10 Expert Tips on How to Hang Christmas Lights

It’s that time of year again! The holidays are just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about how you will decorate your home. If you want to make a serious impact, hanging Christmas lights is a must. But if you’ve never done it before, it can seem like a daunting task.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide with 10 expert tips on how to hang Christmas lights. Whether you’re a complete novice or just need a few pointers, we’ve got you covered. So read on and get ready to transform your home into a winter wonderland!

The 10 Expert Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights

1. Always Test First

The last thing you want is to get all of your lights put up only to find out they don’t work. Before you do anything else, make sure to test all of your lights. This includes both plugging them in and testing each individual bulb. That way, you can be sure they’ll work when it comes time to turn them on for the holidays. If it’s time to replace the lights, skip to #3 for tips on choosing the right lights.

If you find that a few bulbs are burnt out, don’t worry. You can usually find replacement bulbs at your local hardware or retail store. Or, you can buy a device called a LightKeeper, LED Keeper, or similarly-named product.

These handy tools will help you quickly and easily identify which bulbs are causing your lights not to work. Just a few squeezes of the device’s trigger can magically bring all those dead lights back to life!

2. Plan Ahead

When you’re confident that your lights work, you can proceed to make a plan for what you would like to do with this year’s Christmas display. The best way to do this is to sketch it out on paper first.

Doing so will make it easier for you to figure out exactly how many lights you need and where they need to go. And it will save you a lot of time and frustration later on.

If you’re not the artistic type, don’t worry. There are plenty of online resources that can help you plan your light display. One of our favorites is the Christmas Light Finder website.

This handy site allows you to input your address and view a map of all the houses in your neighborhood that have registered their holiday lights displays. It can give you some great ideas for what you might want to do with your own home.

3. Get the Right Lights

Not all Christmas lights are created equal. In fact, there are quite a few different types to choose from. The most popular are mini lights, also known as string lights. These come in a variety of colors and sizes, and they’re relatively inexpensive. But they can be a bit delicate, so be careful when handling them.

If you’re looking for something a little more durable, then C9 or C7 bulbs might be a better option. These are the traditional large glass bulbs that you often see on houses and businesses. They’re a bit more expensive than mini lights, but they’re also much less likely to break if they’re dropped or stepped on.

4. Choose the Right Location

Now that you know what kind of lights you want to use, it’s time to start thinking about where you’re going to put them. The first thing you need to do is find a safe and accessible outlet. Once you’ve done that, you can start brainstorming ideas for how to best arrange your lights.

If you’re not sure where to start, get some ideas by looking at and comparing some of the houses in your neighborhood that have already put up their Christmas lights.

5. Track Down Your Power Outlets

Knowing where the closest power outlets are will save you a lot of time and frustration when hanging your lights. So before you do anything else, take a walk around your house (inside and out) and make a note of all the outlets you find. Once you have a good idea of where they’re located, you can start planning how to best arrange your lights.

6. Set Your Lights to Music

This trend has only become more accessible as technology has improved. Now, anyone can buy a small device that will sync their Christmas lights to play along with music.

It’s a great option if you want your display to be interactive and fun for both kids and adults. And it’s sure to be a hit with onlookers.

7. Get Creative With Your Lights

Once you have the basics down, it’s time to start getting creative with your display. One way to do this is to use light projection devices. These can be used to create all sorts of interesting effects, from snowflakes falling across your house to Santa Claus flying overhead.

You can also use lights to create unique and eye-catching shapes and patterns. Get a few strands of lights in different colors and start playing around. You might be surprised at what you come up with.

8. Use Light Timers

One of the best things about modern Christmas lights is that you can now set them to turn on and off automatically using a light timer. This is a great way to save energy—and money—and it’s just really convenient.

Just be sure to set the timer for the right time of day. You don’t want your lights turning on and off at all hours of the night—or when they’re supposed to be on for everyone to enjoy!

9. Safety First

Now that you know how to put up your Christmas lights, it’s important to make sure you’re doing it in a safe way. This means using the right type of lights for your situation, being careful when handling them, and making sure they’re properly plugged in and secured.

It’s also a good idea to have a plan for what you’ll do if something goes wrong. That way, you can be sure that your display will stay safe and look great all season long.

But safety measures don’t apply solely to your Christmas lights. You need to make sure you’re well-prepared for your project. That means using ladders, tools, and other equipment to make your project go safely and smoothly. And it means having a plan for what you’ll do if something unexpected happens.

10. Enjoy Your Efforts

After all your hard work, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Invite some friends over, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and take in the festive sights and sounds of your very own Christmas light display!

Conclusion

Are you ready to get in the holiday spirit? We hope these tips have inspired you to get out there and start decorating your home for the season. Remember, when it comes to hanging Christmas lights, the sky’s the limit!

So have fun and be festive—that’s a big part of what makes this time of year so magical.

Featured Image Credit: Mark Rabe, Unsplash