You’re looking at lights for the house and wondering: rent a holiday install for December, or pay once for permanent lighting that runs year-round? Both are valid. Here’s how to actually choose.
Quick definitions
Holiday lighting: a custom design installed each November, removed in early January, and stored for next year. Same crew installs and takes down. Lights are clipped to your exact roof line, gutters, and trees.
Permanent lighting: pro-grade RGB-W LED channels installed once, hidden in soffit or fascia tracks, and left up year-round. Controlled by an app — warm white for everyday accent, full-color holiday displays, sports team colors, school spirit, weddings, you name it.
Side-by-side: what you’re really paying for
| Holiday | Permanent | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | $$ (annual) | $$$$ (one-time) |
| Year-round use | No | Yes (any color, anytime) |
| Visible in daytime | Yes (clipped lights) | Hidden in track |
| Custom design every year | Yes | App preset library |
| Break-even | — | ~5–7 years vs. annual install |
Pick holiday lighting if…
- You only care about December.
- You like a custom hand-clipped look (different design each year).
- You don’t want anything visible on the house in July.
- You want the cheapest entry point.
Pick permanent lighting if…
- You want it for Halloween, Christmas, July 4th, birthdays, sports nights, weddings — not just December.
- You hate the “is it time to take them down yet?” cycle.
- You like the always-on warm-white accent that makes a house look architectural after dark.
- You’re staying in the house 5+ years and want the cost to amortize.
The hybrid play
Some homeowners install permanent lighting for everyday use, then add a holiday design (wreaths, garland, tree-wrapping, walkway luminaria) on top in December. Best of both — we offer both.
Have a question we didn’t cover? Our crew answers the phone during business hours — (201) 514-5382 — or grab a free written quote on the contact page.
