Permanent lighting versus annual holiday lights

The honest comparison between permanent lighting and hiring a seasonal light crew comes down to how long you stay and how much you use the system.

Annual seasonal service Predictable yearly cost, no up-front investment, no permanent hardware on the house. But the cost repeats forever and the lights are only up for a few weeks.

Permanent systems Higher up-front cost, then app-controlled lighting every night of the year: warm white for security and curb appeal, accent colors for game days and holidays.

Where the math tips Households that would otherwise pay for seasonal installation every year, and that will use nightly warm white lighting, tend to reach parity within a handful of seasons. Households that only want lights for two weeks in December usually do not.