Tips To Make It Easier To Hang Holiday Lights
Every winter, quiet neighborhoods and busy city streets alike come alive with the help of holiday lights. Hanging these lights inside and outside the home is a tradition for many people. Creating the perfect light display is a passion so strong for some homeowners that it sometimes becomes a fierce competition between neighbors. There are endless ways you can go about decorating your home, but before hanging any lights this holiday, there are some tips and tricks you should know.
Always map out a plan for your holiday lights and measure the surfaces before you hang them. Test each strand of lights and use durable brands that can withstand harsh weather conditions for outside. Consider investing in a light timer and surge protector. Use light clips, zip ties, and adhesives rather than nails to hang the lights. Check the weather beforehand, use a sturdy ladder, and always have a helper on hand.
The perfect holiday light display can be so impressive that it can stop traffic. Poorly planned and executed displays, however, can look sloppy and cheap. The art of hanging these string lights can take years to perfect, but there are a few helpful tips and tricks below that make this job much easier for you.
14 Ways To Make Hanging Holiday Lights EasierÂ
1. Map Out Your Lighting Design In AdvanceÂ
One way to make hanging holiday lights easy is to plan and design ahead of time. Instead of hanging lights on a whim, sketch out your vision of where you want the lights to be. This is particularly important if you have a specific color scheme or motif in mind.
Once you have a grasp of where you need lights, you will have important information, such as the length of lights required and where to start the project. Creating a lighting map will save you time and will likely improve the result.
2. Measure In Advance
One of the most common mistakes people make when hanging string lights for the first time is not having enough. Before buying lights, measure the entire area to determine the required length of lighting in feet.Â
As a rule, you should buy at least one extra set of lights. This will give you wiggle room in case you make a mistake on the measurements, or if one string doesn’t function properly. Measuring in advance will save you from potential headaches down the road.
3. Choose Durable Lights That Can Withstand Your Climate
There’s nothing worse than hanging lights perfectly, only to have to replace some of them within days because they’ve died. When hanging holiday lights, especially outdoor lights, always choose quality.
Opt for durable lights that have been proven to withstand all the harsh weather that the winter holiday season brings. Better lights cost more money, but this initial investment will pay off in the long run, and it also means you won’t have to spend as much time on a ladder in the winter replacing dead lights.
4. Start At The Top And Work Your Way Down
Generally, it’s almost always a better idea to start hanging lights from the top of a home or room or tree, than from the bottom. Starting from the top has several benefits. For one, it gets the trickiest part out of the way first, allowing you to work with gravity as you move down.
Furthermore, you usually plug in the last lights you hang into the power source. Therefore, you want the last lights you hang to be closest to the electrical outlet, which is almost always near the ground.
5. Check The Weather BeforehandÂ
When hanging lights outside, you should choose a warm and dry day with minimal wind. Never hang lights in the rain. Slippery conditions make hanging lights significantly more dangerous, as do wind gusts.
When you hang lights on a warm, pleasant late fall morning or afternoon, you can work quickly and safely. It will also be a more enjoyable experience than hanging lights in the bitter cold.
6. Use Clips Instead Of Nails
Tools and technology have come a long way since the hammer and nail were invented. Therefore, it's time to stop using these outdated tools to hang your lights. There are now various clips available that allow you to easily and safely hang lights without damaging your home.
Some clips attach to gutters, while others attach to vinyl siding. When purchasing clips for your holiday lights, ensure you buy the right clips for your home and your specific design needs.Â
7. Keep The Lights Taut To Avoid SaggingÂ
When you hang lights, you never want them to droop unintentionally. Sagging lights make your work look crooked and sloppy. To prevent this common mistake from happening, ensure that you always keep the string of lights taut. As well, never allow too much space between clips, otherwise the lights are more likely to sag over time.
8. Always Have A Helper To Spot And Assist
Hanging holiday lights is not a solitary project. It’s a task that you should always do with at least one helper. Having an extra set of hands is crucial, as you will need someone to help keep lights taut, hand you supplies, and spot you when you are on a ladder. Hanging lights can be stressful and dangerous without help. Hang lights with a friend or family member. It will save you time, and you’ll have fun doing it.
9. Use Zip Ties
You may find areas where it’s impossible to clip and secure lights using traditional methods. This is where zip ties come in handy. Zip ties are fantastic at securing lights to gutters, narrow tree branches, and other objects that you shouldn’t hammer into.Â
Always keep a pack of clear zip ties on hand when hanging string lights. They are sure to make the job easier, and will keep your lights more secure than if you didn’t use them.
10. Test The Lights In Advance
One task you must never forget to complete before hanging holiday lights is to plug in and test every strand before you hang it. There is nothing more frustrating than spending hours attaching lights to your home, only to see that some lights don’t illuminate when you plug them in. Testing lights in advance ensures that all the lights you hang are fully functional before you secure them to your home.
11. Use A Sturdy Ladder
Hanging holiday lights often requires reaching high places and in most instances, standing on a ladder. Therefore, you must use a reliable and sturdy ladder for the job. If your ladder is mediocre, consider borrowing a better one from a friend or neighbor. Always have someone at the bottom of the ladder to help spot you. This will make the process safer and less stressful.
12. Use A Surge Protector
No matter how high-quality your holiday lights are, you should still plug them into a surge protector. Using a surge protector helps prevent the lights from shorting out or being damaged, which can save you time and money on replacements. Surge protectors can lower the risk of sparks, fires, and other potentially serious electrical issues.
13. Use Transparent Tape And Adhesive Clips Indoors
For those who are hanging lights indoors for the first time, remember that adhesive clips are your friend. Just as clips are great for hanging outdoor lights, you can use similar adhesive clips and hooks to hang lights indoors. Adhesive clips and hooks are a cheap and non-permanent alternative to using nails, which can damage your walls.
14. Buy A Light Timer
Hanging holiday lights is usually labor-intensive, but turning your lights on every night doesn’t have to be. Everyone who hangs holiday lights, whether indoors on a Christmas tree or outdoors with a home’s exterior, should always use a lighting timer.Â
When you use a timer, you never have to worry about turning your lights on or off. This can save you time each day, and it can also help keep your electricity bill down, as you can program the lights to shut off automatically when you are still sleeping.
Final Notes On How To Make Hanging Holiday Lights Easier
Hanging string lights is a holiday tradition for many families. Whether you are wrapping string lights around your tree or lighting up the entire outside of your home, hanging lights is a project that can be a real headache if you don’t think it through and know a few tricks to make it easier.
Always map out your lighting design in advance and take proper measurements. Test the lights before hanging them, and only purchase high-quality lights that can withstand harsh winter weather conditions. Work from the top down, use a sturdy ladder, and always have at least one helper. Remember to use light clips and zip ties to make the job easier.
Related Guides:
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- Can Outdoor Lights Get Wet? (Find Out Now!)
- Can You Use Indoor Lights Outside? (Find Out Now!)
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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