Permanent vs. Seasonal Lighting
Which Is Right for You?
Both options light up your home for the season — the real difference is whether you install new lights every year or install once and change the look from your phone instead. Here's how permanent smart roofline lighting and seasonal holiday lighting compare on look, cost over time, flexibility, and how each holds up in Jersey Shore weather.
| Seasonal Holiday Lighting | Permanent Smart Roofline Lighting | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Classic strung lights along the roofline, chosen and hung fresh each season. | One flush-mounted fixture run left in place, with color and brightness changed from an app. |
| Cost Over Time | A cost each time you use it — All-Inclusive holiday lighting with lights included starts at $899, or if you already own lights, hanging them starts at $400, labor only. | A single install cost — Govee permanent lighting installs start at $499 — with no separate install or takedown visit in the years after. |
| Install & Takedown | Installed each fall and taken down once the season ends, every year. | Installed once. No seasonal takedown, no re-hanging the next year. |
| Flexibility | Great for a specific look each season — Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving — though changing colors mid-season means another visit. | Switch between holidays, game day, birthdays, or a plain warm-white evening look anytime, from the same fixtures. |
| Shore Weather | Comes down after each season, so wind and salt-air exposure is limited to a few months at a time. | Stays mounted year-round, so fixtures and connections are sealed for ongoing exposure from the start. |
| Who It Suits | Homeowners who like choosing a fresh look each year, or who only want lighting for one or two occasions. | Homeowners who want one system that covers every occasion without a crew coming back each season. |
Which Option Fits Your Home
If you already own lights you like, We'll Hang Your Lights installs and takes them down for you, labor only, starting at $400. If you'd rather the lights were included, All-Inclusive Holiday Lighting covers the lights, design, installation, in-season service, and takedown, starting at $899 (see both options on our Christmas light installation page). And if you're ready to stop re-hanging lights altogether, Govee light installation mounts one permanent system you control from your phone, starting at $499.
Starting prices. Final price confirmed from photos.
Permanent vs. Seasonal FAQ
Can I start with seasonal lighting and switch to permanent later?
Yes. There's no requirement to pick one option forever. You can have us install seasonal Christmas lighting for a season or two and move to a permanent system whenever you're ready; there's no seasonal lighting left behind to remove first — we simply plan the permanent layout from photos of your home when you're ready.
Is a permanent system a bigger cost than hiring us every season?
It depends on how many seasons you're comparing it against. A permanent installation is a single install cost, while seasonal lighting is a cost you pay each time you use it. We're happy to walk through both starting prices when you request a quote so you can weigh it against how you'd actually use each option.
Which option holds up better on a home near the water?
Both are installed with wind and salt air in mind. A permanent system stays mounted year-round, so we use hardware and sealing built for repeated seasons of exposure from day one. Seasonal lighting comes down after each use, which naturally limits how long it sits exposed between installs.
Do you install both types on the same home?
We do. Some homeowners have a permanent system running along the main roofline and still bring in seasonal lighting for a specific area or occasion. If that's what you're picturing for your home, mention it when you request a photo quote and we'll talk through what makes sense for the layout.