Retro C9 LED Christmas Tree Lights for a Magical Vintage Glow

Size matters! At least when it comes to Christmas tree lights! If you want to give your Christmas tree a magical vintage glow, the secret is mixing Christmas tree lights of different sizes. I’m combining traditional mini string lights with oversized retro-style C9 LED Christmas tree lights for a nostalgic look that’s big on charm and even bigger on sparkle.

Because when it comes to Christmas decorating, sometimes bigger really is better!

And the best part? You don’t need a vintage Christmas tree or a collection of antique lights to get that old-fashioned Christmas magic.

See a video of my twinkling tree on my LTK page here.

The Secret to a Vintage Christmas Tree Is in the Lights

I love vintage Christmas decorations. The colorful ornaments, the nostalgic glow, the feeling that you’ve stepped back into Christmas morning circa 1965.

But there’s something about those big, old-fashioned Christmas bulbs that makes my heart skip a beat.

Regular mini Christmas lights are pretty, but adding larger retro-style bulbs takes a tree from pretty to pretty spectacular!

The trick is to mix different sizes of Christmas lights to create layers of light, color, and sparkle.

Think of it as accessorizing your Christmas tree. A little sparkle is nice, but why stop there?

The Retro Christmas Lights I’m Using

When I spotted these Vintage Shades of Pink LED Christmas Lights at Target, I knew they had to come home with me.

They have that wonderful old-fashioned C9 bulb shape, but with modern LED technology.

And the colors! Different shades of pink give them a fun retro look that reminds me of vintage Christmas ornaments.

First, I strung the tree with 1,500 LED warm white string lights! I chose clear but they come in an array of colors.

The key is to tuck them deep into the recesses of the tree.

Tree Lighting Tip: Put the lights on each section of tree before adding more sections!

Next, I layered the larger bulbs over the tree. I used shades of pink but the blue and multi-color are beautiful choices too.

Retro C9 Christmas String Lights – Shades of Pink

Retro C9 Christmas String Lights – Shades of Blue

Retro C9 Christmas String Lights – Multi-Color

Each strand has 25 bulbs and approximately 16 feet of lighted length. The bulbs have a nostalgic faux-filament appearance and stay steadily lit.

I’m pairing them with regular LED twinkle lights for a combination of soft sparkle and oversized vintage charm.

It’s a little bit old-school Christmas meets modern-day magic.

SAVINGS TIP: Target’s Wondershop brand has a spend $40 get $10 off through Saturday. The best part … you can use this discount more than once. So fill up your cart with $40ish worth of Wondershop and check out, then fill your cart again and do the same thing and over and over.

How to Mix Christmas Tree Lights Like a Pro

You don’t have to be a professional decorator to get this look. In fact, it’s surprisingly simple!

1. Start with Mini LED Twinkle Lights

The smaller LED lights create the foundation for your tree.

I like to distribute them throughout the branches, including farther inside the tree, rather than concentrating all the lights on the outer tips.

This creates depth and makes the entire tree seem to glow from within.

And because they’re twinkle lights, they add a little movement and magic.

2. Add Oversized Retro Christmas Lights

Now for the fun part!

Once the smaller lights are in place, add the larger vintage-style bulbs.

Instead of burying these deep in the branches, keep them closer to the outside of the tree where their pretty colors and oversized shapes can really shine.

Space them around the tree so the larger bulbs become part of the decoration rather than just another source of light.

Think of them as glowing ornaments!

3. Let the Different Lights Work Their Magic

Here’s why I love mixing these two styles.

The mini LED twinkle lights create a background of tiny sparkling lights, while the larger retro bulbs add pops of color and a steady, nostalgic glow.

The contrast between the different sizes makes the tree more interesting, even before you hang a single ornament.

It’s the same reason I love mixing vintage and new Christmas decorations. The combination has so much more personality than everything matching perfectly.

4. Don’t Forget the Ornaments!

Now that your tree is glowing, it’s time to pile on the personality.

I especially love the look of vintage Shiny Brite ornaments mixed with retro Christmas lights.

Reflector ornaments, colorful glass balls, and quirky vintage finds all look beautiful surrounded by those larger bulbs.

The lights and ornaments work together to create a tree that feels collected over time instead of purchased all at once.

And if you’ve been collecting Christmas ornaments for years like I have, this is their time to shine!

My girls want to put our family ornaments on this tree so I’ll hang my vintage ornaments on my dining room trees.

Can You Mix Different Types of LED Christmas Lights?

Absolutely!

You can use different styles and sizes of LED lights on the same Christmas tree.

In fact, that’s the whole point of this decorating trick.

A few tips:

• Choose lights with a similar overall warmth if you want a cohesive glow.
• Use smaller lights throughout the tree for depth.
• Position larger decorative bulbs where they’ll be visible.
• Mix steady and twinkling lights for extra dimension.
• Check the manufacturer’s instructions before connecting strands. Different light sets may need separate connections.

You can even experiment with different colors. I love the nostalgic look of pink retro bulbs, but multicolored or classic warm-white oversized lights would be beautiful too.

A Little Vintage Christmas Magic

One of my favorite things about decorating for Christmas is finding new ways to use old ideas.

These oversized retro Christmas lights remind me of the Christmas trees I loved growing up, but mixing them with modern twinkle lights gives the look a fresh twist.

It’s colorful, nostalgic, a little unexpected, and full of personality.

And isn’t that what Christmas decorating should be all about?

So if your Christmas tree needs a little extra magic this year, try mixing your lights.

Because when it comes to Christmas tree lights, size really does matter!

Have you ever mixed different sizes of Christmas lights on your tree? I’d love to hear if you’re a fan of the big retro bulbs too!

More Christmas Posts Here