Are Permanent Christmas Lights Worth the Cost?

It’s time to put down that tangled mess of Christmas lights for good.    

Instead, light up your space year-round with Oelo's LED outdoor lighting. Designed to be both permanent and configurable, these low-profile lights are nearly invisible in the daytime but illuminate your home beautifully at night.   

Completely customizable, these lights let you express yourself on every occasion — without spending hours on the roof. Once installed, you can easily change the color and movement pattern with a few quick taps on your phone.   

For a closer look at how Oelo's lighting can transform your home, let’s dive into the details.  

Mounting Options  

Oelo offers homeowners three mounting options: Face Mount, Accent Mount, or Under Mount.   

Choose the Face Mount option if you want that traditional Christmas light feel. This is where the lights are hung on the fascia and are visible from every angle.   

A house's fascia is the outward-facing horizontal boards just beneath your roofline and gutters. The fascia connects the trusses (or rafters) to the roof's edge, supports the gutters, and gives the home a finished look.   

Oelo's Under Mount is where the lighting system is installed on both the fascia and under the eaves, creating a wall-wash effect. Eaves are the parts of the roof that extend past the walls of your house, creating an overhang.   

The Accent Mount option is done by mounting the channel downward (or upward) and selecting specific lights to be turned on. This is a great way to highlight architectural features such as pillars or verandas.   

Unique Cover Features  

All LED components are housed in an acrylic or metal LED light cover.   

The acrylic cover is impact-resistant, fade-resistant, and waterproof. The metal cover is made in the United States and is a favorite for DIY installations.   

Here they are compared side-by-side:

Acrylic*

LED Appearance: Spaced 10" or closer behind a translucent lens for a flush look  

Length: 8' increments that can be cut for a custom fit  

Colors: 9 color options that can be painted  

Metal  

LED Appearance: Lights snap into a channel for quick installation  

Length: 7'6" increments that can be cut for a custom fit  

Colors: Powder-coated in 9 standard colors (ask about color-matching)  

*Oelo does offer an acrylic cover; however, this option is not currently available at RC Willey.

Color and Pattern Customization  

One of the standout features of the Oelo app is the ability to change the color of your LED lights at the touch of a button. You can either set all the lights to a single color or customize each light individually, giving you complete control over your lighting ambiance.  

The preset patterns are a great option if you don't want to spend a lot of time thinking about which colors to choose for your next holiday celebration. However, if you prefer a personalized touch, you can browse the 16 million hues to find the perfect color for any festivity. In addition to that, there are nine movement patterns that can add extra sparkle or create a unique icicle effect.   

Durability  

Oelo is headquartered in Colorado, so these guys know something about cold weather. These lights are IP-68 rated — meaning the lights can be submerged in water and still work. To further prove their durability, Oelo froze their lights in ice and tested them afterward to ensure they still functioned properly.   

Oelo’s outdoor lights are designed to last through harsh weather conditions, so whether you live somewhere with freezing cold winters or in a land of endless summer, rest assured the weather won’t affect these lights.   

Maintenance  

Have you ever finished stringing up the lights on the house or around the Christmas tree only to plug them in and find out half are dead? Say goodbye to that feeling.   

Oleo has eliminated this problem by running each light on an independent light engine. And don't expect your lights to "burn out" like a traditional bulb. Only after about 100,000 of use do LED lights start to degrade.   

However, if there is a mechanical issue causing one of the lights to malfunction or color degradation, you can easily replace each light.   

Voltage  

Oelo lights are all low voltage and run on 36v power supplies, which plug into a standard 120v plug.   

Energy-Efficiency  

LED lights consume far less power than traditional incandescent bulbs and have a considerably longer lifespan. On average, you can expect your LEDs to use approximately 75% less energy. And because LEDs last so much longer, you’ll be buying fewer bulbs overall — saving you even more money in the long run.    

Pricing 

In service-based industries, it can be difficult to determine exact pricing upfront. However, Oelo provides free quotes and ballpark pricing, which should give you a rough idea of the final costs.   

It's important to keep in mind that the approximate prices are only starting costs. Other factors, such as the project's complexity, time of year, and location, will also be taken into account.    

Your Lights, Your Way

With three simple mounting solutions, an array of cover colors, and the system rated for 100,000 hours of use, Oelo’s versatile and durable system makes it possible for you to light your home year-round without spiking your electricity bill.   

While the upfront costs may seem steep, the long-term savings from using energy-efficient LED lights and the time and effort saved from not having to hang string lights every year make it a worthwhile investment.  

Oelo turns every day into a celebration. The variety of preset patterns, colors, and movement sequences make it possible to express yourself during the holiday season, special occasions, or a random Tuesday to brighten your neighborhood.   

*Only available for purchase and installation at RC Willey's Utah locations.