Smart lights are LED light strands that can be controlled and programmed using an app on your phone or other device. They allow you to do things like change the colors, make them dance to music, set schedules and lighting effects, and more. Using smart lights on your Christmas tree can take your holiday decor to the next level with dynamic and customizable lighting displays.
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Benefits of Using Smart Lights on a Christmas Tree
There are many benefits to using smart lights on your Christmas tree:
- Dynamic lighting effects – With smart lights, you can program customized lighting effects like fades, flashes, color changes, and more. This allows you to make your tree come alive with beautiful and mesmerizing displays.
- Schedule lighting – Use the app to schedule your tree lights to turn on and off at certain times. This allows you to save energy and not have to worry about remembering to turn the lights on every night.
- Control from anywhere – Most smart light systems can be controlled from your phone, allowing you to turn the lights on and off and change colors even when away from home.
- Energy efficient – Smart LED lights consume far less energy than traditional incandescent Christmas lights. This saves you money on your electricity bill.
- Customize colors – Choose from thousands of colors and color palettes to match your decor or create fun themes and lighting scenes.
- Works with music – Many smart light systems have music synchronization that makes the lights dance and change color to the beat of Christmas songs or other music playing nearby.
- Safer than traditional lights – Smart LED lights produce almost no heat and have a much lower risk of causing fires than traditional Christmas lights.
Types of Smart Lights for Christmas Trees
There are a few main options when it comes to smart lights for Christmas trees:
- Smart light strings – These are LED light strands, similar to traditional Christmas lights, that connect to a smart controller hub. The hub allows you to control the lights from an app and program lighting effects.
- Smart light projectors – These project colored lighting patterns onto your tree. They produce intricate designs and effects like falling snowflakes.
- Smart tree star toppers – LED-lit smart tree toppers connect to an app for programming light shows at the top of your tree.
- Smart ornaments – Ornaments that integrate LED lights and connect to each other and a smart control hub to add accent lighting to your tree.
The most common and affordable option is smart light strings. These provide whole-tree lighting that can be customized in many ways. Projectors and smart tree toppers offer more unique effects for the top or front of the tree visible to guests. Smart ornaments allow for accent lighting integrated into the branches.
How Do Smart Lights for Christmas Trees Work?
Smart Christmas lights work using LED bulbs, a control hub or controller, and an app that allows you to control and program the lights. Here is a more detailed overview:
LED Bulbs
Smart Christmas lights use tiny, low-power LED bulbs rather than traditional incandescent Christmas light bulbs. The LED bulbs last much longer – up to 10 times longer than incandescent. They also consume far less electricity, produce almost no heat, and allow for the wide range of colors and effects.
Control Hub
The LED light strands connect to a control hub or controller. This can be a small box or puck that plugs into an outlet somewhere on the tree skirt or nearby. The hub connects to your home WiFi network and communicates between the light strands and the mobile app.
Mobile App
The hub is controlled and programmed using a mobile app on your phone or tablet. The app provides an interface to change colors, set lighting effects, schedule on/off times, and control other settings. Most apps also have preset modes and effects to choose from.
Putting It Together
So in summary – the LED light strands receive power from the control hub and contain the colored bulbs. The hub connects them to WiFi and the app allowing for programming. You customize the lighting colors and effects in the app, and those signals get sent to the lights via the hub.
Choosing Smart Lights for Your Christmas Tree
If you’re ready to deck your tree with smart lights, here are some tips for choosing the right smart lighting system:
Compatible with Your Mobile Platform
First, ensure the lights work with your mobile device – whether iOS or Android. Some smart systems only work with one platform. The app is key to controlling the lights, so you want to ensure compatibility.
Number of Color Options
Look for lights that offer a wide spectrum of color choices from warm whites to bright primaries and everything in between. The more color options, the more you can customize exciting lighting effects.
Number of Bulbs/Density
Consider the number of light bulbs per foot on the smart strand you choose. More bulbs per foot create a fuller, denser tree lighting effect. Standard strings have between 50-100 bulbs while denser ones have 150-200 per strand.
Special Effects
Many smart systems offer lighting effects like fade, twinkle, flash, and more. Consider special effects you want when choosing lights. Also look for music sync features if you want your tree to dance to songs.
Smart Accent Options
To augment smart string lights, consider accent options like smart ornaments, projectors for images/patterns, or smart star toppers which allow for creative special effects at the top or front of the tree.
Ease of Use
Look at app reviews and setup processes to find smart lights known for being easy to set up and use. You don’t want to spend hours figuring out complex controls.
Price
You can find basic smart string lights starting around $40-50 for a 50-bulb strand. Higher density strings, add-ons like smart ornaments/projectors, and more complex effects add cost. Make sure to factor in the full tree’s lighting needs.
Setting Up and Installing Smart Christmas Lights
Once you’ve chosen the right smart lighting system for your Christmas tree, it’s time to set up and install them. Here’s an overview of the setup process:
1. Plan Light Strand Layout
First, plan how you want to layout the light strands on your tree. This may depend on the number of strands in your kit and density of bulbs on each strand. Ensure even coverage, planning for areas of concentration like toward the bottom and top of the tree.
2. Connect Strands to Control Hub
Next, lay out the strands next to your tree and connect each one to the control hub or controller. The hub will have multiple ports to plug each strand into.
3. Position and Shape Strands on Tree
Now start shaping the connected strands onto your tree branches, spacing them evenly as you wrap the tree. Use tree hooks or zip ties to attach the strands securely to the branches.
4. Plug in Hub and Connect Power
Once all the strands are in place on the tree, plug in the control hub to a nearby outlet if it’s not already powered on. This will send power to all the LED bulbs.
5. Connect Hub to WiFi
Using the instructions that came with your lights, connect the hub to your home WiFi network so it can communicate with the mobile app. Many have a WPS push-button process for easy connection.
6. Sync App to Control Hub
Now you need to sync up the app to your new hub/controller. Open the app, follow any prompts to find the hub on your network, and link them together.
7. Arrange Accent Pieces
If you have any smart accent lights like projectors or ornaments, now is the time to strategically place them on the tree for additional lighting effects.
8. Customize Your Lighting Looks
The fun part – open up the app and start customizing! Choose colors, effects, themes, and program your own shows to make your newly smart Christmas tree shine.
Smart Lighting Ideas and Tips
Once your smart Christmas lights are installed, the options for creative and dazzling lighting displays are endless. Here are some smart lighting ideas and tips to spark your imagination:
Choose Cohesive Color Schemes
Pick palettes of complementary colors that go well together like warm whites, bright reds/greens, or cool blues/purples rather than clashing colors. Remember the colors mix together across the tree.
Highlight Special Ornaments
Use spotlights or smart accent lights to draw attention to special ornaments you want to feature like family heirlooms or homemade ones.
DIY Custom Light Shows
Get creative and program your own custom light shows set to music or timed sequences rather than only using presets.
Schedule Daily Tree Lighting
Use schedules to automate when the tree turns on and off each day. Set it to turn on around dusk and off later at bedtime.
Gradual Day-to-Night Lighting
Mimic natural lighting by programming a gradual transition from bright, cool whites during the daytime to warmer tones at night.
Automated Holiday Themes
Make different pre-programmed shows for various holidays like red & green for Christmas, orange & purple for Halloween, red/white/blue for July 4th, etc.
Set a Festive Tree Lighting Night
Plan a fun tree lighting night to unveil your high-tech tree for family & friends! Show off programmed lighting scenes you created.
Awaken Inner Child
Have fun playing with colors and effects to create a whimsical, joyful tree. Smart lights let your inner child imagination run free!
Conclusion
Smart light strands open up amazing new possibilities for your Christmas tree compared to traditional static lighting. With customizable colors, effects, and control from your phone, you can make your tree interactive, dynamic, and unique. Smart accent lights take it even further.
Planning strand layout, ensuring app connectivity, allowing time for programming, and getting creative with colors and effects will make your tree the star of the show this holiday season. Dazzle your family and guests with your high-tech Christmas tree and program it to spread cheer throughout the season.
| Smart Light Strand | Length | Number of Bulbs | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twinkle Star Smart Lights | 70 feet | 200 bulbs | App control, multicolor, music sync |
| Fairy Lighting F300 | 300 feet | 300 bulbs | Warm white to multicolor |
| Starshine Smart String Lights | 100 feet | 100 bulbs | Twinkle and fade modes |