Putting up a Christmas tree may be a highlight of the festive season, but making it look merry and bright is easier said than done. After all, trees come in different shapes and sizes, so what’s right for one isn’t necessarily right for all. If you’re wondering how many lights you need for your Christmas tree, we’re here to help. By following our advice, we’re sure you’ll be able to create a magical centrepiece that will wow your friends and family.

Blog Contents
Choosing a Light Length
Traditional Christmas Trees
Pencil Christmas Trees
2ft Mini Christmas Trees
Choosing a Light Colour
Baubles and Decorations

Choosing a Christmas Light Length

Choosing a light length boils down to your own personal preference. While less lighting will give your tree a more natural look, extra lighting will create a more dazzling display. For our recommendations, we’ve selected lengths that strike a perfect balance between the two.

Also, we’ve chosen lights with 10cm spacing between each bulb (10 bulbs per metre). But if you want your tree to really sparkle, choose lights with 5cm spacing (20 bulbs per metre). Likewise, choosing longer lights will fill even more of your tree and create an even brighter feature.

Oh, and before we forget: Christmas lights with LED bulbs are far cheaper to run than lights with traditional incandescent bulbs. For further information, check out our blog!

Christow Spruce Tree decorated with Warm White LED String Lights.

Traditional Christmas Trees

Traditional trees are wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. As the bushiest type of Christmas tree, they require a longer set of string lights.

  • 5ft Tree – 150 LED Bulbs approx. 15m (10cm bulb spacing)
  • 6ft Tree – 200 LED Bulbs approx. 20m (10cm bulb spacing)
  • 7ft Tree – 250 LED Bulbs approx. 25m (10cm bulb spacing)
Christow Pencil Tree decorated with Warm White LED String Lights.

Pencil Christmas Trees

Pencil trees have a narrow shape – a bit like a bushy pencil! As a result, they require a shorter set of lights than traditional Christmas trees.

  • 5ft Tree – 100 LED Bulbs approx. 10m (10cm bulb spacing)
  • 6ft Tree – 150 LED Bulbs approx. 15m (10cm bulb spacing)
  • 7ft Tree – 200 LED Bulbs approx. 20m (10cm bulb spacing)
Christow 2ft Mini Christmas Tree decorated with Warm White LED String Lights.

2ft Mini Christmas Trees

2ft trees are the smallest type of tree and are ideal for homes that lack space for a full-sized Christmas tree. Unsurprisingly, they require the shortest set of lights.

  • 2ft Tree – 50 LED Bulbs approx. 5m (10cm bulb spacing)

Choosing a Christmas Light Colour

So, now you know how long your Christmas tree lights need to be, it’s time for the fun part: choosing a colour. To help you, here are some handy tips.

Warm White Lights

For a traditional display, choose a set of warm white lights. Because they produce a golden glow, they’re perfect for giving your tree a warm, cosy feel.

White Lights

By producing a brighter glow, white lights will really make your baubles and decorations pop! Plus, they look fab illuminating our Black Pencil Christmas Tree.

Colour Christmas Lights

For a vibrant, modern look, choose a set of red, blue, or multi-coloured lights. Also, coloured lights look beautiful brightening our White Pencil Christmas Tree.

What About Baubles and Decorations?

Firstly, you should always add baubles and decorations to your tree after you’ve decorated it with string lights. If you hook them on your tree before, you’ll only knock them off when wrapping your lights. And no one likes a broken bauble!

Also, the decorations you choose is an opportunity to stamp your personality on your tree and really make it your own. So, anything goes! However, there are some things to consider if you want your tree to look the belle of the Christmas ball.

  • Decorate your tree with matte, shiny, and sparkly baubles in your chosen base colour.
  • Next, layer your tree with baubles in other colours that complement your base colour.
  • For example, gold blends beautifully with red, while silver looks spectacular with white.
  • Add special decorations. Perhaps it’s a sparkly Santa? Or maybe it’s a glittery pug?
  • If you prefer, create a theme, such as an arctic theme with penguins and snowflakes.
  • Finally, stand back and look at your tree. If spaces look a little bare, shift things about.
  • Oh, and don’t forget to put a topper on your tree, such as a star, fairy, or fluffy sprout.

We’re also big fans of our light up Christmas parcels which look beautiful placed beneath your tree. Sold as a set of three, the parcels are illuminated by warm white LEDs to create a warm, inviting feature. Plus, they come in a choice of sparkly colours.

One More Thing...

If you still haven’t bought a Christmas tree, we have a fantastic range to choose from. Also, we’ve created a handy guide to help you pick one!