Guide · Christmas Lighting
Permanent vs Seasonal Christmas Lights: An Honest Comparison
Permanent lighting is the new option on the block, and it’s a good product for the right house. We only do seasonal — so take this with that in mind — but we’ll be straight about where each one wins. For most people it comes down to one thing they don’t expect: the look.
The short answer
Seasonal lights go up for the holidays and come down after. With a full-service installer, you own nothing — the lights are supplied, maintained, taken down and stored for you. Permanent lights are a system mounted on your house that stays up all year, usually run from an app, and you own it.
If you want the traditional Christmas look, seasonal is the one. If you want lights you can use for every holiday and as everyday accent lighting, permanent is worth a serious look. Neither is the wrong answer.
The look: classic or contemporary
This is the part most comparisons skip, and it’s usually what decides it.
Seasonal lighting is the traditional look — classic bulbs running the roofline, the warm glow of a lit wreath in the gable, garland on the porch, trees wrapped in the yard. It looks like Christmas because it’s what Christmas has looked like on houses for generations.
Permanent systems are built to disappear by day, so the lights are smaller and sit tight to the roofline. Lit up, they read cleaner and more contemporary. Plenty of people prefer exactly that, especially on a modern home. It’s a matter of taste, not quality — but it is a different look, and it’s worth deciding which one you want before you compare anything else.
The season itself
There’s something to the lights going up. It marks the start of the season — the day the house changes, the neighbours notice, and December feels like it’s actually coming. When they come down in the new year, the house goes back to being itself.
Permanent lights are always there, which is the point: no install day, ever. Some people love that. Others find it takes a little of the occasion out of it. Not everyone weighs this, but if you’re someone who enjoys the ritual of decorating, it’s worth a thought.
What you own, and what you look after
- Seasonal (full-service): you own nothing. The installer supplies the lights, fixes anything that fails mid-season, takes it all down and stores it. Ours come with free repairs within 48 hours all season.
- Permanent: you own the system, and it lives on your house year-round. Ask who services it, what the warranty covers and for how long, and what happens if a section fails in February.
Changing your mind
With seasonal lighting, the design can change every year. With us, new colours or a different pattern cost nothing extra; adding to the layout is simply quoted. Permanent systems are often colour-programmable from the app, which is a real advantage, but the layout on the house is the layout you installed.
How the cost works
They’re priced in different ways, which makes them easy to compare badly.
- Seasonal is a price per season. Ours is $8 per linear foot, all-inclusive — most homes land between $800 and $3,500 a season, covering design, lights, install, maintenance, takedown and storage.
- Permanent is usually bought outright once, and quoted by the installer for your house.
The fair way to compare is over the same number of years: a permanent quote against what seasonal service would cost over the years you’d expect to keep the system — and ask about maintenance on the permanent side, since that’s yours. Get a real quote for each on your own house. For what goes into a seasonal price, see our cost guide.
Year-round use
This is where permanent wins outright. The same system can light the house for other holidays, a birthday, a game night, or just a soft glow along the roofline every evening. If that appeals to you, a seasonal service simply doesn’t do it. Seasonal is for the holidays, and that’s all it tries to be.
What about Govee?
Govee’s permanent outdoor lights are the do-it-yourself version of permanent lighting: you buy the kit, mount it under your soffit yourself, and run it from an app. It’s become one of the most common things we get asked about, so we wrote it up separately — what the install involves, how it looks, and who it suits. Read Govee vs a professional install.
How to choose
- Want the traditional Christmas look? Seasonal.
- Want wreaths, garland and lit trees in the display? Seasonal.
- Want nothing on the house the rest of the year? Seasonal.
- Prefer a clean, contemporary look? Permanent.
- Want to light the house for more than Christmas? Permanent.
- Happy to own and look after a system long-term? Permanent is a fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between permanent and seasonal Christmas lights?
Seasonal lights go up for the holidays and come down after; a professional seasonal service usually supplies, maintains and stores them for you. Permanent lights are a system mounted on the house that stays there all year and is switched on when you want it, usually from an app.
Which looks more traditional?
Seasonal. Classic bulbs strung along the roofline, with wreaths, garland and lit trees, is the traditional Christmas look. Permanent systems tend to read cleaner and more contemporary. Some people prefer exactly that — it is a matter of taste, not quality.
Which costs less?
They are priced differently, so compare them over the same number of years. Seasonal service is a price per season; a permanent system is usually bought outright once. Get a real quote for each on your own house, and ask what maintenance and warranty look like on the permanent one.
Can permanent lights be used outside Christmas?
Yes, and that is their strongest selling point: the same system can light the house for other holidays, events or everyday accent lighting. If you want that, permanent is worth a serious look. Seasonal lights are for the holiday season only.
Does Nord install permanent lights or Govee?
No. Nord only does seasonal Christmas lighting, because we are here for the traditional holiday look. If a permanent system is the right fit for you, a permanent-lighting specialist is the right call.