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Yes, you can synchronize Christmas lights with music to create a DIY light show. To do this, you will need several components. For hardware, you'll need standard holiday lights, decorations, lawn ornaments, tools, outdoor-rated extension cords, a computer, and a light show control system or digital controller. You will also need specialized software to program the show; popular options include Light-O-Rama (LOR), Vixen, xLights, and Animated Lights. Some, like Vixen and Animated Lights, are considered more beginner-friendly. The process involves using the software to program your lights, choosing an audio method such as speakers or an FM broadcast, and testing the entire system to make sure it's working correctly before the show.

Blinker lights come with a standard box of Christmas lights, so you don’t need to pay extra for them unless you’ve misplaced the ones from the original box. You can buy replacement Christmas blinker lights for about $8 per box. If you want to plan for future holidays, you can buy a value box of 24 replacement blinker bulbs for about $12. Also called flasher lights, the replacement bulbs often come in packages of six bulbs.

In the Christmas days of yore, people braved winter weather to staple or tack their Christmas lights onto their rooftops or nearby surfaces like the fascia boards. Problems quickly emerged with that approach. Damage to the roof, even small marks from staples, provides entryways for moisture and similar issues that can hasten roof rot, wear, and associated leaks. Plus, some homes had tough fiber cement boards or other materials where staples and screws didn’t work.

Take a picture of your house to easily replicate the same design for next year and keep the clips and accessories. When storing your lights, wrap them around cardboard so they don’t get tangled. Purchase a ladderless extension pole kit to hang your lights (around $30 to $50) for hard to reach areas.