Where to buy Christmas lights – the best places to buy stunning festive indoor and outdoor lights

It’s that time of the year again, filled with joy and let’s be honest, a bit of stress. It’s the festive Christmas season – or at least the lead up to it now that Halloween is all wrapped up and done with. And with that, all the spookiness can be replaced with Christmas lights as early as 1st November, if you ask us. But if you’re short on these or simply want an update to your lights collection, then we’ve put together a round-up of our favourite places where to buy Christmas lights.

Whether you’re looking for styles to illuminate your best artificial Christmas tree once the time comes to put it up or are after some outdoor brightness for your garden, these brands have got it all covered.

From simple, traditional string lights to original bauble light-up garlands and even Harry Potter-style floating candles, you’re in for a treat this festive season with some of the best Christmas lights – all thanks to these 9 retailers.

Where to buy Christmas lights – the quick list

• Lights4Fun: high-quality Christmas lights that go the distance
• Homebase: a good range of indoor and outdoor lights
• Argos: a good range of Christmas lights
• Amazon: a surprisingly good selection of lights
• The White Company: a luxurious and extra-special collection
• John Lewis & Partners: a good selection of festive lights
• Wayfair: a bumper selection of festive lights
• Marks & Spencer: not just Christmas lights, but M&S Christmas lights
• Dunelm: budget-friendly lights with a fun, playful twist

9 of our favourite places to buy Christmas lights

‘Christmas lights are the perfect addition to festive decor as they instantly uplift and bring your home to life with cosiness and warmth, especially as the evenings begin to get darker,’ says Claire Bassett, head of product at Lights4fun.

And as the days have recently gotten significantly shorter and darker, there’s no reason why you can’t start decorating with Christmas lights now. Sure, you don’t have to go all out straight away. But adding a few lights for ambience here and there will look stunning even now during autumn.

‘Christmas lights can transform ordinary spaces into magical, festive scenes,’ says Anthony Formisano, product manager at home and garden lighting firm and smart light specialists 4lite. ‘A warm festive glow of Christmas lights evokes feelings of nostalgia.’

1. Lights4Fun

If you're wondering where to buy Christmas lights this year, you can't go wrong with Lights4Fun. Both Ideal Home's Editor-in-Chief, Heather Young and Ideal Home Contributor and Interior Stylist, Laurie Davidson go straight to Lights4fun when shopping for Christmas lights.

'Lights4Fun has a great range of options, and there's often a sale area where you can pick up some good discounts. The festoon sets are expensive, but they're such good quality they're well worth it. I've had mine for over eight years, and they're only just starting to show signs of needing to be replaced,' Heather says.

Laurie continues, 'My all time favourite is Lights4Fun as they have such a great selection – everything from light-up wreaths to outdoor reindeer and even LED baubles. I love their micro lights as their LED dripping wax pillar candles as you can place them in amongst garlands and foliage without having to worry about anything catching light - and they look so realistic. I also like their battery micro lights as they come in different lengths which is ideal when you need something longer to wind along an extending table or around a mirror and mantle for example.'

So, whether you're looking for a garden display, or hoping to add some oomph to your Christmas living room decor, look this way.

Our favourite Christmas lights in Lights4Fun's bumper selection has to be this striking set of 3 Regular Harlow Rattan Dual Colour LED Light Up Reindeer Family.

Featuring a total of 540 LEDs distributed across the three figures, the outdoor light display boasts innovative technology that gives you the choice of illuminating your deer in three different shades: icy white, warm white, or a mix of both.

Which means, yes, you can tailor it to fit your home perfectly. If you're looking for something a little more traditional, though, the company doesn't disappoint...

2. Homebase

An oldie but a goodie, Homebase is a safe pair of hands when it comes to sourcing top-quality Christmas lights.

Plus, they have a 20% sale off all things Christmas, including Christmas lights, when you spend over £100 at the moment, so it's a good time to make your move.

If you're on the hunt for those lights that will help you make your dream Christmas tree ideas a reality, look this way. From light-up reindeer to bauble garlands, Homebase has got it all.

3. Argos

Argos has been synonymous with Christmas ever since the days of its bumper catalogue (aka the Book of Dreams), so it makes sense it should be on your list of where to buy Christmas lights.

And, as ever and always, it has plenty of novelty items mixed in among the old classics. There are plenty of twinkling goodies on offer, as well as modern neon-style decoration in star shapes. And stars make an appearance also in the form of its bestselling curtain lights.

4. Amazon

If you're trying to suss out where to buy Christmas lights that can be delivered to your door at near-astronomic speeds, you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere more convenient than Amazon.

Especially as they have so very many goodies in their overwhelming range of indoor an outdoor lights. That's exactly why Ideal Home's Section Editor for Renovation, Sarah Handley, swears by Amazon when buying Christmas lights.

'If I'm looking for basic string lights, I tend to pick these up from Amazon – especially when they're often discounted in the Black Friday sale,' Sarah says.

From the bestselling colour-changing LED fairy lights to long, twinkling curtain lights, Amazon has got it all.

5. The White Company

If you ask anyone where to buy Christmas lights (and luxurious ones at that), you're pretty much guaranteed that they'll steer you in the direction of The White Company.

It's a small but select collection (rather like a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates), and every single item in it is a gem. Still, if we had to pick favourites.

We can't stop raving about this pre-lit Christmas tree alternative from The White Company – its compact size makes it ideal for smaller homes, without scrimping on the festive spirit.

Whether you like things small and compact, or big and bold, though, there are more than enough Christmas lights to lose your heart to in The White Company's Christmas shop.

6. John Lewis

John Lewis has long been heralded as the king of Christmas, thanks to the department store's iconic festive advert each year. So it makes sense they should be on your list of where to buy Christmas lights.

Why? Because, whether you like things traditional, kitschy or ultra-modern, they have something for you. If you're looking for a standout light display to add to your home this holiday season, you can't go wrong with this glowing holly sprig from John Lewis: made from moulded PVC and lit with LED chips, it works just as well indoors or outdoors.

And, if you have a few more lights to source from your Christmas checklist, there are plenty to choose from.

7. Wayfair

Another tried-and-tested classic when it comes to where to buy Christmas lights, Wayfair has plenty of options when it comes to adding some shimmer and sparkle to your home.

If you're looking for Christmas mantel ideas to style a fireplace, try picking up these Multi Action Cluster String Lights from Wayfair: they're guaranteed to add some sparkle and shine.

If you're in the market for something different, though, there's plenty more on offer...

8. Marks & Spencer

They may be good at food, but Marks & Spencer is also one of the best places to buy Christmas lights. And, yes, you better believe it's of the tip-top quality we've come to expect from the British store.

After all, these aren't just Christmas lights; these are M&S Christmas lights – so go in expecting some serious festive magic.

Our top pick from Marks & Spencer's range of Christmas lights is forever and always this softly illuminated townhouse (also available as a woodland scene), as it's the perfect way to add some glow to your windows. But it's closely followed by its sellout light-up bauble garland that's recently been restocked and comes in four different colourways.

9. Dunelm

Dunelm is the Ideal Home team’s go-to for budget-friendly but stylish home decor all year round. And Christmas is no exception. It’s one of the best places where to shop for Christmas decorations, Christmas lights included.

We especially love Dunelm for fun, unusual light styles like the floating candles which are one of this year’s bestsellers and that you can use to illuminate a fireplace that doesn’t work or recreate Stacey Solomon’s Harry Potter cloud ceiling from last year. Or the super affordable string lights featuring tiny little gingerbread men for just £2.50 are at the top of our wish list, too.

FAQs

What are the best Christmas lights to hang outside your house?

When it comes to buying Christmas lights, especially the best outdoor Christmas lights, you want to make sure they're peak quality.

'If you’re looking for a more traditional Christmas look, we recommend hanging icicle lights or festoon lights along your roof line to give your home the ultimate showstopping display,' says Amy Mason, director of product from Lights4Fun.

'Alternatively, silhouettes of stars and starburst lights are a great option for a high impact display with minimal effort.'

Frances Clements, Christmas buyer at Homebase, adds that 'it’s best to consider where you want to use them and check if they are designed for indoor or outdoor use before buying them'.

'Some Christmas lights now use LEDs both indoors and outdoors, which are considerably long-lasting, cool to touch and saving you money on replacement bulbs and electricity,' she adds.

How do I style Christmas lights in my room?

'We always recommend dressing a room using a variety of lights at different heights to create a cosy, Christmassy ambience,' says Amy at Lights4Fun.

'Use light-up figures and 3D silhouettes at floor level, teamed with flickering TruGlow® candles and pre-lit foliage of wreaths and garlands placed upon on the mantelpiece or side tables for a warming display.'

Frances adds that you can 'double your glow by wrapping cluster lights around reflective surfaces like mirrors, windows or even your TV'.

'When it comes to Christmas dinner, make the table extra festive by laying lights down the middle or suspending them overhead,' she continues.

'And don’t forget about those in between spaces too, make your stairs, shelves and door frames festive by draping or wrapping lights around them.'

How do I detangle Christmas lights easily?

It doesn't matter where you buy your Christmas lights, they're pretty much guaranteed to get tangled up at some point. So, how to detangle them?

'Our top tip is patience and perhaps a cup of tea or something stronger!' laughs Amy at Lights4Fun.

'To make decorating for Christmas as easy as possible, we recommend storing your lights away with storage reels so they don’t get tangled and they’re simple to display again each year.'

So, hopefully that answers all of your questions around where to buy Christmas lights this year. And remember, this time of year can get pretty dark and miserable, so don't be afraid to go wild with your light-up displays.

Hey, if it helps Santa find your home a bit easier, it'll be worth it...