Decorating our homes is a joyous festive tradition that families across the country look forward to each year. Normally, the majestic Christmas tree stands tall as the pinnacle of yuletide decor. Decorating the tree is something that often can be a topic of heated discussion, how many baubles are too many? Is tinsel in this year?
In this article, we look to address a common concern, how many lights for a 7ft tree? We can hopefully all agree that lighting is a very important factor when it comes to dressing the tree, so let's dive into the details and break down this form of festive folly.
Factors to consider
Tree height and size
When considering lighting your tree, the first thing to take into account is the size of the tree. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes, from spindly short table toppers to room-filling specimens taking over half your house, and everything in between. As such, take a look at the height and width of the tree as these are both important factors to consider.
In the UK, the 7ft tree remains a popular choice. It’s often the perfect height to make the most of the generous ceiling height available in the UK’s many Victorian and Edwardian homes, whilst still remaining manageable.
Tree type
According to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, around 7 million real Christmas trees are sold in the UK each year, but only 17% of UK residents put up a real tree. The type of tree you choose is another important factor when considering lighting.
Real trees tend to be denser overall, due to the ticker trunks and branches, which absorbs more light. As such, they often require a little more lighting. Artificial trees often tend to have more evenly spaced but also slightly sparser foliage. Being a natural product, real trees have more variation, but it means their denser spots require more illumination.
Lighting style preferences
Christmas trees can be a very personal thing; you might love the traditional cosy glow from warm white berry lights or the eclectic dazzle of multi-colour luminosity. Tree lights are a perfect way of encapsulating your style and the Christmas experience you want to bring to your home.
Colour is one thing but deciding on the light frequency is another - Are you the type for creating a soothing steady glow or do you fancy a rhythmic romantic twinkle? There’s nothing but choices but either way, you’ll be able to create the ambience and atmosphere you need.
General Guidelines and Formulas
If you search around, there are various guidelines and rules of thumb to say how many lights you should have on your tree. After considering many sources, we believe that you should aim for between 700 and 1,000 lights for a 7ft tree.
The string length and bulb spacing are important factors, plus the height difference between each rotation around the tree. With so many complex factors to consider, surely science must have an answer for us. And it does! Mathematics Professor Troy Henderson of the University of Mobile has derived a number of mathematical formulas to precisely calculate all of your Christmas lighting geometric needs. He’s even got theories on ornament spacing.
But if you don’t have a PhD in Mathematics (or feel that maths somewhat takes the fun out of Christmas) then our best advice is to stick to our ballpark figure and have a go. See what looks right to you and don’t be afraid to tweak until your tree looks just right.
Step-by-Step Lighting Process
Preparation
Before you get going, preparation is key. First, lay out your string of lights and make sure there are no knots or tangles in the cables. This will help with putting the lights on the tree but is also an important safety point as it can help to avoid any broken wires.
Next, it’s a good idea to test all your lights first. If you’re of the age to remember, Christmas lights of old used to run on a series circuit, meaning if one light went then none would turn on! This left the painstaking process of checking each bulb individually to find and replace the culprit. These days, most Christmas lights run on a parallel circuit, meaning one dead bulb won’t affect the others.
Still, checking for dead bulbs and that everything works as expected before putting the lights on the tree is a good idea, as it is much easier to fix issues with the lights on the floor.
Lighting Techniques for a 7-Foot Tree
Generally speaking, there are three approaches when it comes to putting lights on your 7ft Christmas tree:
- Traditional wrapping method: This involves running the lights around the tree in concentric circles, giving even coverage. This works well for cluster lights or evenly spaced lights.
- Vertical hanging method: A big up and over, this look is quite popular for very large trees and can be often seen on big Christmas trees in shopping centres or hotels.
- Weaving method: For maximum coverage, you can weave the lights in and out of each branch. Get this right and it can look spectacular, just make sure your string of lights is long enough!
Special Tips and Tricks
Enhancing Depth and Sparkle
Utilising a variety of types of lights can bring a dynamic look to your 7ft tree. A tree this size is big enough to cope with a lots of lights, so experiment with different colours and types.
Energy Efficiency
Stick to LED lights for your tree. They are far more energy efficient and last much longer, making them the eco option. With a 7ft tree covered in lights, you would be surprised how much luminosity is generated. This can often mean you can keep other lights off in the evening, ensuring you don’t use more energy than you need.
Considering Overall Aesthetic
It is also worth considering the amount of lighting on your 7ft tree In context with other decorations. For example, if you have some gorgeous Robin lights dotted around your living room, you may not want to distract from these with too many lights on your tree.
When it comes to deciding how many lights for a 7ft tree, there are a multitude of factors to consider. Overall, we would suggest somewhere in the region of 700 - 1,000 lights. The size and shape of your tree will have an impact, as will your tastes and the way you decorate your tree. Overall, the best advice we can give is to enjoy the process and find a lighting style that works best for you this Christmas.