Can someone help me do outdoor Christmas lights that aren’t shit

[hamstersarse]

I put up some lights most years but they are consistently shit

I feel the neighbours have pulled out all the stops this year and effort is required

I’ve a driveway with hedges down each side. I’ve a porch. I’ve a bay window.

I don’t have a plug outside, and have traditionally posted a wire through the letterbox

How do I make it look not shit?

Battery lights make it much easier.
The ones we have (4 separate sets) all have a timer so you turn them on once they stay on for 6 hours then come on at the same time every day.
No trailing wires in and out to get the power. Total game changer!

Oh and try to go for lots of matching white lights if you want to look classy. Unfortunately my children wanted colour and tinsel so we're tacky this year.

Less is more.

A few lights on a tree or bush or hedge.
One set of simple lights on the house.

Static not flashing.

Wait a few weeks and it won't matter, save yourself all the expense and hassle.

A beautiful wreath is fine, maybe twinkly tree visible inside through the window. Otherwise, forget it! Most of the outdoor decs are loads of hassle and tacky a.f. Save yourself the bother and ditch competing with neighbours.

We've got a bay window. I've got a set of battery lights which I'll be hooking onto the gutter. I'll set them for 4pm-10pm and forget about them until New Year. And that will be it for the outside. Can't be doing competing. That way madness lies!

DH got 4 sets of battery ones this year also. So they are wrapped around the trunk and along a couple of branches (to the highest point monkey-like teen DD could reach) of the silver birch in the front garden.

A set of red ones will be plugged in and circled around the yew tree this weekend.

And the neighbours have put some along the beech hedge between the 2 houses which is nice.