These timer switches can control your Christmas lights

Timer switch best buys: christmas lights on table, blurred image

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published 5 December 2020

Looking to buy a timer switch? Whether you hate to admit that you put up your Christmas decorations weeks ago (us too!), or perhaps you're doing it this weekend? Either way, buying a timer switch can make your life 10 times easier. Switching your lights on and off at the start of the day will be something you can remove from your to-do list for the whole of December.

What is a timer switch? With similar capabilities to a smart plug, a timer switch plugs into your plug socket, and then you plug your Christmas lights into the timer switch. From here you can spin a dial to set your lights to come on at a certain time, and turn off at another time. The best smart plugs can also be set on a timer, and you can control them with your voice and change their status from off to on while out of the house. A great burglar deterrent and they can be used after Christmas – for lampshades and more.

So, where to buy a timer switch? We've found some top buys (and smart plug buys) and we have popped them below. A few of these we've tried and tested ourselves, so we can confirm they definitely work. Scroll to see...

See our dedicated Christmas page for all things festive from food to gifts and decorations.

Timer switches: the top buys to control your Christmas decorations

Amazon Smart Plug | £24.99 at Amazon
I've got two of these controlling my bedside lights and there's truly nothing better than not having to get up out of a warm bed to turn the big light off – these go on as soon as it gets dark. I can ask my Echo Show 5 to turn them on or schedule them to automatically shine in the morning and evening, without me even flicking a switch. They're also unobtrusive and hardly noticeable, too. Turn your Christmas lights on using your Alexa this year and wow those guests of yours.

Need a smart speaker, too?

Also read:

Best outdoor Christmas lights: 6 buys to add some festive cheer to your garden
Christmas fairy lights: 13 stylish ways to light up every room

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Hi! I'm Annie, and I'm the Head Ecommerce Editor at Real Homes. I've been part of the Real Homes team since 2018, when I joined as Deals Editor. Along with covering major sales events — from Black Friday to Amazon Prime Day — I review home must-haves so that you can buy with peace of mind. Mostly focusing on home fragrance and sleep, as well as a few vacuum cleaners, I've tested pretty much every item you can think of that you need in your home. I live on the outskirts of the city in a two-bed apartment with my husband and my pug, Doug. So I am always searching for compact alternatives and ways to save floor space. What about when I am not typing away? Well, you'll find me enjoying an iced coffee (no matter the season) and trying out the latest brunch spots the city has to offer, or booking my next holiday. Where else can you find my words? Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home, Gardeningetc, and Woman & Home.