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14 Ways to Repurpose Your Christmas Lights for Ambient Home Lighting

14 Ways to Repurpose Your Christmas Lights for Ambient Home Lighting

1. Get cozy with dazzling bedroom lights

Bedroom string lights are a popular form of decorative lighting that can create a cozy and intimate feeling in the space. They can be draped along the ceiling or walls, hung from the bedposts, or wrapped around a decorative object like a mirror or a picture frame. Some people prefer to create a canopy of string lights above the bed, creating a romantic and dreamy ambiance like the photo below. What better spot to settle in and watch your favourite movie in bed!

2. Light up your memories on a cork board

A trendy and creative way to decorate your home or office while also providing a functional space for organization and displaying items. This is also a great way to add a little bit more sparkle to an otherwise boring dorm room.

The microlights are added to the cork board by wrapping them around the perimeter of the board or weaving them in and out of the cork, creating a warm and inviting glow that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the board. Bonus points: the lights will catch your eye and serve as a reminder to double check that calendar hanging from it!

3. Enhance your curtains and windows

Create a beautiful backdrop of twinkling lights that adds a touch of whimsy to the room. The lights can be arranged in different patterns, such as draping them vertically or horizontally, or winding them around the curtain rods. They look particularly magical when paired with sheer curtains.

In addition to their decorative appeal, string lights can also serve a functional purpose by providing additional lighting to the room. They can be used to create a soft and relaxing atmosphere, perfect for unwinding in the evening or setting the mood for a romantic night in. Turn off those overhead lights and snuggle up!

4. Add height to your bedroom walls with a decorative headboard

Here's something a little different - create an unconventional statement piece in your bedroom. The string lights can be wrapped around the headboard or woven through the bars, creating a whimsical atmosphere that serves as the perfect gateway to a restful night. It can also serve as a stylish and elegant way to add a decorative touch to the room, complimenting the overall look and feel of the space. If you like cleaner lines and more industrial style, opt for G30 lights or Edison-style patio lights and add some height to your wall by draping them above your bed in the shape of a grandiose bed frame.

5. Illuminate doorways and hallways

In doorways, string lights can be used to create a welcoming entrance. The lights can be wrapped around the frame of the doorway, creating a beautiful and eye-catching effect. Alternatively, they can be hung above the doorway, adding a bit of extra light to the area and making it easier to see when entering or exiting.

In hallways, string lights can be hung along the walls or ceiling to provide a soft, subtle luminosity that can help guide people through the space. This can be especially useful in darker hallways or areas without much natural light. The lights can be left on all night, providing a comforting aura and a sense of security. If you want to get creative, this is also a great way to decorate for an event or party where you might not want the harshness of regular overhead lighting. We love the re-purposing of icicle lights in the photo below.

6. Create a flameless fireplace

Faux fireplaces are decorative pieces designed to mimic the warm and cozy vibes of a real fireplace. They have become popular in recent years as a way to add a rustic touch to homes and apartments without any of the hassle or the heat. This is perfect if the fireplace in your home or apartment has been decommissioned but still serves as a feature statement in the room.

String lights are the centrepiece arranged inside the fireplace to create the illusion of flickering flames. They are also generally safer and more energy-efficient than traditional fireplaces, as they do not produce smoke or require a chimney.

7. Repurpose jars and lanterns

A decorative display that doubles as a light source, string lights in jars and lanterns can be used in a variety of settings such as on tables, hung from trees or awnings, or used to line walkways and paths. They can provide a gleaming, relaxing atmosphere and compliment other decorative elements such as flowers, fabrics and centerpieces. These decorative Mason jar lanterns can be paired with our pendant light stringers and E26-base bulbs! Perfect for stringing from trees or in your children's summertime play fort. The stringer can be paired with an adapter to make them battery powered and portable.

Mason jar light hung from a tree in a back yard

8. Add some glam to your camping trip!

Add a unique and enchanting vibe to your camping set up with string lights! Rather than a bright and unattractive lantern, string lights can provide both decoration and light.

If you have access to power on your camping trip, string lights are a great way to add some cozy comfort, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that is perfect for spending time in the great outdoors.

9. Seeing double with mirror lights

Take the sparkle of some string lights and double it! Mirrors with string lights are commonly used as decorative pieces in bedrooms, bathrooms and dressing rooms. They add a touch of elegance and glamour to the room while providing practical illumination for when you're getting ready in front of the mirror. They can be used to create a cozy and stylish ambiance, or they can be used to add some sparkle and excitement to a party or event.

10. Complement your plants

You decorate your tree for Christmas, why not decorate your house plants during the rest of the year? String lights can create an appealing and striking visual effect around or through the foliage of plants. One popular way to incorporate string lights with plants is to drape the lights over the branches of a tree or shrub, another way is to hang them above or around a hanging plant, creating a sort of "plant chandelier".

11. Porch, patio, or balcony lighting

No matter the size of your outdoor space, they're always a spot we'll gravitate to in the warm summer months to entertain guests and enjoy the fresh air. String lights are a great way to enhance the ambiance of these areas and create a homey and welcoming environment. Whether you’re spending quality time with yourself, loved ones or with friends, the warm glow of the lights can create a memorable experience. We love the repurposing of these icicle lights into a drop ceiling of lights - perfect for when your balcony doesn't come with any lighting!

12. Illuminate shelves and bookcases

A lovely reading nook with a bit of warmth to illuminate and showcase your favorite books. To decorate shelves and bookcases with string lights, you can weave the lights around the edges of each shelf or attach them to the underside of each level. If you like the modern look, arrange lights can be in a straight line. If you're more the "cottage-core" type, use a more artistic pattern or arrange the lights at random.

13. Starry-night ceilings

Ceilings with twinkle lights can add a dreamy ambiance with twinkling starry effect for a unique and memorable experience in any room.

One way to incorporate twinkle lights into a ceiling design is to drape them across the ceiling and secure them in place with clear, removable adhesive hooks. This creates a canopy-like effect that can be especially beautiful in bedrooms, nurseries, or other spaces. Another way to use twinkle lights on a ceiling is to hang them in a more structured pattern, such as in straight lines or in a grid. This can create a modern, geometric look that works well in more minimalist spaces. If you want to go deep into the DIY realm, you could also create a false drop ceiling and poke the lights through.

14. Create your own wall art

Wall art canvas with string lights is a creative and aesthetically pleasing decoration for any room in your home. It typically consists of a canvas with a printed design or a hand-painted image, paired with a string of small LED lights that are placed around the edges of the canvas.

The string lights emit a soft warm glow that illuminates the painting and adds a decorative element to the room. It can make a great focal point on a blank wall, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere.

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