Think your holiday lighting is appealing to all customers?
Here’s the deal…
Your string lights could be reminding Boomers of their childhood, but completely missing with Gen Z. That smart lighting investment? Might be blowing the budget of Gen X customers while impressing Millennials.
Problem:
Generations have very different expectations for holiday lighting. Features that appeal to one age group can seem dated or excessive to another.
Researching holiday lighting trends across generations isn’t just fun — it’s critical for building a display your target audience will actually connect with.
You’ll Learn:
- Why Each Generation Views Holiday Lighting Differently
- What Makes Boomers Light Up (Literally)
- The Millennial Balance Between Nostalgia and Tech
- How Gen X Keeps It Simple But Effective
- Gen Z’s Sustainable and Social Media-Worthy Approach
- The Universal Elements That Work Across All Ages
Why Each Generation Views Holiday Lighting Differently
Wondering why that fancy light display your neighbor strung up is getting completely different reactions from your various family members and friends?
It’s not a coincidence.
Each generation was raised with different holiday traditions, financial situations, and tech capabilities. These factors shape their expectations for holiday lighting in ways that extend far beyond style.
The reality:
Baby Boomers remember the wonderment of big, bulbous lights from the 1950s and 60s. Holiday lighting is their gateway to replicating those cherished childhood memories and preserving family traditions.
Gen X grew up in an era of economic volatility, leading to a value-driven mentality. The display must look impressive without requiring a big financial investment.
Millennials bridge the gap between analog nostalgia and digital convenience. They seek lighting displays that honor tradition while adding modern bells and whistles.
Gen Z has grown up in a world where climate change and social media are front and center. Their choice in lighting is determined by environmental and aesthetic criteria.
Pretty interesting, right?
What Makes Boomers Light Up (Literally)
Baby Boomers are holiday lighting traditionalists.
To this generation, lighting up a house is about preserving the enchantment of their childhood and sharing it with future generations.
Here’s what Boomers really want:
- Warm, familiar colors like deep reds and greens, plus classic white
- Large bulb sizes reminiscent of those famous C9 vintage bulbs, aka the real “Christmas lights”
- Consistent displays; no need for complicated programming or changing up the look frequently
- Quality over quantity when it comes to number of lights and type of cords used
Boomers also enjoy the process of setting up holiday lights. To them, it’s part of the fun.
47.8% of respondents prefer multicolor traditional lights to monochromatic displays (such as all-white or all-blue). This classic traditional style crosses generations, but hits strongest with older groups.
The Millennial Balance Between Nostalgia and Tech
Millennials are conflicted about holiday lighting. And that’s what makes them so fascinating.
Gen Y wants it all: warm, fuzzy nostalgia from childhood AND the conveniences of modern technology.
Here’s how Millennials approach holiday lighting:
Millennials enjoy displays that blend classic lighting elements (such as strings of multicolor lights) with newer smart capabilities.
- Lights that can be operated and programmed using a smartphone app, for example
Millennials care about the experience of holiday lighting more than the material investment.
They want displays that create fun moments and encourage gathering
The catch:
Despite common stereotypes around Millennials and their spending habits, many Millennials are actually quite budget-conscious when it comes to holiday decorating.
They want the most bang for their buck, meaning a lot of impact without breaking the bank.
The most popular choices for Millennials:
- Lighting that can be used to decorate for multiple holidays
- Energy-efficient or solar-powered choices that won’t hike up the energy bill
- Decor that photographs and videos well for social media
How Gen X Keeps It Simple But Effective
Gen X has elevated holiday lighting efficiency to an art form.
This generation doesn’t mind making a big display, but it needs to be straightforward. No PhD in electrical engineering or maxed out credit cards, please.
Here’s the Gen X holiday lighting mindset:
Keep it easy, keep it cost effective, and absolutely keep it low maintenance.
Gen Xers want lighting that:
- Can be hung quickly and taken down without hassle
- Uses conventional timers, not finicky apps or smart controls
- Looks festive, but doesn’t try to outshine the house across the street
They also take a very pragmatic approach to storage. Gen X prefers lighting that tucks away compactly.
Translation?
Gen X approaches holiday lighting like they do most things: practical, efficient, and with just enough pizzazz.
Gen Z’s Sustainable and Social Media-Worthy Approach
Gen Z is on a mission to change the world through holiday lighting.
For this generation, two factors drive their lighting selection above all: environmental impact and social media appeal.
Here’s what motivates Gen Z lighting decisions:
34.4% of survey participants rated sustainability as an extremely important factor when choosing holiday lighting. For Gen Z, this figure is even greater.
They’re looking for:
- LED and energy-efficient lighting options to minimize energy use
- Solar-powered displays whenever possible
- Displays they can repurpose or donate later
But sustainability isn’t their only motivation…
Gen Z also wants lighting that creates moments they can share with the world.
They prefer displays that look unique and special in photos and videos, especially TikTok videos.
This means they lean toward:
- Color-changing LEDs to create content for TikTok and Instagram
- Interactive elements like lights that flash to the beat
- Unique, unexpected displays that set them apart
The Universal Elements That Work Across All Ages
Hold onto your trees because this is about to get twisty…
Despite these significant generational gaps, some holiday lighting features still work for everyone.
The crowd-pleasers that span all age groups are:
Traditional string lights still reign supreme overall, with the most broad-based appeal across generations. Sometimes you just can’t beat the classics.
Quality execution is more important than a specific style or level of complexity. Whether simple or extravagant, people notice and appreciate well-designed and executed displays.
Brightness is key. Nobody enjoys getting blinded by your Christmas cheer, regardless of their age.
Synchronization with music, when done thoughtfully, excites people of all generations.
The secret sauce?
Focus on elements that elicit emotional reactions rather than just visual. The best holiday displays are the ones that make people feel something: nostalgia, joy, amazement.
Wrapping This All Up
Learning about holiday lighting trends across generations isn’t just about understanding demographics — it’s about engaging with people on a meaningful, emotional level.
Here’s what this all means for your holiday strategy:
Know your primary target audience, but don’t completely discount your secondary audiences. A display that appeals to Millennials can also include elements that Boomers and Gen X will appreciate.
Quality trumps complexity every time. Whether your target audience prefers traditional bulbs or high-tech LEDs, installation and execution matter more than fancy features.
Keep the context of your display in mind. Residential areas will have different preferences than commercial zones.
The biggest takeaway?
There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to holiday lighting. But by understanding the core motivations of each generation, you can craft displays that resonate with your target audience and appeal to others.
After all… the best holiday displays are the ones that don’t just light up spaces — they light up memories.