It used to be that Christmas lights left up year-round were considered to be tacky. The judgment was that you were simply too lazy to bring yourself to do the work of taking them down and putting them back up 11 months later. Perhaps we’re a little less judgemental, or lights have simply changed.

My husband David and I love the look of little white lights. It creates a soft glow and it’s just…beautiful. About 20 years ago we began stringing up the little white Christmas lights in our living room. I promise it didn’t look like the wall art that Joyce hung on her wall on Stranger Things.

It was outlines of the wall. Then we added green garland. Then collections of lights, sometimes different colors on various pieces in the living room. The lights extended to the kitchen. Then the bar room (we don’t have a dining room or a dining room set). For decades we’ve been hanging lights to create a wonderland. Or so it feels. So we’ve been keeping “Christmas” lights up year-round for as long as I can remember.

Driving around you notice that these little white “Christmas” lights are showing up year rounbd outside as well. Outlining barns, gazebos, pergolas (we did that too!), and fences. Maybe we just like to surround ourselves with wonder. Maybe we just want to create a beautiful space and adding just the right lights make all the difference.

So YES! Hang them up! Keep them up! Admire them every day. No judgment. Just beauty. 🙂