Twinkling lights just make for the perfect Christmas décor. But the real question is: how to make Christmas lights blink? You may think that it’s a hassle, and you’ll end up wasting your time. But it is not so! In fact, it is way easier. And, blinkers look really elegant for all sorts of lighting needs. Besides, they are convenient to get and install. Here is your guide on how to make holiday lights blink and amp your festive décor.
How to Make Christmas Lights Blink?
There are several ways to adorn your home or business with a blinking Christmas light. You can simply go for blinking light strands with red-tipped flasher bulbs, remote-controlled lights, or install digital times. There are other fancy options too like lighting integrated with special effects or music activated lighting. Apart from all this, you can also DIY a quick fix. Simply put, the options are plenty; you can choose the one that suits you well.
| Red-Tipped Bulb Hack |
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| Timers |
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| Remote-Controlled Lights |
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| Special Effects Blinkers |
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| Music-Activated Blinking Lights |
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So, now you know that how to make Christmas lights blink is not a step-by-step guide. It’s actually a bunch of already available options from which you have to choose. Besides, different types of blinkers come with different pros and cons. So, have a look at these options below and get ready to hang Christmas lights and elevate the holiday joy.
1. DIY Install a Flasher Bulb
You can follow a simple DIY process to make your ordinary lights blink. And it’s not just easy, it’s fun too. All you need is a bunch of basic supplies and you can modify your lighting strand without any professional assistance. However, if you think this will be too much of a job, you can always hire professionals. At LightDMV, we are ready to help you customize all sorts of holiday lighting display So, here is a checklist of the supplies you should have:
What You Need to DIY Christmas Blinkers?
- A lighting string
- A power outlet
- A red-tipped flashing bulb
- Rubber Gloves
Did You Know?
A red-tipped flashing bulb is what makes your lighting strands blink.
Gathered all the stuff? You can find a red-tipped bulb in your Christmas light packaging or get it from any hardware store. Let’s move on to how to make Christmas lights blink with this DIY process.
Process of How to Make Holiday Lights Blink?
- Safety first! Put on the gloves before starting off. This will keep all the potential safety risks at bay.
- Now select any bulb from the strand to remove it. It is better to choose a bulb that is less visible. For instance, the one located at the end of the string.
- Hold the bulb at its base and pull it out of the socket. You have to be careful for this step or you can squeeze or break it.
- Now take your red-tipped flasher bulb and install it in place of the removed bulb. Don’t put too much pressure, just gently place the bulb in the socket.
2. Install Timers to Make Your Lights Blink
Timers are another way to make your lights blink. Besides, it’s a great choice if you want to increase the energy efficiency of your lights. After all, it’ll turn on and off your lights at the time you have set. Most importantly, the timer won’t make your Christmas lights blink if you don’t install a red-tipped flashing bulb. Moreover, you have two options to choose from: mechanical timers or digital timers.
| Mechanical Timers | Digital Timers |
| They use a spring-loaded mechanism to turn lights on and off at specific intervals. They are simple to use – just plug the lights into the timer, connect the timer to an outlet, set the intervals, and turn the lights on. | Digital timers are programmable devices that allow lights to turn on and off at specific times or follow customized blinking patterns. They are more advanced and convenient than mechanical timers but come at a higher cost. |
3. Remote-Controlled Blinking Lights
This is the most popular choice for a blinking holiday lighting decor. Those wondering how to make Christmas lights blink eventually pick these because they are so convenient to use. Moreover, you can easily control, program, and customize remote-controlled lights from anywhere and anytime. Our permanent holiday lighting will surely amp up your decor game. After all, it comes integrated with a cloud app. The app allows you to set just any blinking pattern you want. In fact, the app comes with hundreds of preset patterns and millions of lighting colors for you to explore. Besides, you can REMOTE CONTROL the lights. What’s more, install them once and you are sorted for life. How so? Because they are high-quality, fully-warranted, and have a 15 years lifespan.
Important!
Other than preset patterns, you can get creative and customize our permanent lighting displays the way you like.
4. Special Effects Blinkers
Your Christmas lights can flash, blink, and chase each other. Achieving these special effects is a matter of having the right supplies and creativity. Besides, there are many ways to do so! The easiest one is to get purpose-built controllers. But, they’ll be a little heavy on your pocket. If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, you can use some relays and a computer power supply. Wondering how to make Xmas lights flash with this method? Connect a relay in series with your lights. The relay works like a switch and quickly turns the lights on and off. You can control the relay with a computer and customize different blinking patterns. For more interesting and festive patterns, use multiple relays to control multiple strands.
💡 Lighting Tip!
You need to know basic electrical work if you want to make your lights blink using relays.
5. Music-Activated Blinking Lights
Want your Christmas lights to be a little extra? If so, this option is surely worth a try this year. It’s quite a popular holiday decor and quite a fun one. Most people think this is for the indoors but you can find many music-synchronized options for the outdoor decor as well. These are great to level up the holiday festivities. Here’s a tip: you can make these lights blink at the same time when the Christmas carols play. Or you can simply set up a Christmas playlist with the blinking lights to add extra fun to your parties. These lights are also technology-integrated. You can connect any music player with the lights using your phone or a stereo. Furthermore, the lights blink and change color when they pick up the beats through an internal microphone.
Quick Question: How to make Christmas tree lights blink?
You can simply use a flasher blinking bulb to make your Christmas tree lights twinkle. Undoubtedly, no holiday decor is complete without a well-lit Christmas tree. And decorating your tree yourself is sort of a Christmas tradition for many. A simple, no-hassle, way to do so (while enjoying the process) is the red-tipped flasher bulb method.
So, this guide has you covered for the top five, most practical ways on how to make Christmas lights blink. Each one comes with its own pros and cons. Now, it’s on you to thoroughly assess your needs and preferences and make the right decision.
Conclusion
Twinkling lights is one of the most beloved outdoor holiday decor. And the guide above is your comprehensive answer to how to make your Christmas lights blink. The simplest method is to install a red-tipped bulb to your standard lighting strands. Apart from this, you can install tech-integrated holiday lights. They are remote controlled and allow you to play with endless blinking patterns. Besides, if you are a bit extra, get your hands on music-activated or special effect lighting. Need any help with your outdoor holiday decor? You can reach out to us. Our all-inclusive services include expert guidance every step of the way.
