8 Easy Ways to Control Christmas Lights

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There is nothing more annoying than decorating with Christmas lights and then having to plug them in to turn them on! I’ve had an outlet switch for years that I keep just to control the lights on my tree. All the lights are plugged in end to end and then the last one is plugged into the switch which is plugged into the outlet. I can toggle it on and off to control the lights. 

That’s a very low tech way to control the lights but these days there are so many ways to control those lights. There are so many options from low to high tech!

Take a look at some of the ways to control your holiday lighting. 

1) Outlet Switch

This outlet switch still works very well, but there is another option that allows you a little more flexibility with the space at the outlet. My old one can only be used in the top position otherwise it blocks the other outlet. This new version has the switch on the side allowing it to be placed in the lower position or top without blocking the outlet. (Buy on Amazon)

2) Foot Switch

If you have an outlet that is inaccessible or awkward to reach, like I have, an extension cord with a foot control on the end may be what you need. This positions the off/on switch where it can be easily reached and controlled. (Buy on Amazon)

3) Remote Control

With this device you can plug your lights into a special adapter and then control the lights via a battery operated remote. Steph used this method for years to control some of the lights in her kitchen. (Buy on Amazon)

4) Smart Plug

With smart plugs like iHome and WeMo, you can plug your lights in and control them with an app on your phone. (Buy on Amazon)

5) Power Strip

Another low tech option is to plug all your lights into a power strip and use the built in on/off switch to control the lights. I do this with all the lighting in my Christmas village. (Buy on Amazon)

6) Outdoor Light Sensor

You are probably familiar with this technology if you have outdoor lights that come on by themselves. With the light sensor, the lights come on at dusk and off at daybreak. Many also have a way to set them to stay on a certain number of hours after coming on rather than staying on all night. (Buy on Amazon)

7) App Lights

We discovered these two years ago at Home Depot and grabbed a bunch at 75% off last year after Christmas. We like these because they can be controlled via our phones. In theory, they can be used year round as there are different lighting configurations already programed into the phone app. These are LED so they stay cool to the touch and last a long time. They can be use indoors or out. Steph has a set of the round bulbs she uses year round on her porch as they look like normal decorative porch lighting. (Buy at Home Depot)

8) Wall Switch

Many homes have at least one outlet that is controlled with a wall switch. I have one in my living room which makes it convenient to control a lamp or fan, or lights at Christmas time. Don’t overlook this feature if you have it in your home already. To take it a step further, you could add a SwitchMate to the switch and remotely control it with your phone.

Please note: We are not sponsored by any of the companies/products that we used. These products were picked and bought by us.​​

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP!

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