifts from other people. And I will do the same thing for Evan. When he is old, he can have HIS ornaments (and his siblings, theirs) and use them on his family tree.
    .-= Jaimie´s last blog ..Jealousy =-.

    Reply
  25. Christi

    For me it depends on where the tree is {yes, I put up more than one}. On the “family tree” in the family room that has all of our family ornaments, the boys’ ornaments, etc – it has to be colored lights.

    For most other trees it’s white lights, except for the one in the school/play room.

    I like the looks of both; I could never go all or nothing with either!
    .-= Christi´s last blog ..up and running =-.

    Reply
  26. Janet

    All white, no blinking.
    .-= Janet´s last blog ..Enjoy =-.

    Reply
  27. Heather

    White, only white, always white…..my ex used to like blue outside (yuck!) because that’s what he grew up with. It was one argument I won.
    .-= Heather @ what’s happening this week´s last blog ..Thank You Maria Killam =-.

    Reply
  28. Julie

    We use white on the trunk part and colored towards the outside. It adds that special sparkle and we LOVE using colored lights too. I remember laying under the tree looking up at all the colors when I was small. I want that for my kids too.

    That being said, colored goes with my decor, so that’s not a factor. If they clashed, I don’t know what I’d do…
    .-= Julie´s last blog ..Big changes coming! =-.

    Reply
  29. Kate

    White is very elegant, but to me it’s not homey and warm. We use colored lights. What I really dislike is a mix of them….I say go one way or the other, especially outside!!! I really hate some things decorated in white outside, and some things in color. On a tree I still don’t like it, but it’s not as shocking and noticeable due to all the different colors of ornaments and colors of the room.

    Reply
  30. Tammy Hebert

    I grew up with only colored lights our entire lives. I didn’t even know that they made white ones :) So, up until about 4 years ago we did colored outside with all the decor and then white inside. But now we do strictly white. I just like the crispness of it and I can see the ornaments more without the distraction of all the colored bulbs.
    Just my opinion –
    tammy
    .-= Tammy Hebert´s last blog ..Christmas Parade 2009 =-.

    Reply
  31. Alissa

    growing up we had colored lights…now with my own family we have white lights. it goes well with all the candles that i light every night. however, last year during the after Christmas clearance i bought amber color lights to mix in with the white. i am really looking forward to seeing how it looks!
    .-= Alissa´s last blog ..in between =-.

    Reply
  32. Faith

    Both! Colored inside – yes, its a childhood thing. White outside – so classic. And of course my favorite is the silver tree with the color wheel. Its older than me (argh!) but still works great!

    Reply
  33. Aaron

    I use white lights. The only time I’ve seen colored lights that I’ve liked was when a nieghbor used strands of those big bulbs on the outside of their home. It looked like a little ginger bread house.
    .-= Aaron ´s last blog ..The Look for Less: Pottery Barn Faux Snow Vase Filler =-.

    Reply
  34. Julie

    I love white or colored….I do NOT like the LED white though…too “cool” for me. I’m really trying, since they use less electricity.
    .-= Julie´s last blog ..House progress =-.

    Reply
  35. Trish

    I have very different decorating tastes than my parents who loved big colored lights, so when I was finally out on my own I gave all white lights a try and loved it. My husband and I have used white lights on our Christmas tree, throughout the house, and on the outside of the house. Two years ago I bought a little artificial tree to use as the centerpiece on a large dining table. I found some colored lights with plastic covers that make them look like they’re sugar coated ~ my sons loved them, so I bought them and used them in the centerpiece. It was a big hit ~ everyone loved the colored lights. This year I’m still keeping the tree and main decorations covered in white lights, but I’ll add the colored lights to the centerpiece, and I may try a set or two of colored lights around the stockings on the mantle or in my granddaughter’s room. I prefer white lights, but the right set of colored lights here and there adds a little depth when done correctly (and tastefully!). :)
    .-= Trish´s last blog ..hypothetical situation (part3) =-.

    Reply
  36. Cheryl

    I always do all white but this year I am trying to convince the husband to let me put those big color lights on our main tree. I saw one in a store window that looked so beautiful….so that is my goal this year!
    .-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Food =-.

    Reply
  37. Kathy

    We had always had colored lights ~ inside and out ~ for the longest time. The past couple of years I’ve been using white lights ~ inside and out. I think if you had a couple of trees you could mix it up, but I’ll probably do white again this year.

    Reply
  38. Rachel

    White on the tree, inside the house. Outside (if we put any up) I’d be okay with colored ones, I suppose. I think that with as much color coming off of the ornaments, well, to add more with the lights is just too distracting. Outside, where it only has to ‘compete’ against the darkness and the “neutrality” of the house (we have a completely neutral toned house..rather boring, but it came this way, lol), well, we can “do” color out there. If I had a brightly colored house, then I’d probably go with white.

    But definitely white inside, on the tree, the garlands I drape over everything not tree, in the window candles, etc.

    Color just seems…wrong. LOL
    .-= Rachel´s last blog ..Rejoice! =-.

    Reply
  39. CAL

    Our tree is a pre-lit with white lights, I can only add color through the use of decor. IMHO, white lights allow the decor to stand out and is not distracting from the colorful ornaments and decor.

    Reply
  40. Terrie

    Colored for me – the all white seems so commercial and too bright. I love the variety and softness of the small colored lights. Outside we do colored as well though in blocks – one tree all red, bushes all blue, etc. We’re the only house on the block not in all white, so we stand out!
    .-= Terrie@YourDecoratingHotline´s last blog ..Hallways Can be Challenging =-.

    Reply
  41. Elaine

    I’m doing white this year for a more classy look. However, two years ago I convinced my mom to go back to coloured lights and bulbs for a more “down home” (Newfoundland) look. I love the festive feel of coloured lights, especially on the outside of the house, but as for this first Christmas in my own house, I’m going white. Maybe next year I’ll go for a more “down home” feel too.
    .-= Elaine´s last blog ..Something Pretty =-.

    Reply
  42. karen

    Another traditionalist: white lights!

    Reply
  43. Spring

    When I was a teenager, I remember telling my mom that white lights say “Merry Christmas,” but colored lights say “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” LOL! I do love the classy look of all white when I see it somewhere, and I KNOW it would look “just right” in my 100 yr old home. But again- like many comment-ers before me, seeing my kids’ faces as they look at the burst of color is so precious, I am still doing color for them. And maybe a little bit for me, too. :) I am not sure I could ever go all white. I just admire it other places!
    .-= Spring´s last blog ..So Many Celebrations, So Little Time =-.

    Reply
  44. Linda in AZ *

    * ~~~ I ADORE all the falderall that comes w/ the holidays, & start thinking about all of it in the summer… like so many others, it energizes me!!! (Despite 100 degree desert heat then!)~~~

    I had a “run in”, however, w/ a commercial ladder over 5 weeks ago, and unfortunately, THE LADDER WON! … Am still struggling everyday, trying to heal. Soooo, T’giving & Christmas entertaining & decorating are, sadly, a “no go”… (and I can’t BELIEVE it!!!!!)~

    AM “totally on restriction” from doing ANYTHING (Ha~ I can’t ANYWAY!), but AM fighting the good fight to win my “desire” for something… one thing… that I’ve thought would be FUN for years… a thickly flocked, REAL, white tree. If I WIN this “discussion”, I wouldn’t be allowed to “add anything” (that’s HIS part of the “proposed, mutual agreement” between us~ “no working”, so to speak!). SOOOO, thought we’d just have small white lights put allllll over it. That’s it. Tree n’ lights & blesings from above should do it!

    Nothing else… No 40 years of ornaments, no special “dog/animal pic tree”, no kitchen, study, LR or bedroom tree… just that big white flocked tree (I ADORE the mountains & SNOW, which is why the “dream” of a snow-laden tree), with it’s lights will have to do. And actually, besides saving me two weeks of set-up time for all, I think having that tree in our family room will be nice. Nothing fancy, nothing to droooool over, just a nice tree (and I’ll “pretend” that WE cut it down in the snowy woods, & that the snow on it didn’t melt and that the angels light it up every night)… AND ACTUALLY, this sounds pretty good to me now that I put my thoughts into writing!)…

    Am wishing everyone the very best of the upcoming season and most importantly of all, joy, love, peace and precious time with family & friends!
    Love,
    Linda in AZ *
    [email protected]

    Reply
  45. Amy

    I’m all about white lights on the tree because I have LOTS of colorful ornaments. But I LOVE putting colored lights outside on the house. It’s way more fun than boring old white when you have little kids.
    .-= Amy @ Living Locurto´s last blog ..I Heart Faces – Sun Flare =-.

    Reply
  46. Terri Steffes

    I like them both! I use white lights in my more formal living room and colored lights in my family room. The family room has all our homemade ornaments and ornaments we’ve collected from family and friends. The colored lights seem more friendly and appropriate with that tree!

    Reply
  47. Funky Junk Interiors

    Not only am I going white, I removed all the colour from the tree this year too and made it a neutral tree, complete with burlap and ‘white sheet’ garland. It’s a first and I LOVE it!! But my son hates it so he’ll get his own tree in his room to do with what he pleases. :)

    White vote for me! I’m in a white shabby mode this year for certain. Just redid my bedroom and the light calming feel I get when I enter that room, I now get when I glance at my Christmas tree. It’s magical.

    (yes, my tree is up already because I have a Christmas show this weekend, it isn’t Thanksgiving in Canada)

    Donna
    .-= Funky Junk Interiors´s last blog ..Sat Nite Special #6 brings you ~ anything goes! =-.

    Reply
  48. Lora

    I grew up with my parents using mulit-colored lights, but when I got married I switched to all white lights for a year or so. But we have finally found our favorite is a combination of mult-colored and white lights. The colors are so fun, but then the white lights really make things pop.
    .-= Lora´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday: Thanksgiving Week! =-.

    Reply
  49. Jacque Boldt

    Growing up we always used the ceramic c7 multi-colored light on our tree. When I was a teen, we used to hang white c7s on the roof line of our house, and I thought the white lights were sophisticated and grown up :) When I got married, I only wanted white lights on my tree. Now that I have children, we do the multi-colored lights, because the children love the mix of colors. We plan to line our house with big c9 LEDs this year, and I like to think we’ll look happily like a gingerbread house :) Hang all our sophistication.

    Reply
  50. Jen

    I’ve always done white but this year I found the most gorgeous ornaments at Pier 1 that are in bright colours (pink, turqouise, purple). I bought them even though they don’t match my tree. I think I’m going to get a 2 foot tree and some multi-coloured mini lights (the ones that have pink lights in them) and set it up somewhere. It’ll be nostalgic.
    .-= Jen´s last blog ..Old Fort William =-.

    Reply
  51. caren

    We used to use only white lights but now we have a white tree so I have colored lights – tons of colored lights. So pretty.
    .-= caren´s last blog ..PINK SATURDAY – NOVEMBER 21, 2009 =-.

    Reply
  52. Bonnie Mattson

    I can still remember the excitement each year of that moment when you plugged in the lights to see if they still worked before putting them on the tree For a kid that was the joyous signal that Christmas was here! So I love the colored lights even if they are the tiny ones.

    For years though I have used mostly white lights but I have a few spots where I love the colored ones. The white ones go in the more formal parts of the house and the colored ones goes in our family room and in the guest bedroom which are both decorated with a lot of red. I decorate every room in the house, so I am happy using both and mixing it up a little.
    .-= Bonnie Mattson´s last blog ..A Simple Woman’s Daybook~November 23, 2009 =-.

    Reply
  53. L.Duncan

    I like white because they’re timeless! And they match any of the colors you choose to decorate with!
    .-= L.Duncan´s last blog ..DECORATING YOUR MANTEL =-.

    Reply
  54. pk

    It’s all white lights for us! We’ve had white for years now and I’m just still not tired of it (which is good because who wants to buy all new lights? :-) ) I like the colored lights when I see them other places though so who knows, maybe one of these years…
    .-= pk @ Room Remix´s last blog ..A Quick Ornament Tip =-.

    Reply
  55. Anita

    I prefer white lights but sometimes I do like a change, especially outside. In my old neighborhood we had a house that used all red lights outside, the big bulbs. They were lined up like a runway up and down the drive, sidewalk and roof! I hated that house. It was acutally scary coming around the corner and seeing it! Something out of amityville horror or a whore house! lol

    Reply
  56. Grace

    I prefer white lights on the tree inside, and either white or green on inside garlands. Outside I love the simplistic beauty of white lights, but whenever I see the multi-colored lights on houses it reminds me of my childhood, so whimsical and fairytale-like, and it always makes me smile. My very favorite look on houses is how my dad now does it. Keep in mind, my folks are blessed with a very large two-story home which takes hours to put lights on…and I’ve never been brave enough to help out with the second story lights, my sister helps with that! Anyways, my dad lines the whole roof edge (top and bottom) with white lights, and then on each corner (and there’s a lot!) he has a few red lights to make a bit more impact. Then, in front of the large upper windows that sort of jut out from the house he hangs a large (like 8 foot) wreath that he made and covered with green lights & red lights for the wreath’s bow. Whenever you drive up and see the house it looks just like something out of a Christmas movie. It’s just gorgeous!
    .-= Grace @ Ruby Moon Designs´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Tablescape Preview! =-.

    Reply
  57. Janell Beals

    I always use white, it’s just what I have! I like the simplicity of the white lights with the hodgepodge collection of decorations I’ve collected over the years and been given as gifts. Janell
    .-= Janell Beals´s last blog ..A Simple Beach House =-.

    Reply
  58. Liz

    I use white lights on most of the trees indoors, I put up a baseball tree in my son’s room that has blue lights and a Pez tree in my other son’s room that has colored lights. I use white lights outside too.
    ~Liz
    .-= Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..Dessert Shots =-.

    Reply
  59. black eyed susans kitchen

    Hi Melissa, Over the years we have had only white, only colors, a mixture of the two, and there have been years when we have gone for the big ,vintage outdoorsy type lites on the tree. We actually have several trees around the house in different styles, and they have white lights, but the “real” tree (my family insists on one freshly cut tree) gets what ever we are moved to decorate it with that year.
    Susan
    .-= black eyed susans kitchen´s last blog ..BLACK AND WHITE AND SILVERWARE ALLOVER =-.

    Reply
  60. Kim

    Growing up we always had multi coloured lights so my thing is to have all white. The outside of our house is a colour free for all (my hubby’s department) but the inside is mine! Happy decorating.

    Reply
  61. Cathy

    I grew up with the big colored lights on every tree. Once I had my own apartment and after all the years of marriage and children we always used white. A few years ago we decided to try the colored lights again. I enjoyed the feelings of childhood they brought back, but wished I had room for two trees…so I could have both types of lights.
    Two years ago my husband walked out after 25 years of marriage on Halloween. My daughters and I discussed it and thought it would be too painful to decorate with all the ornaments from over the years..so we went out and bought a white tree prelit with white lights..and bought a slew of blue sparkly ornaments and ribbon at the Dollar Tree. It was a beautiful, right out of a magazine tree…and also the coldest tree I had ever had.
    Last year we used our old tree..with white lights and all our old ornaments..and it was not nearly as painful as the year of the “Stranger” tree.

    Reply
  62. katie

    white!!! sometimes mixed w/red…. it’s really pretty:)
    .-= katie´s last blog ..do you know what these are?? =-.

    Reply
  63. Pat

    White all the way for me! Growing up there were always colored lights and I did that some when my kids were small. There’s just something magical and peaceful to me about the white lights, inside and out. I LOVE sitting in a darkened room, listening to Christmas music with something special to drink and just enjoying the lights and quiet peace.

    Reply
  64. Laurie

    I have two fake Xmas trees… one with white lights and other with color lights. So I do not have to fret about which to use every year!

    Reply
  65. Sandy

    I followed my parents tradition of colored lights. However, we did purchase a new family room Christmas tree a few years ago and it came strung with white lights and red (berry shaped) lights. And I love it! Sometimes a change is nice!

    Teacup Lane (Sandy)

    Reply
  66. Meg D.

    In our family, we made a compromise. I always loved the crisp classic look of white lights on a house at Christmas and my husband loves the colored lights. So, our family does white lights outside and colored lights inside. Everyone is happy!

    Reply
  67. Rachel

    We always had colored lights when I was a kid. I loved the look of those beautifully decorated trees with white lights, so once I was on my own, white lights it was. That lasted three years. The colors give so much more vibrancy to the tree, especially when mixed in with the ornaments we have.

    I took the white lights and wrapped them around a wreath frame, which I hang in the window in the front of my house. The wreath of light looks great from the street.

    I’ve come to the conclusion that white is perfect some things, but colored is best for trees.
    .-= Rachel´s last blog ..Bonfire. 10 years later. =-.

    Reply
  68. Lou Cinda

    Growing up we always had the colored lights on the tree and in the garlands. I, however, do all white lights now, though I do still love the colored lights!! I don’t think you can go wrong either way! Both are just enchanting to me….

    Lou Cinda :)
    .-= Lou Cinda´s last blog ..A Gift and a Tease… =-.

    Reply
  69. Deidra

    I’m a sucker for the white lights. But I also have a soft place in my heart for what I call my gumdrop bushes. Two little bushes in our front yard at the corner of our house that I load up with colored lights. Everything else? Just white lights. But somehow those little gumdrop bushes make it all come together.
    .-= Deidra´s last blog ..Advent::Almost =-.

    Reply
  70. Danielle

    We always had colored lights too, so I go for that when I want it to feel like home; white lights look gorgeous and classy though, so I go for them when I want a simple and chic look. Not sure what I’m doing this year yet!
    .-= Danielle´s last blog ..Mashed Potatoes by Snoop =-.

    Reply
  71. cathy

    I grew up with all blue lights. Blue with grandmas crocheted snowflakes and just the very special tree ornaments. I recall as a kid, wanting to more color, but blue and simple it always was. The color came on christmas morning in all the package wrap!

    Now, I like the simplicity of all white and that is what I have had forever! But this year, I might just might bring back my moms blue lights. If I can talk my DH into it. Because I am feeling very nostalgic I guess.
    .-= cathy´s last blog ..Have You Ever Danced on A Bar? =-.

    Reply
  72. beth

    For me, only white lights will do! :) Happy Holidays!
    .-= beth´s last blog ..Fluffy Eggless Pancakes =-.

    Reply
  73. Anna/quilted giraffe

    WHITE all the way!! So chic, and the yellow light is so pretty.

    Reply
  74. Chris

    I do white lights. I have a lot of ornaments and they are all so colorful that I don’t want colored lights to compete with them. Now, if I had all white ornaments I think colored lights would be wonderful.

    Reply
  75. Muthering Heights

    I HAVE to go with white. I decorate my tree twice {once for my daughter’s birthday, then again for Christmas}, and the white lights allow me to transition between motifs more easily. :)
    .-= Muthering Heights´s last blog ..My "Secrets" =-.

    Reply
  76. Andrea

    Oooh…this question was not trivial at all when we got married. My husband was adamant about those BIG glass colored lights, while I was adamant about the classy, soft miniature white lights. That first year, I gave in and I really missed my sweet little white lights. Last year, with nearly half of the large glass bulbs cracked or broken, I talked my husband into replacing them with large LED plastic lights for the outside. We really enjoyed them. We have also come up with a compromise inside. The living room tree (which is our largest tree) in the front window wears white lights (we tried the LED white lights on it last year…we will NOT do that again!). All the lights in the living room and dining room are white. The smaller (6′) tree in our family room and on the mantle are mini colored lights. Everyone’s happy!
    .-= Andrea´s last blog ..A Kid Friendly Project =-.

    Reply
  77. the BLAH BLAH BLAHger

    Mine are white, but they are globe shaped, not the traditional tear drop. Kinda fun and different! While I use my ornaments to bring color to my tree, I do think that colored lights bring a charming retro feel to Christmas!
    .-= the BLAH BLAH BLAHger´s last blog ..Taco Salad Salvation =-.

    Reply
  78. Melodie

    White only! No discussions allowed at my house. lol

    Reply
  79. Ronda

    For MANY years it was mulit-colored. Then I went to all white. Loved it. Now my whole tree is nothing but purple and silver so the lights are purple!! This really is me. If I were to add another color with the purple, I am pretty sure it would be white. Oh – and the more lights the better!!!

    Happy Thanksgiving all!

    Reply
  80. Andi Hays

    I prefer the white lights. Then I can add color with ornaments, ribbon, other decorations. Plus, what I envision every year might change, but white is always a good base to start with.
    .-= Andi Hays´s last blog ..sweater + scarf = happy =-.

    Reply
  81. Tiffany

    I am generally an all white lights gal. Mostly because it reminds me of icicles and snow. Since I live in California…snow does not visit me at home. Booo.

    But I don’t hate colored lights. Growing up, our family had 2 Christmas trees. The kids tree (which had the colored lights and all the fun Hallmark ornaments) and the Adults tree…which was more fancy.

    I just love lights. Happy Thanksgiving!
    .-= Tiffany´s last blog ..He Is Not The Enemy =-.

    Reply
  82. Elziabeth

    White if for me, inside and out, but my boys still love the coloured lights. Our compromise is white LED lights for the front of the house, colours in the backyard. And luckily we have more than one tree, so they can get their colours and I can have white, just white. They won’t be young for long so I feel I can indulge them now.
    I am so looking forward to all the great Christmas decorating posts out there in blogland.

    Reply
  83. Penny

    I still do the white lights….but I do like the colored ones too.
    Hugs,
    Penny

    Reply
  84. Queen Mommy

    I generally prefer all solid colored lights. For the longest time, I only liked white lights (although I grew up with colored lights in Christmas trees). In the last few years, I’ve also enjoyed all red or all green. We just bought a pre-lit tree for the first time last year, and it has all white lights on it.
    .-= Queen Mommy´s last blog ..My name is Mommy =-.

    Reply
  85. Amanda

    I grew up with an all-white-lights tree, and I still do white lights on our main tree and the smaller trees in the Kitchen, Dining room, and Family room. I added a small tree to the addition last year, which is a spot where my girls play and I have my desk. I did colored lights and a garland with colored lights. I added small ball ornaments in jewel tones with a white wire ribbon with polka dots. I loved the look! It’s fun to mix things up. :)

    I still like the look of nice white lights on our main tree, but I’m having fun playing with color in the addition. :)
    .-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..DIY: Simple Party Invites =-.

    Reply
  86. Heather

    I love the white.. it’s such a traditional but i usually throw in colors everywhere.. one year i did white and red. I’ve done white and blue, white and green.. i usually try to keep a color theme through my house.. i love it and it feels much more cozy to me :)
    .-= Heather´s last blog ..{Favorite Fall Piece this year} =-.

    Reply
  87. April

    White… Definitely white… everywhere.

    Reply
  88. Gina

    Good question! I love gobs and gobs of white lights on our tree, but I’m thinking I’d kind of like the whimsy of colored lights. Of course the kids would love colored lights-right now the debate around our house is one tree for all or one tree for grown ups and one tree decorated by kids. Can’t decide on this one!
    .-= Gina´s last blog ..A Perfect World =-.

    Reply
  89. V. Higgins

    I grew up with a mix of the two on the tree and I can’t imagine it any other way. For me, just white would feel cold, but that’s just my personality. I put colored lights all around our front apartment window and our sliding glass door so you can see them from the parking lot. I put white and blue on our kitchen ledge. I’m thinking about getting icicle lights to hang from our porch. ^_^
    .-= V. Higgins´s last blog ..Slowly creating new language in my heart… =-.

    Reply
  90. Jenny

    The garlands are done in all white lights. The tree is usually done with coloured lights, but last year we did white and green and it looked very simple,but still sparkly.
    We’re going away for the holiday season so no decorating for us. I’ll still put up a couple of winter garlands up.
    I heart Christmas…:)
    .-= Jenny´s last blog ..Gavin-isms =-.

    Reply
  91. C

    White Lights Definately…my whole house is mostly White!!

    Reply
  92. Anne

    White, definitely. They twinkle like stars and let the ornaments pop off the tree. I like to squint at them so they shimmer a bit.
    .-= Anne´s last blog ..Siblings =-.

    Reply
  93. Sheila

    These days, white is the standard for me. I never do traditional red and green ornaments of any kind, including lights. When my kids were little, I usually did multi-colored everything, which is sweet and which I love. Since they have grown, I have done many different solid color schemes too, just as long as they are not too traditonal. I love the looks of everyone else’s decorations though, no matter what colors they choose!

    Sheila
    .-= Sheila´s last blog ..Taken in by those Gorgeous Baby Blues! =-.

    Reply
  94. Sarah

    I love both depending on the look you are going for. My whole life, we have always used both! I’ve been really into the look of turquoise with white and silver, so if I decorated a tree that way, I would stick with white, but it changes yearly for me.
    .-= Sarah @ Dream In Domestic´s last blog ..Losing My Sanity to Four Cheap Chairs =-.

    Reply
  95. Courtney

    I have always loved white lights! I think they look so magical, esp with snow. I try and mix just one color into the lights for an accent, for example, on the tree I used red and white lights with red, white, gold and green ornaments only.

    Reply
  96. rene

    We will have WHITE lights just like we do every year! I LOVE white lights. To me they seem very elegant. Bright and beautiful! When I was a child we always had colored lights, and I couldn’t wait to have my own tree so I could have white ones!
    .-= rene´s last blog ..Pics As Promised Earlier… =-.

    Reply
  97. Janine

    Here in South Africa Christmas time comes around in the heat of Summer. I think that if by some miracle we ever had a “white Christmas” … then I would definitely go all white … guess I will have to spend a Christmas in the US for that little miracle ;) Every year, I go full colour and tree overloaded with happy decorations. My kiddies are little and it reminds me of my childhood. I guess I will finally go “classy” when the girls are a little older ;) Until then … loud, colourful and happy it is!!!

    Reply
  98. marge

    i grew up with vintage, big, multi-colored bulbs, and so that’s what we use. it reminds me of growing up, decorating the tree with strung popcorn and hearing old classic christmas music in the background.
    .-= marge´s last blog ..court and campout =-.

    Reply
  99. Bethany

    Normally I would say color! The blinking color lights is what i grew up with, but this year, I am going all white!! Going to put a spin on my traditions and create a simple tree with lots of memories!!
    .-= Bethany´s last blog ..dream rooms =-.

    Reply
  100. Gwen

    I am a white or blue light kind of girl. I like everything to look mellow, all of the crazy cacophony of colors makes my head hurt.
    .-= Gwen@MurphyGraceHome´s last blog ..Let me Introduce You to My Frugal Family and her Giveaway! =-.

    Reply
  101. Suzanna

    I love the beauty of the multi-colored lights with pink instead of red. I have tried white, but keep coming back to colors.

    Reply
  102. Amber

    I’m all about the colored lights on the tree. I love the look of a “themed” tree with only a few colors, but I have too many ornaments I love to do such a thing. With all the many different ornaments I have, colored lights make sense (plus, it’s what I grew up with).

    Now, for outside, it’s a different story. White only there!!

    Reply
  103. Krys

    I’m a white lights kind of girl but my husband, not so much. But since I decorate the tree and he runs and hides, my preferences seem to win out every year! And I grew up putting such a colorful assortment of ornaments, every color, shape and style, on the tree I felt the white lights kept it from looking too busy.
    BUT this year we’re putting colored lights on our deck (in fact, they’re already up!) and I like the idea of mixing white and colored – that might make it palatable for me – so I might try that this year!
    Thanks for the idea!
    .-= Krys´s last blog ..I apologize in advance. =-.

    Reply
  104. Tracy

    Indoors, I have colored lights on our tree because they are old ones and I don’t see the point of buying new until these die. Outdoors, our garlands have only white lights. Since our house is a distance from the road, I think they look much cleaner and classier peeking through the snow. You can see the colored ones on the tree through the front window and it offers just a “splash of color”. LOL

    Reply
  105. Abbie

    I love colored lights since that is what we grew up having! But I bought (on clearance in January) a pre-lit tree with white lights that will be our first full-size tree as a family (married 7 1/2 years, 3 kids under 5). I have strings of white and colored lights I may add or use for garland. Haven’t decided, but want to dig it all out soon! Can’t wait! (except I started stripping wallpaper in my girls’ room yesterday so I’m kind of in the middle of that!
    .-= Abbie´s last blog ..Blue for my bouncing baby boy. =-.

    Reply
  106. Colleen

    I use all white lights. I feel they are classic and classy. Go with every type of decor. I just love them. If I used colored lights my kids (all grown) would flip out! As I type this my darling son-in-law is outside hanging lights on the house. Gotta love a good son-in-law!
    .-= Colleen´s last blog ..Decorating for Christmas =-.

    Reply
  107. Sandy

    I have only ever had white lites – growing up and as an adult. We always have red ornaments too. I like the look of other trees, but can’t imagine my own tree having anything else though.
    .-= Sandy´s last blog ..Holiday Schedule and Free Shipping! =-.

    Reply
  108. edie3

    The tree we have is pre lit, and it was on sale. They only had the colored lights. I would prefer white lights, but hey, a bargain is a bargain!!

    Reply
  109. Gail

    My father always hung colored lights on our house and everyone else had these pure white ones…I vowed to use only white to never stand out. Now I look at colored lights and see the fun of them. I hang white because my husband and kids picked them out, but will not rule out colored in the future!

    My tree is artificial (I know…but I don’t miss the real thing!) and is pre-lit! White of course. I have a lot of ornaments and feel the colored competes with them. I like the simplicity of white on the tree to show off your precious memories/ornaments!
    .-= Gail´s last blog ..Fresh Thoughts and Ideas – Life’s More Fun When You Are Organized =-.

    Reply
  110. Jennifer

    I go colored every year. If I had a secondary tree, I would do it white. Growing up we had the big colored bulbs that blinked randomly when they got hot. I don’t think they make them anymore. The trick to lights is to use lots of them. I put small colored bulbs on the interior of the tree and then larger bulbs towards the outside. It takes a little more time, but I really like the effect.

    Reply
  111. Michelle Simpson

    Both is the way we go. We have 5 trees in our house. On four of them are white lights. We have the main tree in the living room with white lights and red and gold ornaments, a tree in the kitchen with white lights and gingerbread men, and pink trees with white lights in both of my girls rooms. The tree in the dining room has colored lights and the whimsical ornaments and the ornaments I have gotten for my children every year on it. I love having both and would have a tree in every room if my husband would let me.

    Reply
  112. Jocelyn Stott

    white lights. for sure. i love them.

    Reply
  113. Beth

    We do two trees–one with colored lights and all the “kid” ornaments. Then, there’s “mom’s tree” with white lights and pretty coordinating ornaments (mostly copper-colored and apple-green). This was a compromise we came to after I was running out of room at the back of the tree to hide all the Dora, Bob the Builder, and various Disney Character ornaments. The kids get to decorate their tree however they want, and they love it!

    Reply
  114. Jen

    I use white on our living room tree. We used to use multicoloured, but I decided I wanted our tree to look tailored and traditional, rather than the Santa-Threw-Up-On-Our-Tree look.

    We are building a new house in the next year. And our kids will be sharing big rooms, so I’m hoping to decorate them for Christmas as well. I’ll use multi-coloured lights on the tree in our boys room, and pink ones on the white tree (I haven’t got yet) in our girls room. You know… when it actually happens ;)
    .-= Jen´s last blog ..Home is Heaven =-.

    Reply
  115. Kristi Rediske

    I use alot of white lights but since I put up alot of trees I try to do one or two with colored lights. I know the kids all like colored and I do think they make Christmas special so I feel like I want to make it special for them too. I love Christmas and do go overboard!

    Reply
  116. kate

    I think white lights are beautiful, but I put colored lights on the tree – that’s what I grew up with, and I think it just looks more homey. I put white lights and garland around the front doors, and candles in the window to add a little polish.
    .-= kate´s last blog ..Brownie Thins =-.

    Reply
  117. Heidi

    Wow! So many comments! I actually put BOTH on my tree. We have the multi-colored mini lights, and then the white light strands twinkle.
    .-= Heidi´s last blog ..Brock’s Cookies =-.

    Reply
  118. Denise

    Our old farmhouse is under renovation and I can’t imagine trying to decorate inside the house this year (somehow we’ll pull it off)! I would rather focus on the outside and decorate a huge holly tree at the entrance of our property with big colored lights. We would have to bring in a cherry picker to reach the upper branches, but it would be so festive!!

    Reply
  119. Gayle

    I think it’s fun to change them every few years. I got tired of the all white look and switched to the little colored lights. I think the colored lights are actually the classic old fashioned look of my childhood before they had the white lights. (I’m 50) I’d love to do something totally different this year, I’ll have to see what is out there!
    .-= Gayle´s last blog ..Happy Thanksgiving! =-.

    Reply
  120. Heathahlee

    There are over 125 comments, but I have to throw my two cents in, too. We have done white lights all our married lives (this will be our 14th Christmas), and that’s not changing any time soon, even though Kiddo would much rather have colored lights. Sorry, my sweet son, Momma wins on this one!
    .-= Heathahlee´s last blog ..My 15 minutes… =-.

    Reply
  121. Lei

    White, all the way. BUT different sizes and shapes of white. Tiny bulb, large bulb, globe… you get the picture.
    .-= Lei´s last blog ..Craft Partay! =-.

    Reply
  122. Dawn

    White!!
    I grew up in the 50s and 60s and had the huge colored lights as a child…then my mother had to have the silver tree with all blue balls and a light that revolved the primary colors shining on the tree. Oh, so retro! :P
    The hubs and I have been married for 37 years and it has always been white for us.
    Our children use the white ones on their trees as well.
    .-= Dawn´s last blog ..(winners!) =-.

    Reply
  123. Lori

    White lights, only! Just wondering, did I miss the announcement of the all day giveaway winners? Your posts come to my Reader, so I didn’t think I could miss it…just checking! :)

    Reply
  124. living with lindsay

    I used to be a white light only girl (like I’m a white only candle girl) until I saw this house…it had a mixture of white, red and green lights, wrapped around garlands and hung on every window of their house. Completely gorgeous and I totally stole the idea once we moved to a different neighborhood.

    Years later…I found out that the original red/green/white light house belongs to my son’s preschool teacher! :D She was really touched that I stole her Christmas decor and even drove over to where we live now so she could see it!
    .-= living with lindsay´s last blog ..DIY Faux Boxwood Letter Wreaths =-.

    Reply
  125. Edie

    Colored or white lights at Christmas? I vote for colored, twinkly, unevenly hung on the tree or bushes! Why? Even though I LOVE to decorate and LOVE the Inspired Room (pure eye candy), in my home at Christmas, there was a terrible loneliness. My mother was a troubled woman and each year she hired decorators to come in and “do” the tree. Some were all white lights and ornaments. Some had a gingerbread theme with red lights. One was pink flocked! But the one tree that was “ours,” the kids’, was the aluminum one with the rotating colored spotlight. My brother and I decorated it with a vengeance, cramming as many balls as we could as high as we could reach. We played sword fights with the branches as we assembled it and memorized Christmas songs from a Ray Coniff album. So… now, in my home, we let the children choose the lights. Every year, it’s colored with twinkles. And each year, more and more balls have moved up from the lower half of the tree to the top where Gabriel blows on his horn. Truly, God is with us. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  126. Jen

    My family has always been a colored lights family, and I continue that on my tree. I think white lights are classy and pretty…but I find colored lights to be so festive and fun. My tree growing up was filled with our childhood ornaments..and now even with out children my tree is very eclectic! So I find colored to be more in the spirit of my crazy fun tree!
    .-= Jen @ After The Alter´s last blog ..Saw New Moon! LOVED It! =-.

    Reply
  127. Rachel

    Late to the party but another vote for the white. They look so magical, like a starry walk in the woods in the moonlight. Besides, I do the decorating so I get to choose.

    Reply
  128. Fifth Street Mama

    We have twinkly white lights. I would be just as happy with colored I think though :).
    .-= Fifth Street Mama´s last blog ..‘Tis The Season Thursday *Giveaway* =-.

    Reply
  129. T.

    The comments are interesting. So many people here are calling white lights “traditional.” To me, color lights seem traditional, and white lights seem modern! As I consider myself traditional, I prefer color lights! Go figure. Absolutely no blinking lights, though. That’s too much.

    One year my hubby came home with several boxes of lights he got on deep clearance. DEEP clearance. I was happy he saved so much money until we plugged them in, and they were yellow! Not white, not multi color, but yellow. He insisted on using them. I let him line the inside of windows with them for a couple years. Ugh. I was so happy when they finally stopped working!

    Reply
  130. Condo Blues

    I like to switch it up. I grew up with a red balls and multicolored lights on the family tree. My first single gal tree was colored lights (a hand me down) but I wanted a single color. When my husband and I married we did all purple lights. When we bought our condo, we switched to white on the tree and colored lights outside. We save the purple ones to use outside for Halloween.
    .-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Recycled Buttons? Oh Yes Please! =-.

    Reply
  131. Mommylady

    We string both on the tree, and have the final male connectors within reach at the base of the tree so we can choose from all white, colored, or both.

    Reply
  132. Margaret

    Hi
    I love every colour of lights
    I have 5 Christmas trees
    My main large one I have coloured lights
    A green frosted one – blue lights
    I love crispness of white lights on my kitchen tree
    But could I have everyone opinion of which colour I should use on my new BLACK tree please

    Reply

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