Christmas prep is officially in full swing, and if you’re anything like me, you’re suddenly very aware of how your home looks from the sidewalk. The right outdoor lights can instantly elevate your home's warm holiday welcome for guests and wow neighbors.
I’ve spent the past few seasons getting hands-on with smart lights to see which ones actually make decorating easier – especially with all the ways that smart tech is redefining outdoor Christmas decorations.
Get A Polished Outdoor Display In Minutes With Philips Hue's Discounted String Lights
Smart string lights will give you compete customization over color and ambiance, whether outside or indoors.
If the idea of smart lights makes you think of complex hubs and confusing apps, the Festavia String Lights will be a pleasant surprise. Once they’re plugged in and paired – which takes a few minutes via Bluetooth – you’re essentially just choosing where to drape them.
This can be across a porch railing, around a doorway, or woven through a small tree, and the app does the rest. And if you’re still figuring out your layout, it’s worth seeing what outdoor Christmas decorating ideas are approved by designers, then use the lights to bring those looks to life.
I’ve used similar app-controlled lights at home, and what struck me most was how easy the day-to-day routine became. Instead of wrestling with timers or unplugging cables in the rain, I could simply tap my phone to turn everything on at the same time.
So when it comes to lighting a porch for Christmas, you're given heaps of customization, but setting up and controlling them is as simple as can be.
Because you can dial the brightness and color temperature up or down, it’s also much easier to avoid that over-lit, slightly chaotic look. A warm white glow along the railing, with just a few subtle color accents, will help you avoid tacky outdoor Christmas lights while still feeling festive and fun. Instead of guessing, you can slide your finger on the app until everything looks calm and cohesive from the street.
The strings also lend themselves to a more considered color scheme. Once you’ve chosen your overall direction – minimal, modern, traditional, or nostalgic – you can use them to echo your favorite designer-approved Christmas decorating ideas outside.
For example, if you’re going for a more elevated, editorial-style look indoors, the ability to fine-tune each bulb’s shade means your exterior can match that mood instead of feeling like an afterthought.
And as you can adjust every bulb from your phone, it’s easy to experiment with more unusual palettes than the classic red-and-green. If you’re tempted by unexpected Christmas color schemes for 2026 – think soft pinks and light blues – Festavia lets you try them on your porch without committing to all-new decor.
If you don't like it, simply change the colors in a couple of taps, and you’re back to warm white or candle-like amber.
I'm also a fan of how these string lights frame a front door. Wrap them loosely around a wreath, or let them cascade down one side of the porch for a more relaxed look.
If you’re rethinking your front-door styling this year, use them to highlight your favorite Christmas wreath ideas or to give extra presence to one of the clever looks if you have any Christmas wreath alternatives.
While these are marketed as Christmas lights, they’re honestly too useful to pack away in January. A warm white setting works beautifully for spring and summer evenings outdoors, whether you’re hosting friends or reading on the porch.
If you’re currently deep in Christmas planning mode and want something that feels both on-trend and future-proof, the Festavia String Lights are a smart buy. They're stress-free, give you the power to tweak your display as much as you like, and help your home look more polished than ever.
The Philips Hue Festavia String Lights are discounted to $71.99 for Cyber Week.
What to Shop
Planning the rest of your festive display? These will help you along the way.
All prices correct at time of publication.
If you have a few different elements to your outdoor Christmas lights, smart plugs will help you automate each one with its own timers. This pack is compatible with Hubspace, Google, and Alexa, and works seamlessly with the Philips Hue string lights.
Fortunate enough to have outdoor outlets? You can buy this two-pack of Defiant Outdoor Smart Plugs for $18.97 at Home Depot.
With a bright-but-not-too-bright hue, these motion detecting smart lights will illuminate the pathway to your house, adding beautifully to a festive display while being useful all year.
To keep your cables organised – and more importantly, protected from the elements – this extra-large and IP54-rated electrical box has enough space for at least five plugs.
For more festive inspiration, see the ways smart lights can elevate indoor Christmas gatherings and save on energy.
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