6 Smart-Home Christmas Decorations to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

It’s the most wonderful time of year again, where everyone goes to great lengths to impress friends, family, and neighbors with exterior decorations that blow away the competition (even if that competition was your own decorations last year).

At the top of your list of holiday to-dos, Christmas decorations are pretty essential in making your home feel like the winter wonderland you’ve always envisioned. We know you’re ready to join the ranks of the Clark Griswold’s of the world and give your neighborhood a Christmas display it won’t soon forget.

Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on 1980s technology or vintage décor. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, Mr. Handyman of Memphis has a list of six smart-home holiday decorations that will last for years to come.

1. Solar Panel LED Lights

Are you a conservation warrior, always thinking about the environment before aesthetics? Okay, maybe you care somewhat about appearances (otherwise, you wouldn’t want a spectacular Christmas light display). If hoping to combine energy efficiency with technology, solar panel LED lights are the way to go. YIQU offers several unique options for your porch, patio, roofline, and more to save on energy costs this season. With this particular solar panel lighting, you get:

• 8 lighting modes to satisfy your preferences
• A built-in memory chip that saves your last settings
• A large solar converter for fast charging

Get ready for 8-10 hours of solar and battery operation for a gorgeous nighttime Christmas light show that the entire neighborhood will enjoy.

2. Holiday Decoration Laser Projector

Are you over having to install (or hire someone else to install) Christmas lights every year? The endeavor can be tedious and dangerous if you’re not experienced, which is probably why you pass the buck. 

How about a way to have a visually appealing Christmas light show without the potential peril? A holiday decoration laser projector is the perfect alternative for someone who still wants to impress passersby with a light display but is unwilling to compromise safety.

Companies like AtmosFX can help bring your Christmas decorations to life with a projection of Santa delivering presents or a cozy, festive fireplace to create some holiday magic. Whether you use your smart TV or a projector, you can transform your indoor or outdoor space.

3. Flameless Flickering LED Candles

For Christmas, forego wax candles, as they contribute to over 15,000 estimated house fires annually. Invest in flameless flickering LED candles to protect you and your loved ones from a potential disaster this holiday season. Get a frosted lampshade or glass hurricane vase for a cozier effect, and you’re all set! Remember, set an automatic timer or manually turn off your flameless candles to avoid overheating and burnout.

4. Christmas Tree Light Timer

Be honest. If it were safe to keep your Christmas tree lights on all day and night, chances are you’d do just that. But between 2014 and 2018, Christmas tree fires accounted for $10.3 million in property damage, according to research by the National Fire Protection Association. The best way to ensure holiday lights don’t literally set your world on fire is to invest in a Christmas tree light timer to designate a specific schedule for your lights to turn on and off.

5. Smartphone-Enabled Christmas Lights

Have you had the same flickering white lights for a decade? Or maybe you’re over the same hues on your tree year after year, but you definitely don’t have time to look for new ones right now. What do you do? Get you some smartphone-enabled lights from Twinkly, that’s what! You can control your lights and create a multi-layered effect or use their premade effects for a very merry and bright Christmas.

6. Virtual Yule Log

Don’t have a fireplace? Not to worry! We live in a modern world where streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ have yule log displays for that cabin-esque, snowed-in feel. You have access to Anna and Elsa’s Arendelle castle fireplace or a modest fireplace with crackling logs and soft holiday music playing in the background. Whatever your yule log preference, there’s a virtual fireplace out there to accommodate.

The Bluff City has an array of holiday light shows, including Starry Nights at Shelby Farms, Light on the Lane in Bartlett, and Southern Lights in Southaven. But nothing beats putting together a one-of-a-kind Christmas display that’s all your own and smart-enabled.