How To Hang Up Your Christmas Lights
Hanging Christmas lights is a fun way to convert your patio and yard into a festive wonderland, whether you’re a seasoned outdoor decorator or it’s your first time. With some planning and helpful tips, you can make your house stand out in the neighborhood. Let Copper Storage Management assist you in making your roof, windows, and trees shine all season long!
1. Start With a Vision for Your Holiday Lights
Consider the Areas To Decorate
Here are some key spots to think about when planning your holiday lighting design:
- Rooflines. A well-lit roofline emphasizes the shape of your house, giving it a bold, festive appearance.
- Windows. Framing windows with lights creates a soft, inviting glow.
- Porches and railings. Wrapping lighting around porch columns and railings adds another layer of warmth and cheer.
- Shrubs and trees. Adding lights to greenery brings your yard to life, offering a magical, forest-like atmosphere.
- Driveways and pathways. Lighting your driveway or pathways helps guide guests and enhances curb appeal.
Choose a Theme
Pick a color scheme that ties everything together to create a stylish display. You have plenty of options, like a classic look with white or warm lights or a fun, colorful vibe with multi-colored bulbs. You could even try a themed display, like a snowy white wonderland or a red-and-white candy-cane style.
2. Select the Right Lights
LED vs. Incandescent
Knowing the difference between LED and incandescent lights is important for your holiday display. LED lights use less energy, last longer, and remain cool to the touch, making them more durable for long-term use. Even though they cost more initially, they help you save money on electricity over time.
Incandescent lights give off a warmer glow, but they use more energy and can get hot, which can be dangerous. If an incandescent light makes prolonged contact with dry leaves, fabrics, or other flammable materials, it poses a fire hazard. While they are cheaper to buy at first, their power consumption can also increase your electricity bill.
Specialty Christmas Lights
There are also many specialty lights to consider for your display:
- Icicle lights. These mimic the look of dripping icicles and are perfect for rooflines.
- Net lights. They are convenient for wrapping over shrubs or trees and are a quick and uniform way to decorate greenery.
- Projector lights. Projectors cast patterns or animations onto your house for those who want to go high-tech, eliminating the need for string lights in certain areas.
3. Tools You’ll Need To Hang Christmas Lights
Now that you’ve decided where to hang your lights and which ones to use, it’s time to gather the tools and materials you’ll need for a smooth holiday decorating process. You’ll need:
- Outdoor-rated extension cords. Make sure they are rated for outdoor use to avoid electrical hazards.
- Light clips or hooks. These are necessary for hanging lights on gutters, shingles, or eaves without damaging your home. You can find these clips at most hardware stores.
- A sturdy ladder. Safety first! Before you start decorating, check your ladder for even ground and height.
- Gutter hooks or adhesive-backed clips. For hanging lights along rooflines, these clips allow you to secure the lights without nails or screws easily.
4. How To Hang Christmas Lights Securely
Check for Burnt Out Christmas Light Bulbs
Make sure your lights work before hanging them, as replacing bulbs or fixing a wire is always easier on the ground than up on the roof or a ladder! Check for frayed cords, cracked bulbs, or loose connections. If you find any issues, replace the broken bulbs or damaged parts before using them.
Use the Right Clips
Choosing the right clips makes hanging your DIY Christmas lights easier and can help prevent your home from getting damaged. We recommend skipping nails or staples because they can poke holes in the wires and cause electrical problems. Instead, choose gutter hooks or shingle clips for a simple setup.
Avoid Overloading Circuits
Be careful not to plug too many lights into one outlet, which can overload the circuit and cause electrical problems or even a fire. Your best bet for peace of mind throughout the holiday season will be outdoor-rated cords and power strips with surge protectors to prevent overloading. Spread your lights across different sockets if needed.
Stay Safe on the Ladder
When hanging Christmas lights, make sure your ladder is stable and correctly positioned. Place it on solid, even ground and make sure it is sturdy enough to handle the job. Hanging lights from a ladder can be risky, so have someone like a loved one, friend, or neighbor hold the base of the ladder to keep you steady.
5. The Best Way To Hang Christmas Lights
Start at the Power Source
To make putting up your Christmas lights easier, always start near the closest outdoor outlet. Plug in the first string of lights at the power source to avoid using long extension cords across your yard. Working outward from the outlet helps prevent tangled cords and lets your lights fit properly.
Hang Along Rooflines and Gutters First
Hang your Christmas lights along the rooflines and gutters to frame the outline of your house. As you work your way from one end to the other, check that the lights are evenly spaced and securely attached. Remember to use clips made for gutters or shingles to avoid damage and keep the lights in place.
Frame Windows and Doors
Once you finish the roofline, add Christmas lights around your windows and doors for a cozy, festive feel. Use adhesive-backed light clips, hanging clips, or outdoor hooks to secure the lights along the edges easily. As you work around, check that the lights line up evenly and firmly attached.
Decorate Trees and Shrubs
To make your outdoor display even more magical, decorate your trees and shrubs with Christmas lights. For trees, start at the base and wrap the lights around in a spiral as you move up the trunk and branches. Choose net lights to cover shrubs easily and evenly, especially large ones.
Add Special Touches
After your main lights are set up, add extras like starbursts or light-up figures to make your outdoor Christmas display stand out. Lighted figures such as reindeer, snowmen, or Santa Claus create an especially whimsical feel in your front yard.
6. Maintaining Your Christmas Lights
Periodic maintenance will help your Christmas lights display keep shining throughout the season. Check your lights often, especially after windy or rainy weather, and immediately replace any burnt-out bulbs or damaged strings to prevent bigger problems. Also, look for loose or broken check clips and hooks, and make sure your timer is properly deactivating the lights at night to save energy.
Storage Tips for After the Holidays
You should always be mindful of how you store your Christmas lights, as improper storage can create tangles you’ll have to solve next year. To keep the lights organized and tangle-free, use a storage reel or wrap them in cardboard. We also suggest storing your lights in a dry, cool place to shield them from heat and moisture.
Make Holiday Decorating Easy With Copper Storage Management
After the holiday season wraps up, you’ll need a space to keep your decorations. While you may be tempted to tuck them away in your attic or garage, these spaces can become extremely hot during the summer, potentially damaging your decor (and holiday spirit when you open the boxes next year).
Fortunately, Copper Storage Management has climate-controlled storage units to give you peace of mind for your Christmas lights and decorations until the next holiday season. In addition to your lights, our storage units are perfect for tucking away tinsel, large ornaments, wreaths, and even your life-size reindeer figurines.
Enjoy more space at home while shielding your holiday decorations from heat-related damage when you choose Copper Storage Management. Contact us online or find a Copper Storage Management-operated facility near you today!