Permanent outdoor lights (like Govee's) are installed once along your roofline and stay up year-round, changing to any color or scene from your phone. Traditional Christmas lights cost less up front but go up and come down every season and do one job. If you'd use your lights beyond December — everyday accent lighting, game days, other holidays — permanent lights usually win over time; if you only want a classic look for a few weeks a year, seasonal Christmas lights are the simpler choice.
Side-by-side comparison
| Permanent lights | Traditional Christmas lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Once — stays up year-round | Every season, plus takedown |
| Colors and effects | Any color or scene from an app | Fixed bulbs (whatever you bought) |
| Use | Every night: holidays, game days, everyday accent light | Mostly the holiday season |
| Control | Phone app, schedules, voice assistants | Plug-in timer or manual |
| Look when off | Low-profile track along the trim | Clips and cords visible, or stored away |
| Up-front cost | Higher | Lower per season |
| Cost over time | No yearly install/takedown | Repeats every year if you hire it out |
Choose permanent lights if…
- You want the house lit for more than one season a year
- You like switching colors for holidays, game days, or events
- You're done hanging (or paying someone to hang) lights every fall
- You want a clean roofline that doesn't look like decorations when the lights are off
Choose traditional Christmas lights if…
- You only want lights up for the holidays
- You want the lowest cost this year
- You like the classic look of individual bulbs, wreaths, and garland
Not sure yet? We install both — permanent Govee lighting and seasonal Christmas lighting. Tell us about your home and we'll help you decide. Get a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are permanent outdoor lights worth it?
They're worth it if you'll use them beyond the holidays — as everyday roofline lighting, for team colors, or for other holidays — or if you're tired of paying for (or doing) a seasonal install and takedown every year. If you only want lights up for a few weeks in December, traditional Christmas lights cost less.
Can permanent lights look like classic Christmas lights?
Yes. You can set warm white, red and green, or multicolor scenes that mimic traditional bulbs, then switch to something else after the season — no ladder required.
Do permanent lights stay up all year?
Yes. They're mounted along the fascia or under the eaves and are meant to stay in place through every season, so there's nothing to take down.
Do you install both permanent lights and Christmas lights?
Yes. Mason-Dixon LED Co. installs Govee permanent outdoor lighting and also handles traditional Christmas and seasonal lighting — installation, upkeep during the season, and takedown — around York, PA and northern Maryland.