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Looking Ahead: What This Year’s Christmas
Lights Can Teach Us
In February, we explored why it is worth starting to plan your festive lighting early. With product availability, design choices, budgets and installation schedules to consider, getting ahead gives you more time to prepare and create a scheme that delivers impact.
But good planning does not have to start from scratch. While this year’s Christmas lights are on display, there is a valuable opportunity to reflect on what worked well, what could be improved and what you might want to do differently next time.
Whether you are considering a completely new scheme or looking to refresh your existing displays, the observations you make now can help shape your plans for Christmas 2027.
Once the lights are switched on, it is easy to focus on enjoying the finished display. However, taking a step back to look at the scheme as a whole can reveal opportunities you might not have considered during the planning process.
It is also worth considering how the scheme works alongside its surroundings and how people actually move through the space. A display might look impressive in isolation, but its position, visibility and relationship with nearby shops, attractions or public spaces can all influence how people experience it.
Look at where people naturally walk, which routes are busiest and where they tend to pause or gather. You may find that the areas attracting the most footfall are not necessarily the ones you originally expected. Understanding these movement patterns can help you identify opportunities to improve visibility, highlight key areas or position displays where they are more likely to be noticed and enjoyed.
Make a note of the elements that have worked particularly well, as well as any areas that could benefit from a different approach next year.
Your own observations are valuable, but feedback from the people who experience the scheme can offer a different perspective.
Residents, visitors, local businesses, colleagues and other stakeholders may all have useful insights. Which displays have caught their attention? Have particular areas become popular meeting points or photo opportunities? Are there places where people would like to see more lighting?
There are plenty of ways to gather useful feedback without carrying out a formal survey. Informal conversations, comments on social media and feedback from local businesses can all help build a clearer picture of what is working.
For town centres and destinations, it can also be useful to consider whether the lighting has helped create a welcoming atmosphere, encouraged people to explore different areas or complemented wider seasonal activities.
Gathering this feedback now means you are working with recent experiences rather than trying to remember what people thought several months later.
A successful lighting scheme is about more than its appearance. The practical details behind the scenes can make a real difference to how smoothly future seasons run.
Were there any maintenance issues or unexpected challenges during installation? Did certain products perform particularly well? Were there areas where access, positioning or installation timings could be improved?
It is worth recording these details while they are still fresh. Small adjustments to product selection, layout or installation planning could help make next season's preparations more straightforward.
This is also a good opportunity to review your existing lighting. Some elements may still be working brilliantly, while others could benefit from repair, replacement or a fresh approach. A targeted refresh may be all that is needed to give a familiar scheme a new lease of life.
The routes people naturally choose to walk are known as desire lines. Active Travel England recommends identifying these preferred routes when planning pedestrian-friendly spaces. Observing where people naturally move through your town centre can help you identify opportunities to position festive lighting where it will be seen and enjoyed.1
The most effective approach for next year will depend on what you have learned from this season. Building on what already works, making a few considered improvements or introducing new features can all help ensure your displays continue to deliver.
The important thing is to bring your observations together before planning for the next season begins in earnest.
By February, you can use your notes and feedback to help inform budgets, product choices, design ideas and installation arrangements. If you are considering a larger change or a bespoke feature, having a clearer idea of what you want to achieve can also help you make the most of the time available.
Our February blog, When Is the Best Time of Year to Think About Christmas?, explores why early planning matters and how getting started at the right time can give your project greater flexibility.
The best time to start planning next Christmas might be sooner than you think. Take a little time to look at this year's scheme, note what you have learned and consider what you would like to achieve next. Those small steps now can help you approach Christmas 2027 with a clearer vision and a stronger plan.
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Whether you are considering a new festive lighting scheme or looking to refresh an existing display, our team can help you explore the options and turn this year’s observations into a plan for next season.
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