Home » Understanding the Difference Between Permanent Year-Round Lighting and Temporary Holiday Lighting

Understanding the Difference Between Permanent Year-Round Lighting and Temporary Holiday Lighting

When it comes to lighting up your home or business for the holidays, Lights Around offers two fantastic options: Permanent Year-Round Color-Changing Lights and Temporary Seasonal Holiday Lights. While both services provide dazzling displays, they serve different purposes, come at different price points, and offer unique benefits. In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences to help you decide which option is right for you.

Permanent Year-Round Color-Changing Lights

Permanent lights are an incredible option for those who want the flexibility to enjoy a beautiful lighting display throughout the year—not just during the holiday season.

Key Features:

  1. Year-Round Use: As the name suggests, permanent lighting is designed to be enjoyed year-round. You can customize the colors and effects for every occasion, whether it’s Christmas, the Fourth of July, or supporting your favorite sports team.

  2. Customizable Displays: These lights are color-changing and can be controlled via an app or panel, allowing you to schedule different colors for holidays, birthdays, or any special event. You can also create moving light displays for extra flair.

  3. Discreet Installation: Permanent lighting involves installing a clean, discreet track along your roofline, which blends seamlessly with the architecture of your home. This track is subtle and stays in place year-round, but you won’t even notice it during the day.

  4. Not Combined with Temporary Lights: Permanent lights are installed in their own track and do not overlap with where temporary roof or ridge lights are usually placed. These systems are separate, and permanent lighting gives a sleeker, less visible installation.

  5. Service Options:

    • Upfront Purchase: You can buy the lighting system outright and pay for a service plan that covers maintenance and repairs.
    • Full-Service Package: This option has a lower upfront cost with a monthly fee, which covers everything, including quarterly firmware updates, service calls, and spreads the cost over time. This package provides continuous service, so you won’t have to worry about the upkeep. If you ever decide to discontinue service, we simply remove the lights and the computer controller, but the track remains on the house, allowing you to resume service later if desired.

  6. Long-Term Investment: While permanent lighting comes with a higher price tag—typically 3 to 4 times the cost of temporary holiday lights—it is a long-term solution that offers the ability to enjoy your lights for various holidays and events throughout the year.

  7. HOA Considerations: If you live in a Homeowners’ Association (HOA), make sure to check if there are any restrictions on permanent lighting or color-changing displays before installation. Some HOAs may have rules regarding visible exterior lighting.

Temporary Seasonal Holiday Lights

For those looking to make their home or business stand out just during the holiday season, temporary lighting might be the best fit. These lights are installed and removed each year and are specifically designed for seasonal use.

Key Features:

  1. Seasonal Use: Temporary holiday lights are perfect for customers who want a festive display for a specific period, such as Christmas or Halloween. These lights are installed in late fall and taken down in January, providing a beautiful, hassle-free seasonal display.

  2. Installation & Removal: Our team installs temporary lights along the roofline and ridges, covering the most visible parts of your home. Once the holiday season is over, we remove the lights, making it a simple, worry-free process for you.

  3. Customization: While temporary lights are typically themed for one specific holiday (e.g., white lights for Christmas or colorful lights for New Year’s), they don’t offer the flexibility for year-round customization like permanent lights.

  4. More Affordable: Temporary lighting is the more budget-friendly option, with packages starting around $900. While they come with a recurring cost each year for installation and removal, they provide an affordable way to have a seasonal light display without a long-term commitment.

Which Option is Right for You?

The decision between permanent year-round lighting and temporary seasonal lighting comes down to how you want to use your lights and your budget.

  • Permanent Lighting is ideal if you want the ability to enjoy customizable displays throughout the year for holidays, events, and even everyday ambiance. It’s a larger upfront investment but offers flexibility, convenience, and long-term value.
  • Temporary Lighting is perfect if you’re looking for a lower-cost, festive solution that’s focused on one holiday at a time. It’s installed and removed each season, allowing for a no-hassle, seasonal experience without the long-term investment.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about either option, contact us at Lights Around! We’re here to help you light up your home or business, whether it’s for the season or all year long.