‘I found the perfect gadget to decorate my home for Christmas without a ladder’

I tested out a Christmas projector and was impressed with how powerful it is

Just like that we’re well into November. Christmas is gradually creeping over the horizon, accompanied by the festive cheer that comes with it.

While it’s not for everyone, there is something warming about the lights and decorations that spring up on houses as the nights turn darker. So I was interested when given the chance to try out a projector that that’s said to adorn your house in festive joy.

The Telebrands Star Shower LED Christmas Slideshow Projector costs £45 at Yimbly, a shopping website owned by the Mirror’s parent company Reach plc. To bring the price down a bit further, shoppers can use the code AUTUMN10, which knocks 10% off to bring the price to £40.50.

I’ll be honest, my expectations for the product were quite low. I’ve had projector-type things in the past that have been a bit weak and fallen a bit flat, not to mention having lights all over my house isn’t really my style.

But I have to say, it’s really impressive and does indeed shower your home in Christmas cheer – crucially – with very little effort.

‘It’s really powerful’

While I’ve been thrilled with the product, it’s fair to say that the biggest fan in my household is my 15-month-old son, Teddy. He’s at that adorable stage where he points at everything and mumbles some toddler-babbled version of a word that vaguely resembles the object in question.

And it’s fair to say he absolutely loves the Christmas projections. I first tested it out by directing it at the ceiling of the front room, and he was mesmerised, repeatedly pointing and shouting “star!” (they’re snowflakes, but we’ll let him off).

Set-up is simple, it’s just a case of screwing the stake part to the projector, attaching the wire and selecting which of the six slides you want – the designs are all Christmas themed and include things like snowflakes, Santa, reindeer, presents and a Christmas tree. The patterns then swirl around when the device is turned on, with a remote control giving the option to adjust settings like how fast the projections move and if you want them to blink or not.

It’s really powerful and gives off a strong projection from several metres away. Yimbly says the super-bright LED bulbs project vibrant, crystal clear, full-colour images up to 30ft to cover up to 625 square feet.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect is that it really can give a home the wow factor without spending ages up ladders fixing all manner of lights to the guttering. Instead, the same effect can be achieved in a matter of minutes, and obviously removes the need to take it all down during the post-Christmas slump.

It’s also weather-resistant, so it should withstand the outdoor elements, while it comes with a remote control, making it nice and easy to alter the settings without the need to head outside to press any buttons. Yimbly also says the product is “energy efficient” thanks to the lower-energy LED bulbs. There’s also an auto switch-off function with preset times for 4, 8 or 12 hours, so I won’t forget to switch it off.

What’s not so great?

The projector is not without some limitations. The obvious problem with the product is that it needs to be plugged in. It makes it a bit awkward, given that the projector works best when it’s a few metres away from the house.

While it does come with a 5m cable, this will present a problem for some households, as a power outlet will need to be within reach, so that’s worth factoring in before making the purchase. The amount of lighting in the area also makes a difference, so those who have a streetlight directly outside their property will lose the impact slightly.

What else is out there?

The Telebrands projector isn’t the only product of its kind out there. One of the best-sellers on Amazon is cheaper for those on a budget – the Coollamp Christmas Snowflake Projector, which is priced at £25.49.

That product features dual heads that project dynamic snowflake patterns, “creating a mesmerising winter ambience.” It’s capable of projecting from a distance of 12m, which will cover 581ft. Argos also stocks another product in a similar price range, its the Home LED Christmas Interchangeable Projector that is £25.

That particular product is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and has a 4-star rating from buyers.

Where to buy

The Telebrands Star Shower LED Christmas Slideshow Projector can be picked up at Yimbly for £45, or £40.50 if you use the code AUTUMN10. It’s also sold at HighStreetTV for £49.99 and Amazon for £49.99.