Hi Joanna, I have the same issues you do if it makes you feel any better. I don't care for them and I haven't bought any. Last year I looked and I asked myself did I really not like them or was I just clinging to the old fashioned lights I'm used to? I used to think the large bulbs we had has a child were the old-fashioned ones. Now our plain mini light sets of years past are looking like the good ole days. I still don't care for them this year either. Maybe they'll grow on us when we're forced into it or maybe they'll figure out a way to soften the look. Or maybe our kids will love them and it's the way of the future...lol.

Ditto. Our tree lights died last year, and I couldn't bring myself to buy more of them (because of the guilt), and I couldn't bring myself to buy LEDs (because I don't like the way they look), so we just had no lights on the tree. :)

I made the switch to white LED lights for the outside last year. At first, I was appalled. There was nothing warm and inviting about them, like the traditional kind. However, I eventually noticed this kind of light closely resembled the look when moonlight reflects on the snow. We don't have snow where we now live, so I did end up enjoying the look since it brought memories of looking out at the snow covered landscape.

I think I'll wait until they modify the LEDs before I use them inside, though. I have a bunch of working lights I don't want to just toss. That's not very thrifty or green, either.

I don't understand why the manufacturers don't modify the glass enclosing the bulb to give them a softer look. It can't be that difficult.

Oh I *hate* those LED lights! There was a house I passed last night that had them all over, and I couldn't even look at it because it was so bright it hurt my eyes.

That lighting is not soft and festive, it's sharp and cold, IMO.

I'd honestly rather have no lights at all than LEDs.

I had LED lights put up under my kitchen cabs. The electrician gave me a choice of that stark blue-white or a golden yellow color. I didn't like either (of course) so I bought some of each and alternated them to blend the light color. My point here is that I do believe the LEDs are available in a warmer color...just maybe not in holiday strings yet.

I just looked at Frontgate and they are selling LED strings with a warmer light, as well as decorative caps for the lights...so maybe there is a way to pop something on the lights to doctor the color...

Here is a link that might be useful: Warmer LEDs??

I haven't seen the colored lights in a warmer tone but I know that the white ones are available in warm and bright.

Here is a link that might be useful: Warm white LEDs

Thank heaven's it's not just me! When they replaced the lights on Boathouse Row in Philly w/ LED lights I thought that it looked awful. I still don't like it as much as the old ones, but all in all it is still a pretty sight.

I totally agree, saw a few houses and they looked like some mexican restaurants we've gone to...LOL we're sticking with our thousnads of lights we already have and love!! and just pay the elec. bill..

Hmm - we have now changed over to LED lights, but my problem with them is the exact opposite of yours. I don't find the lights bright and cheerful like our old lights, they seem dimmer, with more of glow than a light, if that makes any sense. I don't regret switching over, but it definitely is not the same look that we used to have.

As far as the clear/white LED lights are concerned, there are two kinds - some are bluish tinged, and some are more of yellowish colour (I think the box is usually labelled "warm"). They don't go well together, LOL.

Carrie

mimi, the big old fashioned bulbs are my favorite, too. The LEDs I got were supposed to be like these, and yes, they are the same size and shape, but the color...eeek! I wonder too if I will ever get used to them. A few years ago, before I ever payed attention to types of lighting, I would sometimes see commercial places with LED lights on their trees, and I always wondered what was wrong with the lights (they were always the clear white), especially when I would see them next to the usual kind.

bungalow, if many people don't like the LEDs, maybe we will have to go through another Dark Ages until the technology catches up:-) I am thinking I am going to be doing without house holidy lights this year, too. I just can't bring myself to plug these in.

For the inside I have an old aluminum tree with a color wheel, (I don't even want to know how much of an electric hog the wheel is, but I don't leave it on long) so I didn't have to worry about lights inside before, but this year I had really wanted to purchase a more traditional tree loaded with lights. That will not be happening, LOL.

alex, that's a wonderful way of thinking, comparing it to moonlight on snow. Unfortunately, I am not there yet, and wonder if I will ever be. It snows where I live :-) I too wish manufacturers would improve things, but, I am not terribly hopeful at this point. I hear about the wonderful things that have been done to fluorescent lighting, too, and I do use it in some areas of my home, but I don't find it to be a wonderful light colorwise, even with the updated fixtures. One of my friends has replaced all the bulbs in her home with CFLs, and it looks strange and cold and eerie like an imaginary doctor's office (she decorated in all neutrals, that may be part of the problem, not sure if colors work better under fluorescent?). I pay attention to lighting in stores where they want the items to look good, and while they use lots of fluorescent, they also have a very heavy hand with the halogens. Which come with their own problems.

reno, as it stands, I would rather not have lights than the LED lights too. But I am going to be seeing them more and more on other people's homes and now I am going to dislike holiday displays, something which I have never done...I even liked those tiny yards full of every holiday creature in molded plastic. Now I am picturing the same thing but with LEDs. Horror film stuff indeed!

Amy, how do you like your cabinet lights now that they are alternated? Is the color more palatable? Did you get used to it?

joanie, interesting on the warm white lights having phosphors. I wonder how long that would last. Fluorscent bulbs that try and mimic incandescent warmth claim a phosphor coating, too. Supposedly it does not last the life of the bulb. Sheesh I am going to need a scientist and a decorator just to change my lightbulbs from now on.

ttodd, sounds like you've gotten used to it, which is probably what we will all have to do. I wonder if kids react in the same way, or if they love the LED light displays as much as we loved the incandescents. *sigh* At forty I wasn't ready to be an old fogey longing for the yesteryears, yet, here I sit.

susieq, what will you do when the incadescents are eliminated? Actually, I have no idea if ALL incandescents will be gone...and if so when...I mean even though T9s are much better in fluorescents you can still buy the old T12s of humming buzzing fame. I am just in a quagmire here because I want very much to use less energy, reduce my carbon footprint, etc, and yet gosh I hate the way some of it looks.

carrie, what color are your lights? What is the brand?

I am still sad, but at least I know I'm not alone in my dislike of the LEDs. I would still love to hear from someone who LIKES them, and know what brand they bought, what colors or clear, ect.

Thanks for all your responses...

Joanna

We use the tiny white lights as in icicle, and our lawn xmas decor, net lights,etc. etc. just bought a new addition the horse and carriage, we have quite a display,all 4 sides of the house even have a tour bus come by and stop at our house every year, have lot's of extra bulbs, so not too worried! here's a little of the front, but lot's and lot's not shown on this pic.

Like every technology, LEDs have their pluses and minuses. Given the choice, there is nothing as lovely as the flicker of REAL CANDLES on a tree, but their fire hazard is more than I want to deal with for every day use.

I like the intensity of the darker colors, especially the blue LEDs. And the cool white LEDs make a realistically frosty-looking snowflakes. Plus LEDs takes so little power they can be run off solar, even in a Wisconsin winter, so they can be used all kinds of places without an electric cord. The colors will improve over time, no doubt.

-Lena