A good outdoor Christmas display starts with the area you want to decorate. A line of lights along the roof creates a different effect from a tree wrapped in sparkle or a shrub covered with an even grid. Choose the light style first, then check the length, colour and power option for the exact set you are considering.

Start with your space

Make a quick sketch of the entrance, fence, roofline or planting you want to light. Measure the route the lights will follow, rather than estimating from a photograph. Note the distance to the power source separately: a lead cable is not part of the illuminated length.

Choose one main feature for a small space. A bright doorway and a softly lit shrub can feel more considered than trying to cover every surface.

Icicle lights: a hanging outline

Icicle lights combine a horizontal cable with hanging drops. They suit a display where you want a visible fringe beneath a suitable edge. Measure the horizontal run and check the drop lengths so the lights will clear doors, windows and walkways.

Compare the colour and power options on the individual listing. Similar-looking icicle sets can have different controllers, timers and connection limits.

Cluster lights: a fuller sparkle

Cluster lights place LEDs close together along the cable, giving a denser-looking effect than more widely spaced string lights. They are worth considering when you want one feature to carry plenty of sparkle.

Our connectable cluster string lights include 5m, 10m and 15m options. Check the selected variant for its colour and power arrangement before ordering.

String lights: a flexible route

String lights work well when you want to follow a shape, weave light through suitable foliage or trace a measured run. Wrapping a tree uses more cable than simply measuring its height, so trace your intended route with a piece of string first.

Explore our connectable string lights and compare the illuminated length with the route you measured. Avoid stretching the cable to bridge gaps.

Net lights: coverage over an area

Net lights arrange LEDs in a grid, making them useful when you want a more even spread over a suitably sized surface or shrub. Measure both width and height and check the shape you want to cover.

Our 2m by 2m net lights offer a different starting point from a single long strand. The advertised grid size is a useful guide; the final coverage depends on the surface and how it is positioned.

Choose the colour and check the system

Warm white gives a golden look, bright white a crisper finish, and multicoloured lights a playful mix. Repeating one colour across nearby decorations can bring the display together.

Before buying, check that every component is suitable for its intended location. Follow the supplied instructions for plugs, controllers, battery boxes and connections. Connect only compatible sets within the stated limits; similar connectors alone do not establish compatibility. Timer behaviour and lighting functions vary by product.

Your buying checklist

• Measure the illuminated route or coverage area.
• Check the separate lead length and power-source position.
• Select the colour and exact power option.
• Confirm compatibility, maximum connection limits and placement instructions.
• Plan a layout that keeps doorways and paths clear.

Need any assistance? Contact Best Artificial on 028 7055 8374 or enquiries@bestartificial.co.uk with the product details and your measurements.