Stunning festive decorations can add to the magic of Christmas. Christmas lights are among the most charming ways to do so. There are various styles and ways to decorate your chosen space, whether you're trying to create a winter wonderland, candy cane lane or a cozy atmosphere.
You might be wondering whether you should rent the lights you envision or buy them to form your own unique design. There are many benefits to both. On the one hand, renting Christmas lights will give your display a professional touch. On the other hand, buying them will give you flexibility and creative freedom. This guide explores the numerous pros and cons of buying vs. renting Christmas lights.
Buying Christmas Lights
Buying Christmas lights can be an ideal option when you have the time and patience to be fully invested in your festive display. Still, there are some cons to be aware of. Let's explore the top advantages and disadvantages of buying Christmas lights.
Pros of Buying Christmas Lights
Here are the top four advantages of purchasing Christmas lights:
Ownership and long-term use: Buying your own Christmas lights grants you long-term use, allowing you to decorate your home or space at any time of the year as you please. It also means you can use them for different occasions and decorative purposes outside of the holiday period.
Creative freedom: Owning Christmas lights allows you to mix and match colors, experiment with various designs and add new pieces to the collection. This freedom may improve your decorating skills in the long run as you continue to tailor the display to your preferences.
Flexibility: This option also allows you to switch to different Christmas light brands or providers each time you buy them. Switching can be helpful if you discover faults with current lights or find more durable, higher-quality lights to buy instead.
One-time cost: While renting Christmas lights means paying every festive season, buying them allows you to avoid these ongoing expenses. You may then use that money elsewhere on your festive celebrations.
Cons of Buying Christmas Lights
Some challenges when buying Christmas lights include:
High upfront costs: While there are no recurring rental costs, you may still incur a high upfront cost depending on the product's quality. High-quality Christmas lights may be particularly expensive when you purchase enough for larger displays. You may also need to invest in other necessary accessories like extension cords and timers.
Setup considerations: Buying lights means putting them up yourself or hiring people to install them each season. When renting Christmas lights, most providers offer installation services to arrange and install lights professionally and safely. It's important to consider that DIY setups may look different from what you envisioned compared to professional installations.
Regular maintenance: When lights and bulbs wear out, you will need to spend money on repairing or replacing them regularly. Another important consideration is if your area is very wet or windy during the festive season. This type of weather may warrant troubleshooting more often.
Storage considerations: Once the holidays are over, you must find a suitable space to store the lights and decorations. Many lights may require you to arrange them carefully to reduce the chances of damage from tangles or being cramped at odd angles for too long. Proper storage is crucial if you want to avoid buying new lights the following season.
Renting Christmas Lights
Renting is a suitable option when you lack the time to install and maintain your own Christmas lights. It is also ideal when you're looking for a more professional look at an affordable price. Here are some pros and cons to consider when renting Christmas lights.
Professional installation and takedown: Renting Christmas gives you the advantage of having professionals install and take down the lights for you. Professional installation helps you be more efficient, and you can be sure the display will have a professional look.
Low upfront costs: This option allows you to avoid large upfront investments. Instead, you can budget for a more affordable fee every season and include the amount in your holiday decor budget.
Save on maintenance: Renting lights allows you to avoid replacing and repairing faulty parts, as the provider will often take care of this for you. You also save on costs for replacing and maintaining bulbs and tangled strands. Professionals may also install higher-quality lights, so less maintenance is needed.
Room for experimentation: When renting lights, you can change your display each year and try different designs and color palettes. Doing this when buying Christmas lights means extra costs. When renting your Christmas lights, switching your display from a cozy retreat to a winter wonderland may cost little to nothing extra.
No storage concerns: Another benefit of renting Christmas lights is that your provider will store them at their location outside of the festive season until you need them again. This means you won't have to consider the safest places to store them or make space for them.
Cons of Renting Christmas Lights
The most prominent cons of renting Christmas lights include:
Limited customization: When leasing lights, you need to choose from a set range of types, colors and designs, which may limit your creative freedom. Still, you may be able to bring your vision to life when renting more than one kind.
Availability issues: Many people may want to rent Christmas lights, making it essential to book them in advance. Otherwise, you may find it challenging to make a booking around Christmastime with the exact lighting design you envisioned.
Rent Christmas Lights With My Guy Services
Both renting and buying come with numerous advantages depending on your particular needs. If you're looking to save on overall costs and need time to focus on other aspects of your festivities, renting Christmas lights may be the ideal solution for you. My Guy Services offers various professional-grade Christmas lights to rent, including classic warm white lights, cool white and blue lights, red and white candy cane lights, and festive multicolored lights.
Our professional team members are trained to expertly install and remove your rented Christmas lights during the holiday season. We also make sure to learn about the particular look you have in mind before installing your lights.
If you're busy with other season preparations, our team also offers services to wash your roof and clean your gutters in preparation for putting up decorations on the exterior of your home. When the Christmas season ends, we'll remove the lights and store them safely at our location, saving you the hassle of storing them yourself.
