Why Homeowners Are Switching to Year Round Lights in 2026
Year round lights are permanent LED fixtures installed along your home’s eaves or roofline — designed to stay up all year instead of coming down after the holidays.
Here’s a quick look at the top options to help you compare and decide:
| Product | Length | IP Rating | Price (May 2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 | 100 ft | IP67 | $259.99 | Smart home users |
| Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro | 100 ft | IP67 | $599.99 | Pro-grade coverage |
| Twinkly Permanent Lights | 98.4 ft | IP65 | $199.99 | Twinkly ecosystem |
| Sxlofty 200FT RGB Lights | 200 ft | IP67 | $76.99 | Budget-conscious buyers |
| ASAHOM 100ft Permanent Lights | 100 ft | IP67 | ~$255 | Mid-range DIY |
Most homeowners buy these with Christmas in mind — but once they’re installed, holiday use quickly becomes just one of many ways they get used throughout the year. Think game days, birthdays, everyday curb appeal, and even security lighting.
Traditional seasonal lights are typically used just 30–45 days per year. Permanent systems? They’re used 300+ days a year — and the average homeowner spends between $400 and $1,200 annually on seasonal lighting that gets taken down and rehung every year. Permanent lights eliminate that cycle entirely.
I’m Dustin Eatman, owner of James Kate Roofing & solar in the DFW area, and I’ve seen how year round lights interact with rooflines, gutters, and eave structures — which means I can help you choose a system that looks great without compromising your roof. Read on for everything you need to make a smart, informed decision.
What Are Permanent Year Round Lights?
When we talk about year round lights, we aren’t talking about those tangled strands of green wire you pull out of a plastic bin every December. These are sophisticated, eaves-mounted systems designed for architectural integration.
Unlike traditional holiday lights, permanent systems consist of individual LED “pucks” or pods that are mounted directly to your home’s soffit or fascia. They are specifically engineered to be discreet. During the day, the hardware is virtually invisible, often color-matched to your home’s trim. At night, they transform your house into a vibrant display of color or elegant architectural highlights.
How Permanent Year-Round Lighting Works – YearRoundLights.com involves a one-time installation that uses low-profile hardware. These systems often utilize RGBWWIC technology. While standard RGB lights mix red, green, and blue to create a “muddy” or bluish-white, RGBWWIC includes dedicated warm white and cool white chips. This allows you to achieve that classic, high-end architectural glow for 340 days of the year, then switch to festive colors for the other 25.
Top-Rated Year Round Lights for 2026
The market in May 2026 has matured significantly. We now see a clear divide between high-end professional-grade kits and high-value DIY options. Whether you are in Mansfield, Arlington, or Grand Prairie, choosing the right system depends on your budget and how much you want to customize your “light show.”
| Feature | Govee Pro | Twinkly Permanent | Sxlofty 200ft | ASAHOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED Count | 72+ (Expandable) | 72 LEDs | 144 LEDs | 60 LEDs |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Matter | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | App/Remote | App/Remote |
| Max Brightness | High (RGBWWIC) | High (RGB) | Medium (RGB) | Medium (RGBCW) |
| Weather Rating | IP67 | IP65 | IP67 | IP67 |
For those looking for inspiration, Year-Round Permanent Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Every Season – MyEverLights shows how these systems can be used for everything from “Pink October” for breast cancer awareness to soft pastels for Easter.
Best High-End Year Round Lights
If you want the “set it and forget it” experience with maximum durability, the pro-grade models are the way to go. These systems, like the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro, are rated for 50,000 hours of life. To put that in perspective, if you ran them for 6 hours every single night, they would last for over 22 years!
These high-end kits feature Matter support, allowing them to talk to almost any smart home hub. They also offer IP67 waterproof ratings, meaning they can survive the intense Texas thunderstorms we see in Midlothian and Waxahachie. The RGBWWIC lighting ensures that when you aren’t celebrating a holiday, your home looks like it was professionally lit by a landscape architect.
Best Value Year Round Lights
For the DIY enthusiast in Granbury or Grand Prairie, there are incredible budget-friendly options. Brands like Sxlofty offer 200ft of coverage for under $100. While they might lack the sophisticated “warm white” chips of the Pro models, they still offer millions of colors, app control, and IP67 weatherproofing.
The Twinkly Permanent Lights are another fantastic mid-range option. They are famous for their “mapping” technology—you use your phone camera to “map” the position of every light, allowing you to create incredibly precise animations and patterns that other brands can’t match.
Key Features to Look for in Permanent Systems
Before you click “buy,” there are several technical specs you need to understand to ensure your year round lights survive the DFW climate.
- IP Rating: This is critical. IP65 is “water-resistant” (fine for under eaves), but IP67 is “waterproof” (can handle being submerged briefly). In Texas, where wind-driven rain can hit your soffits sideways, we always recommend IP67 for total peace of mind.
- LED Count and Spacing: More LEDs per foot mean a more “continuous” look. Wider spacing creates a “scalloped” look on the walls, which is often preferred for architectural lighting.
- Smart Integrations: Most systems now offer Alexa and Google Home compatibility. Imagine saying, “Alexa, turn on ‘Cowboys Game Day'” and having your whole house flash blue and silver!
- Music Sync: High-end controllers have built-in microphones that allow the lights to dance to the beat of your backyard music—perfect for summer pool parties in Mansfield.
- Energy Efficiency: Because these are LEDs, they are incredibly cheap to run. A typical 150-foot run costs between $8 and $30 per year in electricity.
If you’re worried about how an installation might affect your home’s exterior, it’s worth noting that if your roof or eaves have existing damage, you should address that first. More info about solar services can help you ensure your home is “light-ready.”
Installation and Roof Safety Considerations
This is where our expertise at James Kate Roofing & solar really comes in. While many of these kits are marketed as DIY, you are still dealing with ladders, heights, and your home’s structural integrity.
Soffit vs. Fascia Mounting Most year round lights are mounted to the soffit (the underside of the eave). This protects the lights from direct sun and rain. However, you must ensure you aren’t blocking your attic vents! Proper ventilation is key to roof longevity in Texas heat.
Shingle and Gutter Protection We’ve seen too many homeowners use staples or nails that puncture the drip edge or, worse, the shingles themselves. Punctures lead to leaks, mold, and wood rot. Always use the adhesive backing provided with the kits, reinforced by plastic clips and small screws into the wooden trim—never the roofing material itself.
For those in Mansfield, TX, or surrounding areas, More info about residential roofing services is available if you need a professional to inspect your eaves before installation.
Ladder Safety Over 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries every year. If you are installing these yourself:
- Use the “three-point rule” (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand on the ladder at all times).
- Set the ladder at a 75-degree angle.
- Never stand on the top two rungs.
- Have a “buddy” hold the base of the ladder.
Frequently Asked Questions about Permanent Lighting
Are permanent lights visible during the day?
Modern systems are designed to be “invisible” during daylight hours. The wires are tucked into color-matched tracks that blend into your home’s trim or tucked behind the fascia board. Unless someone is standing directly under your eaves looking up, they won’t even know the lights are there.
How much do year-round lights cost to operate?
Surprisingly little! Because they use high-efficiency LED technology, a standard 100-foot to 150-foot system typically costs less than $2.50 per month to run for six hours every night. They use about 75% less energy than old-school incandescent holiday bulbs.
Can permanent lighting damage my roof or gutters?
If installed correctly, no. However, damage occurs when DIYers use the wrong fasteners. Staples through shingles or heavy light strands pulling on gutters can cause significant issues. We recommend mounting to the soffit or the back of the fascia to keep the weight off your gutter system and the punctures away from your roof’s water-shedding surfaces.
Conclusion
Investing in year round lights is about more than just skipping the ladder every December; it’s about enhancing your home’s beauty and security every single night. Whether you’re cheering on your favorite team in Arlington or hosting a graduation party in Midlothian, these lights make every occasion feel special.
At James Kate Roofing & solar, we believe in doing things the right way—with honesty, integrity, and a commitment to Biblical principles. As a GAF President’s Club recognized company, we understand the “DNA” of your roof better than anyone. We want your home to shine, but we also want your roof to stay watertight for decades. That’s why we offer up to a 25-year workmanship warranty on our roofing projects.
If you’re planning to upgrade your home’s exterior with permanent lighting and want to ensure your roof and eaves are in perfect condition first, we’re here to help. From Mansfield to Granbury, our family-owned team is ready to serve you.
Contact us for a consultation today and let’s make sure your home is the best-looking—and best-protected—house on the block!