I've been obsessed with fairy lights for curtains for ages. And finally, last year, I decided to take the plunge and buy them. I got two - one for my bedroom and one for the living room. Oh boy, I wish I knew what I was getting myself into when I wanted to create a magical atmosphere in my home...

...or why you should carefully read reviews before buying, because you might end up with a disappointment that'll make the beauty of the fairy lights fade away.

I ordered the fairy lights on Ozon. I got two different types of lighting - warm for the living room and cold for my bedroom. I ordered from two different sellers because, for some reason, the fairy lights with different lighting types arrived on different days... I first ordered the warm light, and the cold white fairy light was supposed to arrive more than a week later. I ordered it from another seller, where the delivery time was more convenient for me.

Both fairy lights cost around 250 rubles (give or take).

The fairy lights arrived quickly.

They were packed well and came with their original factory box with a cute design.

Each box has the type of lighting and the size of the fairy lights written on it.

There are so many sizes of fairy lights like this! You can get long ones that reach the floor, short ones like a fringe, wider ones, and narrower ones. There's a fairy light for any window and any taste!

There's a little instruction manual on the side.

There are a few options for lighting:

White coldWarm yellowMulti-coloredIn this review, I'll be talking about the fairy light with white cold lighting. Except for the color, the fairy lights are identical.

The fairy light is rolled up inside the box.

And each string is rolled up even tighter. It's convenient, but you'll still have to unroll it.

I got the 2x2 meter size.

I figured, what's the point of having a full-length curtain when you've got pets running around the house, and you never know what they might chew on. I mean, I've got a mischievous cat who loves to shred anything she can get her paws on.

I chose the width based on the width of the window. In rooms with double windows, like the ones I ordered the curtains for, 2 meters is perfect. It's just enough to cover the space without looking too bulky.

But! If you want a more "dense" curtain, you can go wider and then hang it so the gaps between the threads are smaller. I've seen some people do this with their curtains, and it looks really cool.

On a window with two panels, our 2-meter-wide curtain was hung with about 10 cm gaps between the threads. It's not too bad, but I can see how it might be a bit annoying if you're looking for a super seamless look.

The strings and threads of the curtain are made of semi-transparent material, so they're almost invisible on the window and blend in when the lights are turned on. It's really clever design, if you ask me.

The curtains come with the option to connect multiple units together. For example, if you need a really long curtain. I can see how this would be super useful for people with really big windows or rooms.

Connecting two LED curtains There's a control box where you can change the modes of the curtain. There are 8 modes in total, from simple glow to crazy flashing. And the normal modes - steady glow and smooth transition - are at the end! I've had a lot of fun playing around with the different settings.

The LEDs are pretty small. I was a bit worried they might be too noticeable, but they're actually really discreet.

These curtains plug into a power outlet. And that's where things get a bit annoying - you can't even plug it in on its own! I mean, it's not a huge deal, but it's something to consider if you're planning on putting it in a hard-to-reach spot.

The curtain is affordable, but you'll need to pick up a few extra accessories to get the full effect.I was a bit bummed when I realized the power cord that comes with the curtain is way too short. I mean, who has a power outlet 2 meters off the ground, right? Even if it's right next to the window, the cord won't reach. But, as it turns out, that's not a design flaw - it's actually a pretty clever feature.

I was messing around with the girdle, trying to figure out why the cord was so short, and I realized it's actually designed to prevent excess cables from sagging in the connection point. Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but hear me out. Remember how you can connect multiple garlands together? Well, the cord that runs through the middle of the girdle is intentionally short to keep everything looking neat and tidy.

The fix?

It's super easy - just grab a cable extender!

Ozon Fix Price Garland Extender ReviewYou can pick one up on the same marketplace for around 100-120 rubles each. And, as a bonus, Fix Price started carrying these extender cords for 70 rubles this year. That's a total steal!

I guess you could use a regular extender, but it'd probably be white. The special garland extenders are made from the same semi-transparent material as the garlands themselves, so they blend in perfectly.

Just connect them, making sure to tie a little knot to keep the cord from coming loose. Easy peasy.

What to hang it from?

I ended up using regular curtain hooks to hang my garland. I actually bought them for my tulle, but I never got around to using them. They worked perfectly for the garland, though!

What to hang a garland on a window fromIt's not rocket science to hang the garland - just grab a ladder or something to replace it.

And, let me tell you, it creates this beautiful, semi-transparent curtain that lets sunlight in during the day. It's like a little slice of heaven.

Garland on the window

Just turn it on and enjoy the show. It's absolutely stunning!

BeYoo LED Garland ReviewIt looks great both on top of my tulle and as a replacement. I'm super happy with how it turned out!

I'm not sure if there's any actual benefit to using this extra lighting for plants (I'm skeptical), but the greenery looks amazing under the soft glow of the lights.

The garland does a great job lighting up the room. You won't be able to read under it, but it's perfect for a nightlight.

Stand

But, of course, there's a catch. The power switch is located at the very top of the garland.

I've always thought that all string lights have a similar construction, but boy was I wrong! My friend's string light has the switch at about shoulder level, and mine is literally under the ceiling. And my ceiling is almost 2.6 meters high!

The switch on my string light is a real painI know these lights are supposed to be safe, but I never leave them on when I'm not home. You never know!

It's pretty obvious that I just can't reach the switch! I need a stool to do it, and even then I have to stand on my tiptoes. And I'm almost 170 cm tall! My mom is 158 cm and she can't even reach it from a stool. Nice, huh?

But if the switch isn't a problem, you can just unplug the thing. The real issue is the modes. I've already mentioned that there are 8 of them, and the good ones are at the end. But every time I plug it in, the modes reset! Even if I set it to the right one, unplugging and replugging it would put it back to the annoying flashing mode. It's like they deliberately put the worst one as the default! So, you'll have to go in and change it every time. That's just frustrating!

So, not only do I get to create a magical atmosphere with this thing, but I also get to do some exercise. I'm talking about the classic 'get up on the couch' move.

The 'Couch Hopper' exercise (hopping up onto a raised surface). Goal: work your leg and glute muscles. During the exercise, you'll engage:

your quadriceps (front thigh muscles) to straighten your knee and lift your body up;your gluteus maximus to straighten your leg and maintain balance;your hamstrings and biceps femoris to bend your knee and straighten your leg, controlling your descent;your adductor magnus (inner thigh muscles) to move your leg towards the middle of your body and stabilize your hip joint;your gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to lift your heel and stabilize your ankle;your core muscles (deep muscles of the torso) to support your spine, pelvis, and legs, protecting against overexertion.This string light will have you doing it in no time!

Be careful what you wish for

I never thought I'd be working on my glutes and legs with a string light, but here I am!

THE VERDICT

I've gotta say, this string light is super pretty! It's like having a party every day! Whether it's in a cool white glow or a warm yellow one, it totally transforms the room and puts me in a great mood! But, like with anything, there are some downsides...

THE GOOD:

It's super prettyComes in different sizesWorks like a charmThe light is really niceEasy to hang upIt's affordableTHE BAD:

You'll need to buy a longer extension cordThe switch box is mounted way up high...The last one's a total deal-breaker for me! I mean, not everyone's up for that kind of acrobatics, and even if you are, it's not like you can just reach up and flip the switch if you're short. I'd recommend this string light to anyone looking to give their space a serious makeover and add some positive vibes. Just be sure to check out the competition before you buy - specifically, look for one with a switch that's actually within reach!