Why does everyone put up plain white Christmas lights?

[nile455]

You know what I am talking about. Leaving the traditional, colorful reds, greens, blue lights etc, for the plain white "snow frost" look. I live in a very large development, and every single house has gone to this non-color look. Boy does our house stick out, color everywhere

Anyone else notice this fad?

 

[marybet]

I still like the multi-color lights and that is what we use. The all white lights are brighter and then there are the icicle lights that everybody uses. I liked it when the houses looked different, now they are all the same.

But even worse are the people who leave their lights up all year.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Our street is split. 3 houses with white icicles and 3 with multi-colored lights. I think they all look nice.

We did something new this year. We always have multi-colored lights on our tree and this year we added 1 long strand of non-blinking white lights. It illuminates the tree and the multi colored lights sparkle. It is a beautiful tree, one of my favorites!

 

[Pop Daddy]

easy to put up and cheap

 

[nile455]

I still like the multi-color lights and that is what we use. The all white lights are brighter and then there are the icicle lights that everybody uses. I liked it when the houses looked different, now they are all the same.

Heaven for bid, if Disney decided to make the Osborne Lights like that. YUCK!

 

[hercamore]

I like the simple look of white shining on the snow and making it sparkle.

Plus, Im not buying any more outdoor lights. Trying to downsize.

herc.

 

[aprilgail2]

I think white lights just look a bit more elegant than the multi colored ones. ..... But since I am not elegant my "icicle" lights are all red! My tree has all white lights on it though.

 

[C.Ann]

DD & I took a ride through some large developments and as a rule, we like to see some color.. But I have to say that some folks dressed up the "all whites" very nicely.. They would also have a wreath in each and every window - or a red velvet bow attached to the white lights every so many feet - and that looked very pretty and quite elegant..

However, we did see one house and I made my DD stop the car and pull over.. I then pointed to the house and said to her, "Let this be a lesson to you.. This is your house.. This is your house on drugs !!!"

It was bad....really, really bad.....................

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think white lights are more elegant... when done right But the colored ones are more festive and fun - and very rare now, so they're unique to boot!

I think the white is more readily available, too, and a passing fad... =)

 

[luvthatduke]

Yep, I think "elegant" is definitely the word
to describe the houses that do the white lights nicely.
We use colors now, and have the hot, fat, colored bulbs
that were around in the 40's & 50's.
I find them nostalgic, and beautiful - but all the lights
around are beautiful, & they won't be around for much longer *sigh*.

 

[luvflorida]

I LOVE the old-fashioned big, colorful bulbs! Reminds me of my childhood. Our neighborhood is all white lights. I just don't get it. We don't put lights outside, but our tree is always covered in colorful lights. In fact, looking at the bright reds, blues, greens, and other colors, is one of the things I find most enjoyable about the holidays!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I actually liked colored lights over the all white ones,more chances to see over the top houses

 

[nile455]

easy to put up and cheap

Gotta agree here. Sure some may think they are "elegant", but I doubt that's the reason people have been putting them up. It is much easier and cheaper.

I will never be convinced that 16 consecutive houses on a street with nothing but white lights is elegant. Boring and non-creative are better descriptions if you ask me. I'll continue spending 8 hours on the day after Thanksgiving putting up the variety of lights and props that are full of color. If nothing else, it's great family time.

 

[gr8tpanther]

I absolutely HATE white lights!!!! My mother decorates the entire house in white.

I use multi-colored chaser lights. The more color and the more action the BETTER

 

[Doctor P]

You know what I am talking about. Leaving the traditional, colorful reds, greens, blue lights etc, for the plain white "snow frost" look.

Could be a return to traditions. If the OP would think about it, it is the WHITE lights that are the most traditional and retro, rather than the colors. I also disagree that white lights are cheaper and easier. Both look good, IMHO. We do colors inside and white or single colored lights outside.

 

[nile455]

Sorry to bump an old thread (particularly my own), but as we were driving around my neighborhood tonight I was reminded of this thread. There is literally NOTHING to see in my neighborhood but boring white lights. Every single house. It's even worse than last year.

Call it a fad, but I think it's just laziness.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I'm just curious, why would you say using all white lights is laziness? Dh and I have used both colored lights, and white lights, in various years, and we do the same amount of work with either one of them. We cover the same hedges, trees, etc., but the colored vs white lights just depends on our mood that year. Could you please elaborate? TIA!

 

[nile455]

I'm just curious, why would you say using all white lights is laziness? Dh and I have used both colored lights, and white lights, in various years, and we do the same amount of work with either one of them. We cover the same hedges, trees, etc., but the colored vs white lights just depends on our mood that year. Could you please elaborate? TIA!

I am talking about those strands that have rows of like 10-15 tiny white lights hanging down, giving the frost hanging over the roof look. They are a cinch to put up, take no creativity, and are boring (when every other house in the neighborhood is doing the exact same thing).

I guess they would look okay, IF there was some color in other parts. But the people in my neighborhood who *used* to take the effort into putting up all kinds of variety of lights, just do their roof now and that's it. Still takes me a good 6 hours or so to put my lights up, and I am pretty sure it takes no more than 20 minutes for my neighbors to do those frost lights.

Since when did Christmas decorating turn into monochrome white? I guess I'll never understand...

(No offense to fans of this look though)

 

[mickeyfan2]

This fad has been around for a while, but according to an article in our paper, it is ending. Many think it is classier, but I prefer whimsical.

 

[MoniqueU]

We don't use the icicle lights that someone is referring to. My husband says they are more of a PIA then the regulars to put up. I don't know if that is true or he just doesn't like them. We do use the plain white big bulb lights. I think they are more elegant then the colored. Just my preference. I see a lot of blue lights in our neighborhood and it reminds of me of the old blue light special at Kmart.