Govee Outdoor Neon Rope Lights, 32.8ft RGBIC IP67 Waterproof Patio Decorations with 64 Scene Modes, Music Sync, Flexible LED Outdoor Lights, Neon Lights Work with Alexa, Google Assistant

Why it's worth it

A 32.8-foot RGBIC neon rope light that bends into any shape, survives weather at IP67, and takes voice commands. It's for the new homeowner who has an outdoor space and no idea what to do with it yet.

A new backyard is usually an empty backyard. Furniture takes months and money, but lighting changes the feel of a space in an afternoon, which is why this works as a gift when someone's still unpacking. Run it along a fence line or under a railing and the patio becomes usable at night. It's the smallest amount of money in this guide that visibly changes a room.

RGBIC means different segments show different colors at once, so it does gradients and chases rather than one flat hue. There are 64 scene modes and 16 million colors in the app, plus music sync that reacts to whatever's playing. That's genuinely fun at a party and, more to the point, it lets the recipient dial in warm white and forget it. PCMag measured app response latency under 200ms and confirmed it works with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.

From our review of 7 housewarming gifts

What we like

• +A new backyard is usually an empty backyard
• +RGBIC means different segments show different colors at once, so it does gradients and chases rather than one flat hue
• +Weatherproofing is what separates this from cheap string lights
• +It's also the easiest gift here to give without knowing much

What to know

• –Installation takes an afternoon and some resolve
• –It won't light a space, only color it