Every year you face the same question: get the ladder out and hang lights again, or try something new? Projection mapping has moved from theme parks to front yards, and more homeowners are using it for Christmas. Here is how the two compare, so you can decide what fits your house.
How each one works
Christmas lights are physical strings clipped to gutters, wrapped around trees and laid along paths. What you hang is what you see.
Projection mapping uses a projector and mapping software to fit moving images to the shape of your house. Windows, doors, rooflines and the garage all become part of an animated scene that you can change any night.
Side by side
| Christmas lights | Projection mapping | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Ladders, clips and hours on the roof | Projector on the lawn, mapped from the ground |
| Look | Static or simple chase patterns | Full animation: snow, characters, stories |
| Changing the design | Rehang everything | Load new content |
| Other holidays | Mostly Christmas | Halloween, birthdays, game nights and more |
| Daytime | Visible as hardware | Nothing on the house; the enclosure sits in the yard |
| Best on | Trees, bushes, rooflines | Flat walls, garage doors, windows with film |
When lights still win
Lights are hard to beat on trees, hedges and outlines that are far from a flat surface. Many of the best displays combine both: lights on the trees, projection on the house.
What you need for projection
- A projector bright enough for your street lighting. See Projectors & Lenses.
- A projector enclosure so it can live outside all season. Homeline suits homeowners in milder climates; Defender suits wet, freezing or coastal sites.
- Window Mapping Film so the windows show the image instead of swallowing it. See Window Mapping Film.
- Content and mapping software to fit the animation to your house.
Christmas offer · only 20 available
Homeline projector enclosure: $799. Fan-cooled, a 1-year warranty, and a fit check for your projector model before you order. Enclosure only; while the 20 last.
The bottom line
If you want a show the neighbors stop for, can change every year and can reuse for other holidays, projection mapping is worth a look. Start with the Christmas house projection mapping guide, then contact us or call 888-631-5880 with your projector model.
More reading: 10-step Christmas projector checklist · Window Mapping Film for Christmas
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