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Driving around to see Christmas lights has been a family holiday tradition for generations. All these decades later, there's still something magical about all those twinkling lights. Kids look forward to sipping hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music while watching amazing neighborhood displays twinkle outside. Parents look forward to getting a break from asking kids to please keep their hands off of Grandma’s vintage nutcrackers. And the lights — well, those are a nice bonus.

With the introduction of modern Christmas decor, the holiday house decorating tradition is better than ever. Decorating your home used to require stapling hundreds of thousands of Italian twinkle lights to a steep and icy rooftop, but that's no longer necessary. That’s right. Christmas projector lights are changing the game.

What are Christmas Light Projectors?

Christmas light projectors are devices that project festive patterns, colors, or animations onto surfaces like walls or houses. They create a stunning holiday display without the hassle of stringing traditional lights.

Simply point the device at your house, and your home will be decorated with glowing, moving designs, such as falling snowflakes or golden sparkles. Most holiday projectors require less power than string lights and come with built-in timers, making them convenient and environmentally friendly.

There are two main light sources for holiday light projectors. LED light projectors are a favorite with homeowners who want a tough projector that emits a broad spectrum of color on a flat surface, like a wall or garage door. If you want a moving pattern, look for an LED slide projector. This allows you to change the pattern for different holidays. Some models even have two heads; one projects patterns while the other casts a background color.

Christmas laser light projectors are another popular option. Although the light doesn’t have the same spectrum of color that an LED light has, lasers cast a stronger beam that can clearly be displayed on many surfaces, including landscaping foliage and water.

Many people decide to use a combination of LED and laser projectors. The laser adds a dose of sparkle while the LED dazzles with deep color and detailed patterns. Talk about the best of both worlds!

Benefits of Using Christmas Light Projectors

Between the parties, buying gifts, and decorating, there’s no denying that the holidays can get expensive. Who wants to see their energy bills go through the roof? Luckily, both LED and laser projectors are a lot more efficient than the stringed light alternative. 500 feet of incandescent lights cost over a hundred dollars to run for the entire month of December. The same amount of LEDs will run you less than 20 dollars per month. If you want your home decked out from top to bottom, string lights are going to cost you!

Projector lights are much more efficient because you only need one bulb per projection. Each projector will add less than 25 cents to your monthly energy bill. Projectors are simple to set up, easier on your wallet, and better for the environment. It turns out that sometimes new traditions can outshine old ones.

Let’s talk aesthetics. Sure, some people might crave the simple, cheery lights we're used to. We’re not knocking string lights; they’re timeless! But Christmas light projectors sure are fun.

You can welcome winter with a pattern of falling snowflakes, a dancing Santa Claus, or you could simply greet your neighbors with a hearty “Happy Holidays!” in a beautiful, glowing script. Laser lights allow you to light up your landscaping or any water features on your property with patterns, including simple line drawing characters and shapes, letting you create winter wonder wherever you like. Just aim, stake, power up, and you’re making magic.

How to Set up Christmas Light Projectors

If you’ve ever teetered on the top of a ladder as you try and string lights on the icy eves of your home, then you know traditional home decorating is no easy feat. If you're ready to change up your tradition, here's how to get started.

• Choose a spot and stake it out: Decide where you want your lights to shine. Outdoor projectors typically come with stakes to push into your lawn. To make installation easier, some homeowners recommend watering the area a day or two beforehand to soften the ground. Of course, if it’s already freezing where you live, you'll want to skip this step.
• Power up: Whether you’re using LED, laser, or a combination of both, if they're meant for outdoor use, they’ll need an electrical source, just like your typical string lights. Make sure you’re using an outdoor-rated extension cord that can weather the winter elements.
• Lock up: Since these Christmas light projectors are mounted in your landscaping rather than on your rooftop, theft is a common concern. If you think your lights are susceptible to your neighborhood Grinch, consider securing the projectors to a ground stake with a steel cable. This method should make taking off with your Christmas display more trouble than it's worth.
• Set the built-in timer: Who hasn’t struggled to get that clunky timer attachment set just right? Many holiday display projectors have intuitive timers built in. You can set most timers from the remote, limiting play time from as low as two hours a night up to eight.

How to Choose the Right Christmas Light Projector

The holiday projector light market is full of options. Your choice might be based on your budget, the variety of patterns you want, the climate you’re in, or the extra features a model might offer. In this section, we’ll break down the variables to help you choose the right Christmas light projector for you.

• Choose between LED vs. laser: Christmas laser lights have a strong beam but can only use one color at a time. They’re a great option to add a little sparkle to their LED display or illuminate landscaping accent points such as foliage or water features. LED projectors provide colorful displays and detailed patterns and offer many creative options.
• Consider your slides: Christmas comes once a year, but with the right slide options, you can break out your projector more often. Check out projectors that come with slides for holidays such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and even birthdays. You can choose from a model with built-in slides or slides you add manually to customize your projection.
• Think about patterns and lights: Are you looking for cartoony patterns that will delight the kids in your neighborhood? Or does your taste trend toward classy winter patterns? There’s something for everyone; just choose a projector that fits your tastes.
• Ease of installation: Typically, outdoor Christmas light projectors come with a stake for ground installation. projectors with flat bases that can be mounted to a wall for a secure, second story display.
• Weather and durability: Are you creating a display in mild winter weather, or are you braving snow or ice? If your light projector will be exposed to snow or rain, choose a unit with an IP65 rating, which will help it withstand rain, snow, and everything in between. 
• Remote and Settings: Remotes allow you to control the timer, adjusting the settings throughout the season as daylight recedes. You might also prefer remotes that can change your projection's color scheme and timing.  
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do Christmas light projectors work?

Christmas projector lights work by passing light through a lens, magnifying a picture or light onto an object such as a wall or tree. This makes them easy for the whole neighborhood to see.

What is the best Christmas laser light projector?

Many people want to know if LED or laser light projectors are better for their holiday displays. The answer depends on what you want from your projection. Would you like a full spectrum of color and detailed characters or patterns? If so, an LED is the right choice for your display. If you want bright lights that will stand out among landscaping and textured walls, the bright but limited spectrum of lasers will better suit your needs. You can also use both at the same time to create an out-of-this-world display!

How do you set up Christmas projector lights?

Christmas projector lights are easy to set up. Point your model at the surface you’d like to illuminate. If your projector comes with a stake, insert it into the grass to stabilize it. Once in place, plug the projector into a reliable electrical source with an outdoor-rated extension cord and watch it shine. It should take only a few seconds to reach optimum brightness.

Photo credit: Getty/ACH-DP