These “Vintage” Christmas Lights Are Just Like the Ones My Grandparents Had

Christmas always makes me nostalgic. My parents were all about family, and when I was growing up, we’d spend Christmas Eve with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on my father’s side, and Christmas Day with the same roster on my mother’s side. Christmas morning was spent visiting other relatives we wouldn’t be dining with that afternoon. I always loved seeing everyone’s homes decorated for the holidays with electric candlesticks, Santa decorations, garlands of tinsel, and, of course, Christmas trees.Everyone had unique ornaments and most had colorful blinking lights, but the tree that impressed me the most was the little artificial one that sat atop the TV of my mother’s parents. It had ornaments that dated back to when my mother was a child, and a set of string lights that looked nothing like the ones everyone else had. Instead of tiny, thin, clear colored bulbs, these were large, opaque, and well, more bulbous-shaped like a candle flame. I loved those lights because they gave off such a warm glow and made my grandparents’ living room feel so cozy.

Recently I decided it was finally time to get some Christmas lights for my apartment, but I didn’t want anything that twinkled, blinked, or was too bright. I wanted those lights that my grandparents had. After doing some research, I found an exact dupe on Schoolhouse’s website: Tru-Tone’s Holiday String Lights! These LED lights are a perfect match for the incandescent ones my grandparents had, and just what I need to give my space a vintage vibe.

Schoolhouse

$55.20 (was $69)

Buy Now

Tru-Tone is a brand that specializes in making a variety of retro holiday lights. There’s the clear white Candleglow set, the transparent colorful Jeweltone set, and, my favorite, the multicolor opaque Classicolor set. Classicolor features 25 C7 glass bulbs in orange, green, white, red, and blue, each spaced 12 inches apart (the flexible, green wire “string” has an 18-inch lead and 12-inch tail). Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, these festive string lights come packaged in a vintage-style box and retail for $69, although you can score them on sale for $55 on Schoolhouse right now.

“Even better than I hoped for. The lights are so cool and classic-looking. Their warm glow is making our living room feel extra, extra cozy.” —Alina C.

“These lights are amazing! They look exactly like the old-time incandescent bulbs except they are LED. It’s a small business and they are so kind! I have several sets and am extremely happy! They’ll make your vintage Christmas dreams come true!” —Staci

“These LED lights are perfect. Spend the money, because the cold, sterile LEDs of yesteryear have no place at Christmastime.” —Andrew E.

I’m excited to hang Tru-Tone’s Classicolor Holiday String Lights in my apartment, although I haven’t yet decided where they’ll go. Should I put them on my fireplace mantel, hang them in the archway of my entrance, string them along my window, or drape them around my faux olive tree? I’m still unsure, but one thing I know is that these lights will bring back so many wonderful memories and make every holiday season feel much more special.Buy: Tru-Tone Classicolor Holiday String Lights, $55.20 (normally $69)

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