Residential · Short Hills and Millburn
Christmas light installation in Short Hills and Millburn, NJ
Stately homes, softly aglow.
Short Hills and Millburn are known for large, handsome homes on wooded, winding streets. Our Christmas light installation here is designed around that setting: rooflines with real character, mature trees, and long driveways that deserve a warm welcome.
Yes, we light homes in Short Hills and Millburn. We are about 10 minutes away, installs start in September, and our last install date before Christmas is December 10.
Homes with presence
Short Hills began in the 1870s as an "ideal town" close to nature, with winding streets laid out to keep as many trees standing as possible. Many of its homes are large Tudors, Colonials, and Shingle-style houses, set well back from the road.
That setting changes how lights should be done. Tall gables, old oaks, and long approaches call for a display that reads from the street, not only up close.
We look at your home from the road first, then design the lighting to be seen from where your neighbors drive by.
What we light in Short Hills and Millburn
Steep gables and dormers
Crisp lines of light that trace peaks and eaves, so the shape of a Tudor or Shingle-style roof stands out at night.
Mature specimen trees
Trunk and branch wraps for the big oaks and maples that make Short Hills streets so beautiful.
Long driveways and stone walls
Lights along walls, posts, and entries that lead the eye from the street up to your front door.
Grand entrances
Columns, porticos, and double doors framed in light, so the welcome feels as generous as the house.
Every design is made for your home.
Built for big rooflines
Larger homes mean more roofline, more height, and more detail. Our licensed and insured crew works safely at height, and we attach lights with roof-safe clips so nothing is nailed or stapled into slate, cedar, or shingles.
We also light businesses and buildings in and around Millburn's downtown. If you manage a commercial property, see our commercial Christmas lighting page.
A closer look at Short Hills and Millburn
December comes early to Short Hills. By mid-month the sun sets around 4:30 in the afternoon, and the long, curving streets fall into darkness while families are still driving home from work, school, and the train.
That is when a well-lit house matters most, because the lights are the first thing a visitor or a neighbor sees. Many properties here sit far back from the road, behind lawns, stone walls, and tall trees.
A display designed only for the front door will vanish in the dark. We think about the approach: the first glimpse from the street, the drive up to the house, and the moment you step out of the car.
Lights placed at each of those moments make a large property feel welcoming instead of distant. Short Hills homes also tend to be architecturally rich.
Slate roofs, leaded windows, stone chimneys, and halftimbering all deserve respect. Our job is to light the shape of the house and leave the craftsmanship to speak for itself, which is why we favor warm white light and clean, deliberate lines over busy, scattered effects.
Holiday lighting designs for Short Hills and Millburn
Most displays combine a few of these design types. Here is how each one works on Short Hills and Millburn
homes.
Roofline lighting Roofline lighting is the backbone of a Short Hills display. On a Tudor or Shingle-style house, a clean line along each steep gable and ridge gives the home a graceful outline that shows from the street.
Wreaths
Oversized wreaths suit the tall front doors and wide stone entries here. A single large wreath on a double door, with a soft light above, makes a generous first impression.
Garlands
Garland on porticos, columns, and iron railings adds richness to a formal entry. Fresh-look greenery with warm white lights suits brick and stone beautifully.
Tree and shrub wraps
Tree wraps work especially well on the big old oaks and maples that line the winding streets, adding height and softness to a large lot.
Windows and doors
Framing windows and doors in light picks out the leaded windows and carved doorways that give these homes their character.
Porches and pathways
Lighting porches, stone walls, and the edge of a long driveway carries the display from the road to the front door.
Lighting ideas for Short Hills and Millburn homes
Trace the silhouette
On a Tudor or Shingle-style roof, run lights along the ridge and the steep gables. At night the roof reads as a clean outline against the sky.
Frame the chimneys
A tall stone chimney is part of the character. A simple line of light at its top keeps it visible without drawing attention away from the house.
Light the trees you love
A few big oaks or maples wrapped from trunk to lower branches add height and softness, especially along a long driveway.
Make the entry the brightest spot
A bright, framed front door tells guests where to go. Pair it with a wreath and soft light on the steps.
How it works in Short Hills and Millburn
- 1
Get your design
Tell us about your home and see a lighting design made for it.
- 2
Meet us for your quote
We visit, walk the property, and give you a clear quote.
- 3
We install
Our licensed and insured crew hangs your lights with roof-safe clips.
- 4
Takedown and storage
We take the lights down in January and store them until next season.
Why Short Hills homeowners choose Jolly Watts
Designed for large properties
We plan the whole picture: roofline, trees, entry, and driveway, so it feels finished, not scattered.
Careful with fine materials
Roof-safe clips and a crew that treats your home with the same care you do.
Nothing to store
We take the lights down in January and keep them for you, then bring them back next season.
Getting ready for your install
Large Short Hills properties often need a longer visit and a longer install, so we suggest scheduling your design walkthrough early in the fall. Bring any ideas you have, from a favorite color of light to a tree you want to feature, and we will fold them into the plan.
We will ask about your roof material, where the power is, and whether there are any areas you would like us to avoid. After installation we check every strand, walk the property at dusk, and make adjustments so the finished display looks right from the street.
Serving Short Hills and Millburn and nearby
Short Hills and Millburn is in Essex County. We are about 10 minutes away at our base in Maplewood. We also light homes in nearby towns across New Jersey.
Plan early for the best results
Booking is open now, and installs start as early as September. This season, our last install date before Christmas is December 10. Homes fill up in the order people book, so the earlier we talk, the more choice you have.
Ready to see your home aglow?
Get my designQuestions, answered
Yes. Large homes with steep gables and several rooflines are a good fit for a custom design. We walk the property, then propose a plan made for your house.
We wrap trunks and lower branches on many trees, up to 10 feet. Taller or very large trees can be discussed during your visit.
Yes. We light homes in Short Hills, Millburn, and the neighborhoods around them.
Our base is in Maplewood, about 10 minutes away, so visits and service calls are quick.
Booking is open now and installs start as early as September. Our last install date before Christmas is December 10, and larger homes fill up first.
Yes. We plan access carefully and take care around plantings, walls, and hardscape. Tell us about anything delicate and we will plan around it.
Yes. Driveway lighting is a regular part of designs for large properties, and we can place lights along posts, walls, or the edge of the drive.
That is the goal. We look at your home from the street during the design visit, so the lights read well from where people will see them.