Ways to have candles and lights still up after Christmas

[Chaotic45]

I know mumsnet sort of sneers at 'twinkly' lights but having plenty of lights and candles as part of our Christmas decorations has made our home feel so cosy.

I'm trying to find ways of keeping this going after I've packed our Christmas decorations away.

Has anyone any good ideas as to how to do this? Any brands of lights or candle arrangements that aren't too Christmassy looking and will take us on towards spring?

I've got white fairy lights up all year along 2 walls in my living room. I've also recently put up some red ones in my kitchen and I have white ones draped around the wooden headboard in the bedroom.

I recently bought the Next LED candles and love them - they have a remote control too.

@TroysMammy sounds lovely, what do you use to fix the lights to the walls?

Chaotic45 Command hooks for the walls. My bed is wooden with knobs on each end of the headboard so they've just been weaved in and out.

I've had white led string lights along the tops of my walls in the lounge since October. I'll keep them up all year.

I bought some lovely pink/blur round string lights from John Lewis - they are really long and are draped across one wall in my bedroom. I also have a small string of star lights across the sitting room mirror,vwhich aren't too Christmasy. A floor lamp with a warm bulb is Nice and I also keep my fairy light twigs all year round.

I have White Company fairy lights in the (not used) fireplace. And candles are easy!

I have different fairy lights in almost every room! Take a look at lights4fun, they have lots of nice ones.

Another one with fairy lights over the bed and candles everywhere. I also have a pair of jar/vases full of coils of tiny led light on a copper wire in the fireplace and in the bathroom.

I always have candles in the hearth. They are cosy but not Christmassy.

You can get sticky backed lights for above rails on the walls

I'm going to get one of those waterproof boxes for plugs and have all of my fairy lights outside in a corner of my garden to make a fire pit area. Am aiming for the wall of lights Nigella has in her amazing conservatory/garden bit. I'm counting down till spring arrives and a bit more light in the evenings and trying to make Jan and Feb less grim which are gloomy in the best of years!!

We usually have a string of small star lights along the beam above the fireplace and draped around a big dresser/mirror in the hall. I'd have more but my husband always thinks I've forgotten to take them down after Christmas!

Oh and both our boys have led lights around their ceilings, which are rather fun. They're remote controlled and they like to change the colours.

We have a dozen or so storm lanterns with tall church candles scattered about the sitting rooms and dining room which we light every night, year round. 3 are in a bay window so there’s a nice reflection too.

I have led string lights around the big mirror in my hall all year round. Also a lantern with a long copper wire led string bunched up inside, on the kitchen windowsill. Big chunky candles on the hearth.

We have white fairy lights around the lounge door this year and might keep them up.

My lanterns usually live in my bookcases through the rest of the year. Do you think it is safe to burn tealights in them whilst they're in the (glazed) bookcase? (Height between shelves is around 30cm/12") Does anyone use them on an openshelved bookcase, as I've only ever moved them to an open flat surface before using.

I have been contemplating leaving a garland up on the picture rail on the sitting room chimney breast, as it's just so lovely (coloured wooden stars, rather than boughs of holly or eucalyptus).
DD has fairy lights entwined around her bed head, which is easy to do...but my bed head is low, and so covered by the pillows!

I’ve been thinking along similar lines. The living room has been lovely. But I don’t want twinkly lights year round. I’m thinking that what I probably need is more lamps and a big lantern thing for some candles.

I'm looking for a floor lamp with colour changing lights to replace the Xmas tree as we've all enjoyed the light this year. Any recommendations?

I have white fairy lights along the plate shelf in my kitchen and have done since we moved here 11 years ago.
They have the advantage that you can just see enough in there during the night not to have to turn on the lights.

I also have a light and berry garland on my mantle piece in the front sitting room which started as a Christmas item but stayed.

You just need a color changing light bulb, they’re about £10 - some use your phone to change the colors, some you can play music through.

Don’t limit yourself on the lamp.

@poppingpotatoes

this one? noxudesign.com/products/kona-floor-lamp?fbclid=IwAR08yQjLItky0eWDw08uXgYMWj0tJkDV8pWPF1-iP20qMqphRIOZu12j6W4

[quote Ginkpin]@poppingpotatoes

this one? noxudesign.com/products/kona-floor-lamp?fbclid=IwAR08yQjLItky0eWDw08uXgYMWj0tJkDV8pWPF1-iP20qMqphRIOZu12j6W4[/quote]
Yes! Exactly like that but not at that price unfortunately.

I'll have to look at colour changing lightbulbs I think.

I use candles all year in a little tray in the middle of the coffee table and on windowsills. I love white candles in silver sticks the most.