Debating Colored vs. White Christmas Lights: The Ultimate Christmas Light Showdown

The earliest electric Christmas lights boasted white, blue, and red hues. When Edison Electric Company Vice President Edward Hibbert Johnson connected 80 electric lamps to adorn his Christmas tree in 1882, he unknowingly ignited an enduring debate that resurfaces every year.

People seem to hold strong views regarding the color of their Christmas lights. Some argue that multicolored lights are too distracting, while others believe that all-white lights are overly subdued.

In an effort to restore the true essence of the holiday season – and to calm the spirited debates that arise – we present the following perspectives on the matter.

White Lights Exude Tranquility

Advocates of white Christmas lights claim that colored lights detract from a tree’s natural beauty. Outdoors, there’s an undeniable purity and tranquility to a scene adorned with solely white lights, particularly after a snowfall.

Multicolored Lights are Joyful

While enthusiasts of white lights may find multicolored lights overwhelming, those who favor multicolored Christmas lights view them as lively and spirited. They inject vibrant color into a landscape that, in many regions, might be dull and bleak. Colored lights proclaim: “Let the holiday celebrations commence!”

White Lights Provide a Neutral Setting

White Christmas lights reflect the current trend towards neutral tones. They don’t compete with colorful ornaments, allowing your decorations (and the tree itself) to shine.

Colored Christmas Lights Embody Holiday Joy

Large, vivid Christmas lights – especially modern versions of the retro incandescent bulbs Grandpa used – convey the unrestrained joy of the season. They are “merry and bright.” While a house adorned with hundreds of colorful lights might look like a carnival any other time of year, during Christmas, these same lights shine and blink cheerfully in sync with countless holiday melodies.

White Lights Provide Versatility

White lights blend with any color palette. They offer a blank canvas for your décor and allow you to change themes each year. They look equally stunning on a frosted Christmas tree as they do on a green pine.

Colored Lights Can Enhance a Theme

Conversely, multicolored Christmas lights can establish or enhance a theme. Use red, white, and green lights for a traditional look, or experiment with bold color schemes like solid blue, pink, or purple.

To delve deeper into the colored vs. white Christmas lights debate, we examined some renowned Christmas trees.

Iconic Christmas Trees

In 2021, the 79-foot Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was adorned with 50,000 multicolored LED lights, arguably the most famous festive tree in the world. Meanwhile, all the other trees in the surrounding plaza glittered with white lights.

The very first National Christmas Tree, set up on the White House grounds in 1923, bore 2,500 red, white, and green bulbs. The 2021 National Christmas Tree featured red and white lights. Incidentally, 2022 marks the 100th lighting of this iconic tree.

The 41 Christmas trees and additional decorations inside the White House boast upwards of 78,750 lights. According to media photos, all interior White House Christmas lights are white, which seems fitting.

Considering the multitude of beautifully decorated trees featured on home décor websites, most interior designers appear to prefer white Christmas lights.

However, if you aim for sheer impact, nothing beats colored lights. The more blinking, pulsing, chasing, and musically orchestrated lights, the better. Just ask any of the winners of various Christmas light contests nationwide.

It’s a Draw

If, like us, your discussion on white vs. colored Christmas lights reaches a tie, consider a compromise. Why not take inspiration from the White House and Rockefeller Center by incorporating both types of lights into your holiday décor? Use white lights in some areas and colored lights in others.

If that doesn’t appeal to you, some families alternate, using all white lights one year and multicolored lights the next.

White or Colored Lights: The Choice is Yours

Ultimately, the color of your Christmas lights is a personal decision. Holiday decorations evoke numerous emotions and memories, so there’s no wrong way to adorn for the season.

So go ahead – start hanging your Christmas lights. We vow not to criticize your color choice.

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