All it takes is a few strands of lights here and there and the Christmas spirit grows so quickly! There are plenty of ways to decorate the exterior of your home for this special holiday, and we’re here to help you decide which you prefer!  Sometimes simple is best, with just the right amount of lights to inspire a soothing reaction, and sometimes it’s okay to go all out and make it as exciting as possible—there are plenty of options! Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. 

60 Best Outdoor Christmas Lights Ideas 

1. Simply Stunning

This light display from katie_m_schaffer is simple yet stunning! It’s especially nice that the tree is lighting up the window. 

2. Warm White 

Warm white accents like this design from festivelightsltd are never a wrong choice! 

3. Matching Archway and Wreath

These impressive matching archway and wreath decorations from our_golden_home_and_the_baby are outdoor Christmas goals! 

4. Christmas Bauble

Replicating this giant Christmas bauble provided by garibaldi1966 would be a dream! 

5. Multicolored Bliss 

This wonderful multicolored theme from theworldofdoug is giving the best hometown Christmas vibes.  

6. Vintage Lights 

Combine vintage-sized lights with a warm white glow and you get this beautiful effect from i_love_winnetka. 

7. White With a Pop of Red 

Neat trimming of the window and artfully decorated trees give this look from numberthirtyfive a clean and soothing effect. 

8. Holiday Glow 

Adding uplighting in red and green like these decorations from janinegraffqvc is sure to inspire plenty of “ooh"s and “aah"s. 

9. Trim the Doorway

Outlining the doorway and adding decorative strands like this display from thegrayhome is a great way to add some variety to your décor! 

10. Red and White Trim 

Trimming your sidewalk and rooftops in red and white like this theme from hammonshavon is a beautiful way to go! 

11. Classic Nativity Scene

Arched lighted garland and a classic nativity scene give this Christmas light display by fieldsandvalleys a calming definition of the true spirit of the season. 

12. White Marquee Christmas

This style of lights from 2509_s_seminole will have your house lit up just like a marquee! 

13. Exciting Extravagance 

Display all the bright and cheery decorations like danceranddasher to let the world know just how much you love Christmas! 

14. Pretty Penguin 

This adorable lighted penguin from bentsgardenhome is the perfect way to display your enthusiasm for all things Christmas and winter! 

15. Bright White and Just Right 

These outdoor lights and decorations by rootedinlove.design is a stunning combination of bright white and Christmas greenery! Our favorite is the strand above the door that looks like Christmas ornaments. 

16. Colorful Christmas 

This photo provided by kimmithehat shows a wonderfully colorful Christmas display. 

17. Twinkling Display 

The lighted deer, net lights on the bushes, wreaths in the windows and bunches of hanging lights in the trees from ohlookitsanniee all make for a very impressive twinkling Christmas display!

18. “Is Your House On Fire, Clark?” 

“No, Aunt Bethany. Those are the Christmas lights.” This display from festivelightsltd definitely has Christmas Vacation vibes! 

19. The Grinch Mention

These red, green and white lights are perfect enough, and then it’s taken to another level with that larger-than-life Grinch! kenna.rose.thompson provides the perfect combination of sophistication and fun with these decorations. 

20. Vintage Splendor 

A gorgeous double strand of vintage lights and matching wreath and garland from welivedhappilyeverafter is one of our favorite looks of the season! 

21. A Moving Display 

jessefuller_sw gives twinkling vibes with this constantly changing display! 

22. It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas 

The combination of trim lights on the house and bushes and the multicolor tree in the yard from theworldofdoug is one of the best ways to celebrate Christmas! 

23. Christmas Festivity 

There are a lot of wonderful elements that make up this light display from nettiesworld4u, but our favorite has to be the projected lights on the garage door.  

24. Cozy Cottage Lights 

farfarawaycottages provides a wonderfully simplistic Christmas look with red and green string lights. 

25. Santa’s Playground 

These inflatable Christmas decorations from mummyholk make it seem like Santa’s playground right in the front yard! 

26. Festive Front Yard 

kirstie_leanne_home provides the perfect example of including your front yard in your outdoor Christmas lights display. 

27. All White Everything

This monotone look from hold_my_eggnog is anything but boring. All those white lights on every surface imaginable boast a pretty impressive sight! 

28. Key West Christmas

Lighted palm trees and pink lit-up deer from heathertique make for a unique and fun Christmas display. 

29. Icicle Effect 

theperfectpoodle provides a glowing icicle effect with lights on both the house and the tree in the front yard. We can’t wait to get our hands on some of these lights to recreate this look! 

30. White Wonderland 

Hanging lighted snowflakes, net lights and lighted deer from i_love_winnetka provide a white winter wonderland scene perfect for the Christmas season. 

31. Candy Cane Lane 

A candy cane entrance like this display from whitefamilyhomesteaders is definitely an exciting greeting for anyone who is lucky enough to visit such a sight! 

32. Home For The Holidays

This photo from gatheredliving seems like the welcoming beacon of going home for the holidays. 

33. Christmas Lights Goals 

From each window being trimmed in lights, to the deer family and lighted tree and bushes, this display from festivelightsltd is #decoratinggoals! 

34. Magical Winter Scene 

keans_claremorris_ provides nothing short of a magical winter scene with those icy lights, snowman and snowflakes. 

35. Beautiful Multicolored Variety

Even though these lights from theendofthegraveldrive aren’t lit, we can tell they would be absolutely beautiful when they are! 

36. Matching Icicles 

These bright icicle lights by welsh_new_build_2018 provide the perfect bright décor for Christmas.

37. Lit Christmas Display 

we_dabble is giving warm Christmas welcome vibes with this lit-up entrance! 

38. Landscape Lights 

Who says Christmas lights should only be put on houses? These beautifully lit trees from rpmarzillilandscape have us wanting to wrap our trees ASAP! 

39. Red and White Christmas 

Red and white vintage-sized bulbs from kellyscasa make for an impressive “all is bright” scene. 

40. Lit Up Lawn

Lighted Christmas decorations in the front yard like these from i_love_winnetka are a fun way to display outdoor lights! 

41. Santa’s Candyland

Peppermint candies, big red bows and Santa himself make these Christmas light decorations from homeofcontour a joy to behold! 

42. Snowy Effect 

These lights from farahjmerhi on the bushes and in the trees mimic the beautifully fallen snow. And that Christmas glow is magical! 

43. Warm White Welcome

Displaying warm white trim on all the windows and roofline like this example from christmasland.ie is a classically simple way to decorate for Christmas. What more could you need? 

44. Oh, Christmas Tree

The combination of icicle lights, real snow and that lit tree from prettypinkplane is a wonderful Christmas scene to behold. 

45. Sparkling Display 

This warm and bright display from festivelightsltd is a wonderful mixture of Christmas lights that we can’t wait to try! 

46. ‘Tis The Season To Sparkle 

Lining each window, the roofline, the garage and fence with bright Christmas lights like townhousefiftyseven has is a great way to really make your house sparkle! 

47. The Stars Are Shining Brightly 

Using lighted stars in your Christmas display like this one from the_hewicks_home will always be a hit! 

48. Winter Wonderland Walkway 

This line walkway of lights from christmashyped is the perfect inspiration to light your driveway this Christmas. 

49. Simply Christmas 

This scene from theworldofdoug is exactly what comes to mind when the words “Christmas Lights” are heard. The wreaths, garland, lighted bushes and that multicolored tree are all simply splendid. 

50. Red and White Entrance 

aheidistylehome has mixed bright white lights with pops of red to perfectly capture the colors of Christmas. 

51. Beautiful Christmas Nostalgia 

This lovely light display including Santa and his reindeer, carolers and nutcrackers from farmhandmike is making us feel nostalgic in all the best ways! 

52. Stunning Arch

This lighted archway to the front door from thegrayhome is seriously stunning! 

53. Christmas Creatures 

henllyshouse shows off that a winter wonderland full of lighted animals is the perfect Christmas display! 

54. Gingerbread Man Scene

A giant lighted gingerbread man is the highlight of this Christmas display from shelford_interior, but we love the wreath and candy canes just as much! 

55. Festive Greeter 

Greet your guests this holiday season with an impressive lighted reindeer like this one from project_buxton. 

56. Warm and Bright 

Lighted stars, warm icicles, and strands of lights over the bushes like this display from festivelightsltd provide an enticing Christmas scene. 

57. Lighted Presents

You can’t go wrong with lighted Christmas presents like these from christmashyped!

58. White Simplicity 

i_love_winnetka provides a delightful display of bright white lights that accent the snow so beautifully. 

59. Christmas Glow 

We can’t wait to recreate lit Christmas trees and garland over the doorway like this display from danceranddasher.

60. White Lights and Hot Cocoa 

What better way is there to admire your hard work of installing all those beautiful outdoor lights than to sip hot cocoa from an equally festive mug? We think romelia__ has the right idea!  Up Next: Christmas Mantle Decoration Ideas