A Christmas light projector is the quickest way to decorate a whole wall: no ladder, no hooks, just point it and plug it in. Where you put it makes all the difference, though. These 8 tips cover the surface, the distance and the darkness a projector needs, and the places where it looks best.
1. Choose a pale, plain surface
A projector paints with light, so the surface does half the work. A white or pale wall, a light ceiling or a plain garage door shows the patterns clearly, while dark paint, brick and busy wallpaper swallow most of the colour. No pale wall? Hang a white sheet or a plain tablecloth and project onto that.
Shown: Christmas light projector, 16 patterns, throws from about 1.5 to 5 m (5–16 ft).
2. Get the distance right
The further the projector stands from the wall, the bigger the picture. Going by the maker's chart, the picture is about 1.1 m (3.6 ft) across from 1.5 m (5 ft) away, about 2.1 m (7 ft) from 3 m (10 ft) and about 3.4 m (11 ft) from 5 m (16 ft). A bigger picture spreads the same light over more wall, so it looks softer; for crisp, bright snowflakes, move it closer.
3. Wait until it's dark
Projected patterns need darkness. In daylight or next to a bright lamp they almost disappear, so the show starts at dusk. Indoors, draw the curtains and switch off the lamp nearest the wall; the soft glow of a Christmas tree on the other side of the room is fine.
4. A snowy sky on the children's ceiling
Point the projector at the ceiling and a child's room fills with slowly turning snowflakes, Santas and reindeer. Stand it on a shelf or a dresser out of reach of little hands, switch it on for the bedtime story and off when they fall asleep. More for their room: Christmas kids' room decor ideas.
5. Let the patterns turn on their own
The projector carries 16 Christmas patterns, snowflakes, reindeer, Santa, snowmen, gifts and candy canes among them, and turns them slowly across the wall, so the picture keeps changing by itself. It's a calm, moving background for an evening by the tree.
6. A party wall or a dance-floor ceiling
At a party, aim it at the wall behind the food table or at the ceiling above the dance floor, and every photo gets snowflakes in the background. Set it up high, on a shelf or a speaker, so guests don't walk through the beam all evening. Planning one? Here are 8 ugly Christmas sweater party ideas.
7. Porch and window: keep it dry
Outdoors, stand it on the porch under the roof and point it at the front of the house. Keep the projector and the USB adapter dry and out of the rain. Indoors, try a pale roller blind or a white sheet behind the window: it catches the patterns, so people in the street see them too.
8. Cafés, market stalls and shop walls
For a business, a projector is the quickest decoration there is: point it at the wall behind the counter, the ceiling of a market stall or the back of a shop window, and there's nothing to hang or take down. More ideas: Christmas window display ideas for shops.
Before you plug it in: power, safety and delivery
- Power: the projector runs on USB 5V. Use a 5V/2A USB adapter, not a fast charger (adapter not included).
- Safety: don't look straight into the lens, and point it at walls and ceilings rather than at people's faces. Keep it and the adapter dry.
- Delivery: free tracked shipping, dispatched in 1 to 3 business days and delivered in 7 to 12. Order by 1 December for Christmas.
- Returns: unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery.
More ideas
- Not sure curtain lights are the right type? Compare curtain lights, a projector and fairy lights.
- Want the lights to put on a show? Here's how to make a Christmas light show at home, no programming.
- Decorating the bedroom too? Here are 8 Christmas bedroom decor ideas.