Holiday decorating looks effortless in Joanna Gaines’ world, but behind every glowing tree and greenery-draped mantel is one surprisingly simple workhorse: a classic strand of clear string lights from The Home Depot. If you want your own home to feel as warm and polished as a Magnolia reveal, understanding exactly how she uses this budget-friendly staple can change the way you decorate for the season.
Instead of relying on trendy gadgets or complicated installations, Joanna leans on tried-and-true incandescent lights and a nature-inspired mix of greenery, ornaments, and texture. When you follow her method step by step, you can turn even a basic artificial tree into a vivid focal point and carry that same glow across your living room, staircase, and entryway.
The exact Home Depot lights Joanna Gaines relies on
The holiday item Joanna Gaines keeps coming back to is a straightforward set of clear mini string lights from The Home Depot, not a specialty designer product. Reporting points to a set of 300 Clear Incandescent Mini String Lights priced at $9.50, which gives you a strong, warm glow without a premium price tag. That combination of affordability and impact is exactly why these lights have become a go-to for her team when they are dressing trees for the holidays.
Because these are traditional incandescent bulbs, they cast the kind of soft, golden light that flatters greenery, wood tones, and the layered textures Joanna is known for. The set is also designed with convenience in mind, coming with extra bulbs so you can quickly swap out any that burn out and keep your tree looking seamless. When you are decorating on a real-life schedule, that detail matters as much as the aesthetic, which is why these lights have become such a practical anchor for her holiday look.
How Joanna’s branch-by-branch method transforms your tree
What sets Joanna’s approach apart is not just the product, but the way she uses it. Instead of draping lights loosely around the outside of the tree, she and her team work from the inside out, wrapping individual branches so the glow feels like it is coming from within. In a video described in one report, Joanna starts at the very back of the tree near the trunk and then moves outward, which creates depth and eliminates the dark patches you often see when lights are only looped around the front.
Another source quotes her explaining, “What I like to do is start at the very back, and then what we do is we wrap each individual branch.” That technique takes more time than a quick spiral, but it pays off in a tree that looks professionally lit from every angle. When you follow the same method at home, you can use the exact same 300-light strands and still get a custom, high-end effect, even if your tree or ornaments are relatively simple.
Why her favorite lights keep selling out
Once Joanna demonstrates a product in action, it rarely stays on shelves for long, and these clear mini lights are no exception. Coverage of her holiday decorating has noted that the specific Home Depot strands she uses have sold out after being featured, as shoppers rush to replicate the same vivid glow on their own trees. One report describes how Whether you want to decorate your tree branch by branch or opt for a more time-efficient alternative, you are likely to be competing with other fans for the same affordable lights, which have been spotted around $12.98 at homedepot.com depending on the configuration.
That kind of demand is not just about celebrity influence, it is about value. You are getting a dense strand of 300 bulbs, a warm incandescent color that flatters most decor styles, and a price that lets you buy multiple sets without blowing your holiday budget. When a product hits that sweet spot, it becomes a seasonal staple, and Joanna’s visible endorsement only accelerates the sellout cycle.
How many lights you actually need for a vivid tree
One of the most useful takeaways from Joanna’s method is a realistic sense of how many lights it takes to make a tree look truly luminous. A single strand of 300 bulbs can make a difference, but the branch-wrapping technique works best when you are willing to layer multiple sets, especially on taller or fuller trees. The reports that highlight her use of 300 clear bulbs at a time make it clear that density is part of the look, not an afterthought.
For a standard 7.5-foot tree, that often means planning on at least two or three strands if you want the same immersive glow you see in Magnolia holiday rooms. When you start at the trunk and wrap each branch outward, you are effectively lighting the tree twice: once from the inside and once along the tips. That is why Joanna’s trees look bright even in daylight and almost sculptural at night, and it is why skimping on lights is one of the fastest ways to end up with a flat, underwhelming result.
Carrying the Magnolia glow beyond the tree
Joanna’s holiday style does not stop at the tree, and neither should your use of these lights. The same clear mini strands can be woven through garlands on your mantel, tucked into greenery over doorways, or layered along a staircase banister to echo the tree’s glow throughout your home. Reporting on her seasonal living room notes that This nature-led approach extends beyond the tree, with generous swags of greenery over mantels and doorways that are often accented with the same warm lighting.
When you repeat the same type of light across multiple surfaces, your space feels cohesive instead of cluttered. The key is to keep the bulbs consistent in color and style, then vary the greenery and textures around them. On a mantel, that might mean mixing cedar garlands with brass candlesticks and ceramic houses, while on a staircase you might pair the lights with simple pine and a few velvet ribbons. The lights become the quiet throughline that ties every vignette back to the tree.
Blending Magnolia Home decor with budget string lights
Part of the appeal of Joanna’s holiday decorating is the way she mixes accessible basics with more curated pieces from her own collections. You can follow the same strategy by pairing these inexpensive Home Depot lights with accents from the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines decor catalog at The Home Depot. Think of the lights as your foundation, then layer in tree collars, stockings, throw pillows, and tabletop pieces that carry her signature palette of warm neutrals, deep greens, and muted reds.
This mix-and-match approach lets you invest in a few standout items while still keeping the overall budget in check. A simple pre-lit or unlit tree can be transformed with the branch-wrapped lights, then finished with Magnolia-inspired ornaments and textiles that you can reuse year after year. The result is a space that feels pulled together and intentional, even though the core of the look is built on a very affordable lighting staple.
Making Joanna’s method work on your schedule
Wrapping every branch with lights is undeniably time consuming, which is why some coverage points out that you might prefer a more time-efficient alternative depending on your schedule. The same report that notes how Whether you want to decorate your tree branch by branch or not, you can still borrow the spirit of Joanna’s method by focusing on the most visible sections. That might mean fully wrapping the front and sides of the tree while using a looser spiral on the back, or concentrating the densest lighting in the middle third of the tree where your eye naturally lands.
If you are working with a pre-lit tree, you can also treat these Home Depot strands as a booster layer rather than the only source of light. Start by turning on the built-in lights, then identify any dark pockets and weave in the clear mini strands to fill the gaps. You will still benefit from the depth and glow of Joanna’s approach, but you will not be starting from scratch, which can save you a significant amount of time while still elevating the overall look.
Using Joanna’s lighting tricks in small spaces
Not every home has room for a towering tree, but Joanna’s lighting strategy scales down just as well as it scales up. In a smaller living room or apartment, you can apply the same branch-wrapping technique to a slim tree or even a tabletop version, using fewer strands of the same clear lights. Because the bulbs are compact, they will not overwhelm a smaller silhouette, yet the inside-out glow will still make the tree feel substantial and intentional.
You can also borrow her nature-led mindset by pairing the lights with simple greenery in places where a full tree will not fit. A narrow console table, a kitchen shelf, or even a bedroom headboard can become a holiday focal point when you drape a strand of clear mini lights through a garland and add a few ornaments or pinecones. The goal is not to recreate a full Magnolia living room in every corner, but to repeat the same warm, understated lighting language so your entire home feels connected.
Why Joanna’s classic approach outlasts holiday trends
Holiday decor trends shift every year, but Joanna’s reliance on clear incandescent lights and natural greenery has remained remarkably consistent. Reports on her Christmas living room emphasize how she leans into traditional elements and organic textures, with one noting, “Think generous swags of greenery over mantels and doorways, wrapped in warm lights that feel timeless rather than trendy.” That philosophy is part of why a simple Home Depot light strand can feel so elevated in her hands.
When you adopt the same mindset, you are investing in a look that will still feel right several seasons from now. Clear lights, classic greenery, and a restrained color palette are unlikely to date your photos or clash with future updates to your furniture. Instead of chasing novelty, you are building a holiday foundation that can handle small tweaks each year, whether that is a new ribbon color, a different mix of ornaments, or a fresh Magnolia Home accent layered into the scene.
More from Decluttering Mom:
