Hanging Christmas lights like a pro can be challenging but with the right techniques, you can easily create a stunning display. All you need to do is follow a tried and tested method and you are good to go. It all starts with planning a layout, deciding on a plan of action and then installing the Christmas lights carefully. Actually, without the right decoration in place, it is very hard to capture the festive spirit of Christmas and which is why you need to ace the art of hanging Christmas lights. So, take your time and don’t rush the process. The effort that you will put into this Christmas light decoration process will eventually pay off when those lights transform your home into a festive wonderland, radiating joy and warmth all around.
Let’s discuss how one can hang those Christmas lights like an expert, make them look beautiful, utilize the best lights, and also stay safe at the same time.
Common Materials/Tools For Installing Christmas Lights
Hanging Christmas lights needs a good deal of patience and the use of a few suitable tools and materials for a successful setup:
- LED or traditional forms of Christmas lighting
- Extension cords for the outdoors
- Ladders to cover and access the higher levels of spots
- Hooks or light clips to keep the lights in place without accidentally or intentionally damaging surfaces.
- Automatic on/off settings (optional)
Planning And Working On The Designs
Make sure you first know the kind of look you would want your property to present during this Christmas season.
Elaborate looks? Clean designs? Or minimalist looks? What do you want?
- Consider proper placements of lights with the help of string lights. In all this, you would have to decide on the plan by considering the highlight portions of your property such as the windows, rooflines, shrubs and the trees.
- Don’t forget to take the necessary steps like taking proper measurements for hanging those beautiful lights. Because nobody wants to be left with wires all over the place. If you fail to take the right measurement, you will end up with lights that are either too long or too short. You don’t want to deal with this mess, right? Measure once, hang perfectly!
- Pick the right lights. Incandescent lights can offer a warmer glow but they tend to consume a lot of energy whereas their LED counterparts are known for their energy efficiency.
- Picking the right light clips and adhesive clips best suited for the railings and the columns will help make arrangement easy. Universal clips may be used for the rooflines.
- Calculate the number of strands and lights that you would need for the entire setup. It should be at proper distance from the power source.
- Avoid connecting more strands than recommended to prevent a potential fire hazard.
Hanging Christmas Lights Outdoors
The lights must be tested before installing them in the first place. Make sure that the faulty and blown bulbs are replaced and all the controllers are operational. Know that the universal clips can securely hold C7 and C9 bulbs, mini bulbs, string lights and the icicle lights.
Testing the lights
Make sure that you plug in all the lights and so that you can mend all the faulty wires and the broken bulbs. If you are going to use them outdoors, they must be rated for the outdoor. Christmas lights that are designed to be used indoor should not be placed outdoor; it would a safety hazard to say the least.
Tools That You Will Use
You may have myriad tools in place but if they don’t help you hang those lights with ease, they are going to be of no use. You may have plenty of tools, but if they don’t help you hang the lights easily, they’re useless. Make use of the hooks and the light clips so that the Christmas lights can be safely secured without using staples and the nails. It would give a clean look to your arrangement and also prevent visible damage. One can make use of plastic clips for covering the rooflines as they simply attach to the shingles and the gutters.
Roofline lights arrangement
Ensure that you use the outlet that is not far away. Using extension cords to cover long distance is another great option. The lights must be evenly spaced, and attached via light clips. You can always use a ladder to make the Christmas light installation process easier and safer.
- Watch out for the weather when you are planning to install Christmas lights on the rooftop. If it is snowing or raining, it is better to hold off on installing lights. Wait for the weather to clear up before getting started again.
- One must ensure firm placement of the ladders on the ground so that accidental falls can be avoided.
- Using a tool belt or bag for carrying lights while climbing the ladder is advisable.
- Lay the lights on the ground, and use clips to arrange them along the shingles and gutter.
- The lights must be hanging down.
Hanging Christmas lights on Gutters
Gutter clips can be used for this purpose and thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from. Try to avoid ladder like a plague because it is known for its safety issues rather try to place your faith on light-hanging poles instead as they are considered to be a much safer option.
Hanging lights on Vinyl sliding
Siding clips work well because they hold securely and can slide along the siding. And the best thing about these siding clips is that they are durable and can be installed and removed in a matter of seconds. Another advantage of using siding clips is that they don’t leave a trail of destruction on your siding.
Weather-resistant clips and adhesive hooks can also be used for the same purpose. With metal components of rim structure on the siding, it may be appealing to use magnetic clips.
Lighting Arrangement On Bushes/Trees
The Christmas lights must be carefully and neatly wrapped around the bushes and trees to create an appealing display. Make sure that the lights are arranged neatly and with meticulous care and also don’t forget to place them evenly because if they are too close for the comfort, it might affect the overall atheistic negatively. Net lights can be a life saver in this situation. Net lights are primarily used to cover large areas and they are known to provide uniform glow which is hard to achieve when done manually.
Covering the windows and doors
When it comes to decorating your windows and doors with Christmas lights, you need to take a proper measurement of the shape and size of those doors and windows. To frame the edges of those doors and windows with Christmas lights, you can always use clips or adhesive. The lights should run along the frame to get the best result. You can also hang lights from inside your windows and this will help you create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Use of timers
Wanna give the festive look of your house a touch of automation? Well, you can’t go wrong with timers. Timers are time-tested way to automate your holiday lights. No need to turn off and turn on light manually. Just get your hands on these timers and you are good to go. With these timers at your disposal, you don’t have to sit around and worrying yourself to death about whether or not you have left the rights on. Moreover, timers also help you save a ton of energy as well.
Managing the loose ends
The loose ends, if not managed and tucked in properly, may turn out to be a hazard promoting sudden and accidental tripping. Make sure they are well arranged and secured properly with the help of electrical tapes.
To sum up!
With the above-mentioned steps, hanging large or small Christmas lights is going to be sheer fun. Even if you’re not excited to start, you’ll find it fun. If you have done it before, it is going to be easier than the last year!