Designer NZ Brand vs Love Your Lights

If you’re shopping for festoon lights, you’ve probably noticed that different brands boast different bulb types, wattages, waterproof ratings and cable lengths. But which of these things actually matter? And how do you choose lighting that not only looks beautiful but also lasts?

Today we’re comparing two popular options — a NZ designer brand and Love Your Lights to help you make an informed, confident decision.

Brightness: Don’t Be Fooled by Wattage

A common misconception is that a higher wattage means a brighter bulb.
Not true.

What you want to compare is lumens, which measure real, usable brightness.

  • Designer Brand 11w Tungsten Bulbs: ~110 lumens

  • Love Your Lights 2w LED Bulbs: ~220 lumens

That’s right — the 2w LED bulbs are twice as bright, while using a fraction of the power.

To put it in perspective, 110 lumens is about the same brightness as many solar festoon lights. Lovely for ambience, but not ideal if you want to actually see your food when dining outdoors or brighten a large entertaining space.

Waterproof Rating: IP44 vs IP65 (This One Really Matters)

If your lights are going outdoors — on a deck, pergola, fence line, courtyard or pool area — the waterproof rating is crucial.

  • Designer Brand: IP44 (weather-resistant)

  • Love Your Lights: IP65 (fully waterproof)

IP44 can handle a light shower.
IP65 is designed to handle weather — rain, damp, moisture, humidity, wind, coastal air.

Put simply:
Outside = IP65. No exceptions.

Installing lights only to later find water inside the bulbs or connectors is… not fun. You don’t want unexpected goldfish-bowl bulbs hanging overhead.

Cable Length & Build Quality

The two systems are similar, but there are some important differences:

Designer Brand

  • 14.2m of light cable

  • 24 x E27 sockets

  • 60cm socket spacing

  • IP44 rating

  • Includes vintage tungsten bulbs

Love Your Lights

  • 15m of light cable

  • 30 x E27 sockets

  • 50cm socket spacing

  • IP65 rating

  • Includes long-lasting LED bulbs

  • Optional 3m and 5m extension cables

  • Fully connectable system (up to 6 sets)

The extra sockets per metre give a stronger visual impact, and the IP65 rating ensures the cable and connectors are built for long-term, outdoor durability.

LED vs Vintage Edison Bulbs: A Major Cost & Longevity Difference

This is where the two systems really diverge.

Vintage Edison Bulbs

  • Lifespan: 1,000–2,000 hours

  • Hot to touch

  • Higher running costs

  • Fragile and less energy efficient

  • Frequent replacements = more ongoing expense and waste

LED Bulbs

  • Lifespan: 20,000–25,000 hours

  • Extremely energy efficient

  • Cool to touch

  • Durable, safe and cost-effective

  • Better for the environment

If you want your lights to last more than one summer, LED is the clear winner.

Brightness Levels Matter for How You Use the Space

If you want:

  • Subtle ambience → Tungsten is fine

  • A mix of ambience AND functional task lighting → LED will serve you far better

Twice the brightness makes a huge difference when lighting:

  • Outdoor dining tables

  • Entertaining patios

  • Barbecues and food prep areas

  • Larger spaces that need consistent illumination

Replaceable Bulbs: A Small Detail That Makes a Big Difference

Bulbs blow occasionally — totally normal.

But with replaceable LED bulbs and durable E27 sockets, a quick twist is all it takes to get your lights glowing again. Some cheaper festoon systems use fixed bulbs, meaning:

One blown bulb = one dead string.

Not ideal.

Choosing a System That Grows With You

One of the biggest advantages of the Love Your Lights system is expandability. You can:

  • Add more sets later

  • Extend the plug run

  • Swap in warmer/cooler bulbs

  • Add dimmer units

  • Create long or short runs depending on the event

It’s a lighting setup built to adapt and last.

Final Thoughts

Both brands offer stylish outdoor lighting, but the differences in brightness, durability, waterproof rating and long-term cost make LED festoon lights the better option for most outdoor spaces.

When you’re investing the time and money to install lights you’ll enjoy for years, it pays to choose a system that is:

  • brighter

  • longer lasting

  • safer

  • energy efficient

  • fully waterproof

  • and flexible for the future

If you’d like help choosing the best setup for your space, we’re always happy to guide you.

Please email sales@loveyourlights.co.nz and we can provide a tailored plan specific to your space. Or we can simply answer questions so when you do purchase it's an informed one. 

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