Good news, everyone!
You can use our regular DIY kits to install Christmas lights around doors and windows! We do have DIY kits specific for windows and doors in the works, but unfortunately we had some supplier delays and it might not happen this year. For those unfamiliar with permanent Christmas lights, they are lights that stay up all year long. They are controlled via an app and can be used for any holiday or event because you can change the colors! You can learn a bit more about them in this other blog post.
Using regular DIY kits for Christmas Lights Around Doors and windows? What is this blasphemy?
Well, you see, after more and more delays I had this great idea of using a normal kit to outline the doors and windows of my house. And to be honest, I think it might actually be a better option than the smaller window kits we have planned because I can power and control it all from a single controller. I just used the same J-channel as my roof, drilled some holes in it for the LEDs and attached it in whatever way I could think of (screws, tape, more tape, etc). I wanted it to be easy to take down and store, so I used some spade connectors at every connection point, making it easy to unplug LEDs and cables. Check out the video below to see how I did it.
That’s not Permanent!
You got me, I guess it’s not. But it can be! It all depends on how you do it. For example, the lights I put up around the garage door and entry-way door could very well be made to be permanent. They are attached with screws and I could get something nicer than duct tape to hide the wiring very well. If you can find a good way to make it permanent, go for it! I personally will be taking all of them down because they are quite a bit more noticeable during the daytime than the lights along the roofline.
Anyways, I hope this gives you some ideas of how you can use LEDs that are typically used for permanent lighting around your windows and doors. Have a great holiday season and enjoy your lights!
Frequently Asked Questions
How did you mount the Christmas lights around doors and windows?
I used vinyl j-channel and drilled holes every 6 inches to hold the LEDs. I then mounted that to my house in just about any way I could think of. For the garage and front door I used some small screws. For the windows I used tape because there was nothing to screw into. The tape has been holding for a bit over a month as of writing this, so I have been very happy with it.
Can I use something other than J-channel?
Yep! Another common method to put Christmas lights around doors and windows that I have seen is using PVC pipe to build a frame that you set in front of the window. I also thought about using some L-shaped channel, but figured J-channel would work best. You just need to make sure to drill the correct size holes (12mm in the case of the LEDs in our kits).
How easy is it to take down and put up each year?
If you’re wanting Christmas lights around doors and windows, you may not want it to be permanent because they are much more visible than along the roofline. I set mine up in a way that I can easily disconnect each section of lights, bundle them up, and store them throughout the year. I used spade connectors at each connection point to make it easy to disconnect.
How easy is it to take down and put up each year?
If you’re wanting Christmas lights around doors and windows, you may not want it to be permanent because they are much more visible than along the roofline. I set mine up in a way that I can easily disconnect each section of lights, bundle them up, and store them throughout the year. I used spade connectors at each connection point to make it easy to disconnect.
Are all the house lights controlled by a single controller?
No, I have one controller for the roof lights and a second for the garage, windows, and front door.
Can you control each section separately?
Yes, in WLED you can create segments allowing you to control different groups of LEDs separately. For Halloween, I had the roof and garage door match patterns, the front door was green, and the windows were orange with a lightning effect. It was pretty cool! If you plan on putting these Christmas lights around doors and windows, I would recommend avoiding branches in the line so that you can independently control each section of lights.
What if I don’t want to use your kits?
Not a problem! You can completely DIY your own, but it will require quite a bit more research. We have a very basic guide to get you started on that here. The Hookup also has an extremely helpful video to get you started. If you have already DIYed your own for the roof, just do the same thing for Christmas lights around your doors and windows.
