Whether you call them pepper lights, fairy lights or just Christmas lights, these kinds of lights are a staple during the holidays. We wrap the branches of our Christmas trees with them, or hang them around our homes, but there are many more ways you can use Christmas lights.

Check out this list of creative ways to use these lights:

Garland time
Create a stylish garland to hang over an entry for a twist on the standard string of lights. Tie strips of burlap or any other fabric you fancy to the cord in front and behind each light on your string.

Get into cups

Using a pencil to make small x’s in the centre of the bottoms of some paper cups, you’ll be putting the bulbs of your Christmas lights through the x’s, so they need to be small enough that the bulbs will not slip out. Hang up your cool DIY garland where it’ll be admired. Use using LED lights for this as they don’t get as hot regular Xmas light bulbs.

Mirror mirror
Use Christmas lights to decorate the frame of a mirror for a cool effect that looks good at any time of the year.

Bowl ‘em over
Fill a decorative glass bowl, vase, candleholder or even an old lantern with your lights for an eye-catching centrepiece. You can use battery operated lights or regular corded lights, simply cover the protruding cord by wrapping some pretty cloth or a garland around the base of your container.

Wine time
You can also use empty wine bottles to house your lights. Feed the string of lights into the bottle and cover the wire sticking out of the mouth of the bottle with a garland. Mason jars can be used instead of wine bottles.

 

Photobomb
String some lights up against a wall in your home (use removable hooks you don’t have to poke holes in your wall). Use clothes pins to clip photos to the wire string of lights for an amazingly beautiful hanging photo album.

Bedtime
Drape icicle lights or regular pepper lights around your bedframe for a chic, festive touch. In fact, this would make a lovely addition to a bedroom all year round.

Sources: Southern Living, Hometalk, The Berry, Stil Chic, Rhiannon Bosse, Buzzfeed