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When to Book Christmas Light Installation (2026)
A practical month-by-month guide to planning, designing and booking a professional Christmas lighting installation.
8 May 20269 min read
Plan a premium Christmas light installation early enough to agree the design, property access and installation date without rushing the brief.
Why a "quick" Christmas job isn't really quick
A high-quality installation is a detailed process that begins months before our vans arrive.
- Consultation and design — we discuss your home's architecture and style, then create a digital mock-up overlaying the proposed design onto a photo of your house.
- Sourcing and preparation — commercial-grade outdoor LED lights and the fixings, cable and controls required for the agreed display.
- Logistical scheduling — teams cover all of London and the South East, scheduled geographically (a dozen homes in Richmond one day, Beaconsfield the next) — solved in September and October.
- Installation and service — trained, insured teams install safely, then provide in-season maintenance and a scheduled January takedown.
We can't uphold that quality promise while squeezing in last-minute jobs.
The professional installer's calendar for 2026
January
- What we're doing
- Taking down last year's displays across the South East
- Your action
- None
February – March
- What we're doing
- Testing, cleaning, repairing and storing every light string
- Your action
- None
April – July
- What we're doing
- Planning season: inventory, new equipment, safety training
- Your action
- Browse for inspiration
August
- What we're doing
- Gather inspiration and photograph the property
- Your action
- Have your budget and vision ready
September
- What we're doing
- Designs and dates are being agreed
- Your action
- Enquire for the widest choice
October
- What we're doing
- Designs, access and installation dates are being agreed
- Your action
- Enquire early for the widest choice
November
- What we're doing
- Installation teams are on the road
- Your action
- Ask us to confirm current availability
December
- What we're doing
- Installation finishes early in the month, then maintenance only
- Your action
- Enjoy your lights
| Period | What we're doing | Your action |
|---|---|---|
| January | Taking down last year's displays across the South East | None |
| February – March | Testing, cleaning, repairing and storing every light string | None |
| April – July | Planning season: inventory, new equipment, safety training | Browse for inspiration |
| August | Gather inspiration and photograph the property | Have your budget and vision ready |
| September | Designs and dates are being agreed | Enquire for the widest choice |
| October | Designs, access and installation dates are being agreed | Enquire early for the widest choice |
| November | Installation teams are on the road | Ask us to confirm current availability |
| December | Installation finishes early in the month, then maintenance only | Enjoy your lights |
What does a professional installation cost in 2026?
Pricing follows the display scope, not the property label. Seasonal exterior installations start at £1,500; enhanced exteriors are £2,500–£4,000 and statement exteriors are £4,000–£5,000+. Your personalised quote is fixed after we review the property, access and photographs.
What's included
- Design
- Bespoke consultation and digital mock-up
- Equipment
- Commercial-grade lights, greenery, timers and cabling, supplied on seasonal hire
- Installation
- The agreed team, equipment and safe access method
- Maintenance
- Any fault fixed in-season at no extra cost
- Take-down
- Included by default, priced as its own line, normally scheduled from 4–15 January
DIY vs professional: a quick comparison
Cost
- DIY
- £300–£600 for lights that last one or two seasons
- Cosy Christmas
- All-inclusive price shown above
Time
- DIY
- One to two full days of your own time
- Cosy Christmas
- A 30-minute call and a short consultation
Hassle
- DIY
- Detangling, testing, storage for 11 months
- Cosy Christmas
- Zero — we handle it all
Quality
- DIY
- Inconsistent spacing, drooping cables
- Cosy Christmas
- Perfectly straight lines, uniform colour
Safety
- DIY
- Ladder work is the riskiest part
- Cosy Christmas
- Insured, trained for working at height
| DIY | Cosy Christmas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £300–£600 for lights that last one or two seasons | All-inclusive price shown above |
| Time | One to two full days of your own time | A 30-minute call and a short consultation |
| Hassle | Detangling, testing, storage for 11 months | Zero — we handle it all |
| Quality | Inconsistent spacing, drooping cables | Perfectly straight lines, uniform colour |
| Safety | Ladder work is the riskiest part | Insured, trained for working at height |
Your 3-step action plan
- Gather inspiration (July–August). Decide on the look — warm classic glow, or crisp modern feel — and photograph displays you admire.
- Enquire (any time). Send your photos through the quote form; the sooner you reach out, the better your choice of dates.
- Agree the design. We finalise the design, provide a firm no-obligation quote, and your spot is secured once you approve it.
Booking for 2026
Enquiries are open year-round. Send the property details and photographs through the quote form and we will confirm the availability that applies to your enquiry.
Ready when you are
Want it done properly this season?
We design, install, maintain and take down the display across London and the South East. Send three clear photos and we'll price it.
Where to go next
More on lights
- Christmas Lights in Kensington, Chelsea & KnightsbridgeHow to brief restrained lighting for stucco, leasehold and protected façades, with scope-led guide prices and permission checks.
- Christmas Lights for Esher, Cobham & WeybridgeHow to brief a layered country-house display across the approach, architecture, landscape, access and power route.
- Christmas Lights in Hampstead, Highgate & St John's WoodWhat NW3, NW8 and N6 homeowners need to know — conservation areas, listed buildings, and fitting lights without touching brickwork.