5 Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights on the roof

Believe it or not, hanging Christmas lights can be a rather enjoyable process and even therapeutic. It’s true, many homeowners feel stressed by the thought but putting up the decorations 

Now, that’s not to say you find this stressful in the first place but rather to explain that there is an easy and hard way when it comes to hanging Christmas lights.

Here’s a few things to keep in mind for the task at hand:

1. Know Exactly Where You Want to Hang Them

The truth is, most homeowners take out the Christmas lights without knowing where to put them. For this reason, they often waste a lot of time by putting up the lights several times before deciding what looks best. With this in mind, try to establish the best place for hanging Christmas lights before getting started. What’s more, know which lights go together and what ornaments you can use in the same area.

Moral of the story: Knowing where to hang Christmas lights will save you time and stress.

2. Take Measurements and Check the Structure 

Picking the best place for hanging Christmas lights is one thing but it should also serve you well to take a measurement of the area. In other words, you can map out the area for your Christmas lights using a tape measure and ensure that you have enough lights for the job. On the other hand, when it comes to outside the home, it’s always a good idea to check the sturdiness of gutters, roofs, shingles, poles etc and remove any risk of damage as a result of you hanging Christmas lights. 

3. Decide on the type of Christmas Lights 

Decide on what type of lights you want from the very start. You need to ask yourself what kind of colors you want to use for the season, what type of lights, and if they have to be a specific size. What’s more, you might want to consider using waterproof LED lights which are more cost-efficient. Using short string lights rather than long ones can also promote safety because if you ran into some trouble along the way and it stops working, you can replace them and buy new ones for a cheaper price.

4. Double Check that Everything is Working (Before Hanging Christmas Lights)

Another way to save on stress when hanging Christmas lights is to double-check that everything is working. After all, have you ever put the lights up only to find they are not working? One of the best ways to know if your Christmas lights are working well is that you can plug it in any outlet around the house. Also, try to avoid using any lights with dead bulbs as this can cause short circuit problems, especially if you decide to hang them outside. 

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Change Things Up

Finally, you should think about doing a test run when hanging Christmas lights. That is to say, plug in these lights and check that you actually like them. If things don’t look quite right, start again but don’t be afraid to change things up if you don’t like what you see.

Did we miss anything? What tips do you have for hanging Christmas lights? Let us know in the comments.