Why Permanent Lighting Is Exploding in Calgary (And What We Didn’t Expect Until We Tried It)

I don’t think we meant to follow the trend. We’re usually late to stuff like this. We skipped the smart doorbell thing for years. We still don’t have a robot vacuum. Honestly, we’re more “eh, it works” than “let’s upgrade everything.”

So when we started seeing homes around Calgary glowing with clean, color-changing lights in the dead of winter—we figured it was just another thing people were trying. You know, some holiday gimmick.

Turns out, we were wrong.

Permanent lighting isn’t just “having your Christmas lights up early.” It’s actually something a lot more practical… and, yeah, kind of satisfying too.

Here’s what we learned after making the switch.

It Solves a Problem You Didn’t Realize Was Annoying

For years, we followed the same routine: drag the lights out of storage, test every strand, replace half the bulbs, then spend a full afternoon crawling around the roofline in minus-something wind. And then, two months later, we’d reverse it.

Not awful, but never fun.

What we didn’t realize until the new lights were up… was how much mental space that old process actually took up. It’s the kind of thing that lingers in the back of your head from Halloween until January. You’re either preparing to put them up, planning to take them down, or quietly hoping they’ll untangle themselves before next year.

Permanent lighting clears all of that.

It’s up. It stays up. And suddenly, that tiny seasonal stress disappears completely.

Permanent Doesn’t Mean “Always On”

This was one of our early hesitations. We didn’t want to be “those people” with year-round blinking lights.

But here’s the thing—permanent lighting doesn’t mean always on. It just means always ready.

You can turn it off completely, of course. But more often, we’ll keep a subtle warm white glow on for curb appeal. Or switch to something soft and themed when a holiday’s coming up. It’s not loud. It’s not tacky. And if you didn’t know the lights were permanent, you’d never guess.

In the summer, we barely think about it. But when we want to light up the backyard, the system’s still there, just waiting. And that flexibility? Kind of a game changer.

Yes, You Use It More Than You’d Expect

We thought we’d use the lights in December, maybe again at Halloween. That’s it.

But we’ve ended up turning them on for:

• Family birthdays (color of choice, of course)
• Canada Day (red + white)
• Backyard BBQs
• A surprise welcome-home when our son came back from college
• Random Tuesday nights when the house just looked better with a bit of light on it

You don’t need a reason, honestly. Once it’s there, it becomes one of those small joys that’s easy to reach for.

The app makes it even easier. I never thought I’d be the kind of person to “program lights,” but when you can tap a theme in five seconds? You find reasons.

The Weather Makes It Make More Sense in Calgary

Let’s be real—installing lights in late fall or early winter in Calgary? It’s basically a dare. One icy ladder misstep away from a trip to urgent care.

And taking them down isn’t any better. It’s cold, the cords are frozen in place, and you’re trying to wrap things up with gloves on while standing in snow that hasn’t melted since November.

Once we got our permanent setup, it hit me: this is one of the few upgrades that actually solves a Calgary-specific problem. It doesn’t just add convenience—it removes a safety risk.

That alone might’ve sold me, honestly.

Not All Companies Do It Right — Here’s Who We Trusted

If you’re in Calgary and thinking about going permanent with your lights, I can’t recommend Lights by HomeOne enough.

We’d seen their work on a couple houses in our neighborhood and were already impressed by how clean the installs looked. Nothing dangling. Nothing exposed. Just a crisp, seamless trim line with lights that disappear during the day.

But what really sold us was how easy they made the whole thing.

From the initial consult to the final setup, the team at Lights by HomeOne was professional without being pushy. They explained the differences in lighting quality, walked us through app features (no tech overwhelm, thank goodness), and made smart suggestions based on the shape of our roofline and where we’d want visibility most.

The actual install? Fast. Tidy. No surprises. The lights work flawlessly, and the control is intuitive—even for someone who still calls their kid for help with Netflix.

If you want permanent lights that look polished, work without hassle, and don’t stick out like a sore thumb in the daytime, Lights by HomeOne is the contractor to call in Calgary. They’ve figured this out.

It’s Not Cheap—But It Feels Like a Long-Term Win

No getting around it: this isn’t a $200 weekend project. But the thing is, it’s not meant to be.

We think about it like this: every year, we spent a little on new strands (something always broke), a little more on clips, timers, whatever. We spent time setting up, taking down, testing, replacing. And every year, the process got just a little more annoying.

Now, that’s over.

We also realized—kind of unexpectedly—our home looks better at night. And when we eventually sell, we wouldn’t be surprised if that subtle curb appeal bump adds value. Or at the very least, leaves a stronger impression.

So, Should You Do It?

That depends.

If you like decorating and don’t mind the ladder thing, maybe it’s not for you yet.

But if you’re in Calgary, and you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ll just skip lights this year, it’s too much hassle…” then yes. This is absolutely worth exploring.

The convenience. The flexibility. The safety. The fact that your house always looks like you tried—without you actually doing anything? It adds up.

And if you’re looking for someone to walk you through it without overcomplicating things, Lights by HomeOne makes the whole process feel easy.

I wish we had done it sooner.