Growing up, Christmas always consisted of begging my mother to add those fun, multicoloured lights to our meticulously decorated gold, burgundy and ivory colour-schemed tree.
"No, honey," she’d say softly. "That’s tacky."
According to a recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research, my childhood self isn’t alone in the desire for colourful twinklers. Of the survey’s 1,000 participants, 62 per cent said they prefer multicoloured lights, versus the 38 per cent who opt for white lights.
Bill Cielinski, co-owner of B&B Holiday Decorating based in Des Plaines, Ill., says disagreements in households about what colour lights to choose are common.
"We’ve had houses where we’ve done one set of lights, and then the wife overrules the husband and we go switch the colours," he said.
According to Cielinski, 90 per cent of his company’s clients opt for white lights over multicoloured. Based on his experience and observations, he believes socio-economics play a factor.
"When somebody is hiring somebody — usually the upper class — they don’t like to think outside the box. They want that traditional look, that white twinkle-light effect with the white style of lights," he said. "Maybe because they’re typically older, and that’s what they grew up on and what you see in the movies."
Cielinkski said he sees closer to a 50-50 split with the company’s online decoration rental business, which caters to homeowners who want to put up the lights themselves.
Kelly Fitzsimmons, owner of Chicago decorating company Light Up Your Holidays, encourages people to join in the holiday celebration, whether their decor is "homegrown or professional."
"It’s all personal preference," she said about the multicoloured versus white lights debate. "There are really ways to satisfy everyone. It’s Christmas!"
Fitzsimmons offers these ideas if households are in need of a compromise in the great light debate.
Head out back. "Decide what little elements you can do to satisfy the kids. If you want a classic, clean Christmas look in front, decorate a tree in the backyard with multicoloured lights. Make sure the kids can see it from inside. Do green and red bushes, too."
Two is better than one. "Have two trees inside," Fitzsimmons suggests. "It doesn’t have to be embarrassing for your neighbours to see the multicoloured tree — just have it another place in the house. If this isn’t enough, just bite the bullet and change the lights every other year."
Happy wife, happy life. "When a disagreement is between spouses, mom always wins. Why? Because more often than not, she’s the one managing it all, and so she gets to have first dibs on her choice of holiday lights."
Have fun. "Christmas decor is not about the denomination, but creating a winter wonderland; it’s a gift that we give everyone, no matter what colour, how quirky or how professional. Decorations are part of the heart and soul of the holidays."
— Tribune News Service
