Best outdoor Christmas lights: wreaths, garlands, for the garden

One of the cheapest, and easiest, ways to make your garden look more Christmassy is to simply use LED string lights, like these from Makion, to light up your ordinary garden objects.

The flexible, yet firm, wire that the LEDs are fixed into makes it really easy to wrap the lights securely around your pre-existing garden furniture, plants and trees, and ornaments, giving them a bright and warm glow.

Another good use for them is when you see a Christmas decoration that you like but it has no illumination of its own. With these lights, you can make sure that visitors and passers by can still see those decorations even at night time, thanks to the 100 bright LEDs

These lights are available as a battery-operated single pack, battery-operated double pack, or as a single USB plug in pack. As an added bonus for buying the double pack, you get a remote control that isn’t art of the other versions.

With this remote, you can select from any of the eight lighting modes: Combination, In Waves, Sequential, Slo-Glo, Chasing/Flash, Slow Fade, Twinkle/Flash, Steady On, and an OFF button. You can also adjust the brightness, and there is a timer function too for you to set the lights to come on for 6 hours and then rest for the next 18.

With an IP44 waterproof rating, you are safe to leave these outside, and if you opt for a -battery-operated version, the case that houses the 3 AA batteries is also IP44. The wiring for this box is heat insulated silver, and the main wire is good quality copper, making this product safe and durable enough to handle outdoor usage.

The best part? Well, that would be the price. The double pack with remote can be bought for under fourteen pounds at the moment, and that would be enough to 66 feet of hedges, walls, patios, and anywhere else you fancy. In my book, that makes them a very good deal.

Pros

• Versatile and available as battery operated or USB mains powered.
• 100 bright and warm LEDs give you a nice festive glow
• Eight different lighting modes to choose from
• Remote control with the double pack
• IP44 waterproof, including the battery pack

Cons

• As good as IP44 is, I would have preferred a higher rating if possible.

It’s amazing at just how much a difference even a few string lights can make. Just look at these tweets that show how a handful of lights can improve an ordinary looking garden-

My weekend project to string up party lights is 90% complete. pic.twitter.com/5XxOTWR3YG

— Ryan Frantz (@Ryan_Frantz) October 18, 2021

Hang string lights from a canopy or balcony to give your #backyard a special ambiance. #homestyle https://t.co/vnoOYNdOLX pic.twitter.com/hfRVn02pSa

— Denise Lanatto, REALTOR (@DeniseLanatto) October 18, 2021

Although I personally prefer battery-operated outdoor Christmas lights to ones that run from the mains, you still have to worry about having spare batteries at the ready for when your originals inevitably run out. I know it’s not a big problem, but if you’ve got a partner like mine, it means having to scale a ladder, in the cold, at 10pm when the batteries have decided to die.

One way to avoid this, is to get yourself some solar-powered outdoor Christmas lights instead. This technology is easily affordable these days, and is perfect for people who are too busy (or forgetful) to remember to plug their lights in or change batteries.

One of the best products we tried, and one that offered very good value for money, was this double pack from Oreunik, available at the time of writing for under thirteen quid, and giving you 80 feet of string lights to play with, overall.

These lights are really easy to set up too. You just click the solar panels into the provided ground spikes, remove the protective film, then connect the wire. It really is Child’s play, and can be done in no time by anyone with an ounce of common sense.

Just like with most string lights, the wire has enough flexibility and strength to be wrapped around pretty much anything, and with a really high IP65 rating, you know that these lights are as waterproof, and dust proof, as you’re going to find.

You’ll need to switch the solar cells on to start them charging from the sunlight, and for the best results, you need to set them up in a spot that gets the most direct sunlight for as long as possible. The initial charging time should be around 6-8 hours, and then that should give you between 8-14 hours of use, depending on how well the cells charged, and what lighting mode you are using.

There are eight different lighting modes, and as just mentioned, the one you choose will affect the running time. For example, the flashing modes will last a fair bit longer than if you have them on a mode that keeps the lights on permanently, but that should be fairly obvious anyway.

Available in four different colour schemes: bright white, warm white, coloured, and multi, with each having 120 LEDs per wire, any of these versions will look fantastic in your garden and on the outside of your home, and at the low rice of around thirteen pounds for a set of 2, you can’t grumble at all.

Pros

• Solar powered so no need for batteries and cables
• Four different colour schemes available
• 120 LEDs per wire
• Very cost effective for a pack of two
• IP65 rating is as good as you’ll see on any outdoor lights

Cons

• You need to place the solar cells in a place that gets enough sunlight to make them effective.

If you’re wondering what solar powered string lights look like when they arrive, take a look at the following photo. Not the most impressive looking thing huh? But once they are set up and charge, they look fantastic!

If you are looking to Illuminate a large outdoor area without having to mess around with multiple sets of lights, this product from Ansio could be just the thing you are looking for.

Featuring a whopping 720 waterproof LEDs and 10 metres of cable overall, you should have no problems decorating the entirety of your hedge, fence, wall, or house front with these lights, and you will be overjoyed with how good the combination of colours looks when switched on.

There is a timer included with the lights, and this can be set to 8 hours on and 16 off, and to start at a time of your liking, saving money on your electricity bill, although these are designed to be low voltage.

You can also choose from eight different light patterns and these include: 1. Combination 2. Steady On 3. Slow Fade 4. In Waves 5. Slow Glow 6. Chasing/Flash 7. Sequential 8. Twinkle/Flash mode. My personal favourite among these is chasing mode, but I also thought the in waves setting was good too.

These lights are waterproof, and even the adapter has an IP44 rating, but you will still have to find a waterproof extension lead as this product is powered from the mains supply of your house, and not batteries or solar cells. Having said that, the lead is really long, and you should have no problems connecting to an indoor power point.

In fact, connecting the adapter to the mains indoors is probably a better idea seeing as though there is no remote for the lights, and the controls to switch modes is located on the adapter itself. It would be much easier to lean over the arm of the sofa and press a switch than to walk outside and do it, right?

A word of warning, if you decide to use these lights in conjunction with another set from a different brand, be prepared to have the other set outshone. These are very bright outdoor Christmas lights, yet it is done in a way that still makes them feel inviting.

What more can I say? Fairly priced, good quality, a good length, and very bright. Could you ask for more from your Christmas lights? They are well worth the investment.

Pros

• Very cost effective way to light up a large area
• Timer included to save you money on your electricity bill
• Multiple and varied light patterns to choose from
• Very bright lights
• 7720 LEDs can really brighten up any area

Cons

• Can outshine your other Christmas lights and make them look dull in comparison

With 720 lights, you could probably set up something like the display in the following video if you bought a few (ok probably more than a few) packs of these lights.

There are few things that can make your home look instantly more festive than a stunning Christmas garland framing the front door. What’s even better than that? A garland that already has lights built in, saving you the time and expense of having to do it separately.

When I first got this Village Lighting Company product out of the box, it didn’t quite look like the advertising photos, but after I spent a few minutes separating branches and fluffing things up, it really started to take shape and looked fantastic.

The combination of green leaves and needles, dark red flowers, and pine cones, has been done incredibly well, and there is a very realistic look to this garland. The level of detail, colour contrast, and density of the garland is simply outstanding.

Now, I’m not going to shy away from the elephant in the room here, this is an expensive garland, but you do get what you pay for, and the quality of this product is just so much higher than the cheaper models you can buy.

Not only has it been designed to be UV resistant so that its colours don’t fade and the PE and PVC doesn’t degrade, it is also shatterproof so you won’t be left holding the garland in your hands with tears running down your cheeks if a strong gust blows it off the door. Yes, it is an expensive product, but you will get years and years of use out of it

There are controls for adjusting the brightness of the 100 mini LEDs, and also settings for the timer, and for selecting whether you want the light to stay on or flash. This is all done with the press of a single button on the remote, and things couldn’t be simpler.

This garland runs from a battery pack, but there is an option to buy an AC adapter separately if wish. Personally, I prefer batteries for outdoor Christmas decorations and with this product, battery life can be saved by using the timer and flashing function.

Apart from the fact that this is a pricey item, and that I think for that price the AC adapter should have been included, I really can’t fault this outdoor Christmas garland. It simply looks amazing, and is truly built to last for years.

Pros

• Pre Lit and will save you time and money on extra decorations and lights
• Combination of pine cones and red berries is very eye catching
• Different types of branches and needles give a very realistic effect.
• Brightness can be adjusted on the 100 mini LEDs
• Plastic materials are UV resistant

Cons

• No AC adapter included, but runs off batteries anyway

Haven’t made up your mind about an outdoor garland for your front door yet? Well, just look at how good this one looks in this twitter post-

Here’s an Outdoor Christmas Garland Decor idea for you! It may be too late for some, but those who are still getting things up, You Are Welcome! https://t.co/m2E5akQeJg pic.twitter.com/efAVEinFeM

— Lou Lou Girls (@theloulougirls) December 10, 2018

For less than half the price of the Village Lighting Company product we just reviewed, you can get your hands on this wonderful alternative from Wanna-cul.

At 6ft long, it is a third smaller than the Village Lighting Company garland, and there are also a third of the number of LEDs too, but that doesn’t seem to make all that much difference overall, if you ask me.

The Wanna-cul outdoor Christmas garland does have something over its more expensive rival though, and that is lighting modes, and there are a total of eight to choose from with this product. A timer feature is available too, and you can set it to light up for 6 hours on and 18 off.

The garland is made up of artificial pine cones, red berries, blue berries, red apples, and green leaves, and although it can’t quite match the realism of the Village lighting company product, it still looks amazing, with eye-catching colour and texture contrasts.

You don’t have to worry about leaving this garland hung on your door at the mercy of the elements as it has an IP44 rating and can take a hit from the rain. Even the battery pack, where you install the 3AA batteries needed to run the lights, is protected from the weather so you can sleep easily at night.

At this kind of quality, I think the current price tag of just over 90 pounds is very reasonable. Yes, I know you can get pre-lit garlands for a fraction of the price, but trust me, and I’m speaking from experience here, it is better to pay a bit more for something of a higher quality or be prepared to use your garland only once and have to re buy.

All in all, this is a cracking looking Christmas garland that is well built and weatherproof. The LEDs are nice and bright, and the choice of lighting patterns is a big selling point. I can’t see anyone being disappointed if they buy this to brighten up their front door or fireplace.

Pros

• Very good quality and will last a long time
• Very nice design, with apples, different coloured berries and pine cones.
• Ip44 waterproof rating allows you use it outdoors
• Bright LEDs really make the garland come alive at night
• Choice of lighting patterns

Cons

• Price might be a little high for some people

Here’s a photo of some 6ft garlands to give you an idea of the size of them against standard floor tiles. As you can see, they would be fine for hanging over a doorway, but not ideal for anything larger.

When it comes to realistic looking Christmas wreaths, it is hard to find one that will beat this excellent item from the National Tree Company. Everything from the pine cones to the small, red, berries look incredibly lifelike, while still adding a touch of colour and brightness.

I’ve used and tested products from this company before, and some of them have been a touch on the pricey side, but this wreath is quite competitively priced, I have to say. What’s more, the quality is still as high as I expected, so hats off to them for that.

This is a very well-made and durable product. All the materials are designed to last, even when left outside, and they are fire-resistant too, just in case of emergencies. Even the light strings that come pre-attached to the branches are high quality and you can be sure that you will get your money’s worth out of this wreath over the years.

The LEDs on the wreath are nice and bright, not so much as it distracts you from the beautiful design and realism, but just enough to accentuate it. The lights can be used with the timer function to come on for 6 hours at a time, and the wreath is battery operated, so there are no power leads or adapters.

With 60 years in the business, this brand knows what it is doing, and it shows in all of its products. This wreath is no exception, and this attention to detail can be seen on everyone of the 113 branch tips that have been carefully crafted to give a look of superior quality.

I have heard some customer feedback from one or two people, reporting problems with quality control, but I’ve never experienced anything bad from this company, and the vast majority of reviews and feedback are positive, so I would still recommend it.

Pros

• One of the most realistic looking Christmas Wreaths available
• Very high quality product from a trusted brand
• Timer function can be set to illuminate for 6 hours at a time
• Durable and designed to handle being left outdoors
• Incredible detail throughout this hand crafted product.

Cons

• Slightly more expensive than some other wreaths, but you get what you pay for.

The following video is of famous American shopping channel QVC checking out a Christmas Wreath from the same brand. It isn;t the exact same product, and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the oen we reviewed, but you can still see the high quality for yourself.

Cocoboo’s 22-inch Christmas wreath is yet another eye-catching and stunning product to tempt you. However, you have to realise that this should only be used outdoors if it is under cover.

If you have a sheltered area, like a porchway for instance, then you should definitely consider this Christmas wreath for your front door, even if at the moment the price is a little more than I would like to pay. Still, with Covid-19 affecting logistics at multiple levels, price hikes are to be expected I suppose.

Where this product really shines (sorry for the pun), is its use of contrast. The white snow effect on the branches and pine cones is punctuated by the bright red of the berries and the star of the show: the bows.

These bows are a dark red and black tartan and they really do stand out against the white tinged greenery around them. On top of that, the 50 LED string lights help to bring out that colour even further, giving an amazing overall effect.

One thing that bothers me slightly about this product, and any Christmas wreath for that matter, is that they arrive squashed down for packaging reasons. Usually, it’s just a case of fluffing the branches and things up again, but when there are bows and things, I worry about possible damage.

Another thing that I have to say is that for the price, I would have at least expected there to be batteries included, but there aren’t any, so you’ll need 3 AA batteries before you can use the lights. There is also no wreath hook included either.

There are multiple light patterns to choose from on this wreath, and all of them look really nice, so no complaints there. However, I will make one more gripe before I’m done, and that is about some of the wiring in the rear of the wreath being exposed and possibly damaging the surface of your door in windy conditions.

So, not a perfect product but one that looks fantastic and can easily be modified to be better than it arrived. The price might be a sticking point for some, but I’m sure there are plenty out there who will be seduced by its looks and give it a go.

Pros

• Stunning wreath with snow effect on branches and pine cones
• 50 bright LED lights really do a good job of giving a festive feeling
• Tartan bows create an amazing contrast and really steal the show
• Choice of light patterns
• Can be left outside as long as it is sheltered, such as under the porch

Cons

• Exposed metallic parts on the rear could scratch your door if you’re not careful.

If you are worried about it scratching your door, you could always try it on yourself first, just like this lady (I’m joking of course)

Lowe’s put out Christmas stuff. Like, how dare they?

So, naturally, I bought $100 worth of flocked garland. pic.twitter.com/xbhHDC0YjE

— Jennifer Ruch (@JenniferRuckas) October 18, 2021