LIGHT IT UP
THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON
D
BY HALEY ADAMS
ecorating for Christmas – a time-honored tradition full of joy and cheer … and if you’re the “lucky” one in your house who gets to tackle the tradition of setting up the outdoor holiday lights, it’s probably also full of frustration. This time-consuming, often exasperating task ultimately adds magical charm to your home’s exterior. But before you climb the ladder, I suggest you heed the following helpful light-hanging hints, understand the dangers of taking them down, and weigh the pros and cons of hiring a pro to do it for you. Doing so just might make this year’s Christmas lighting installation a bit easier than ever before.
HINTS FOR HANGING LIGHTS Before you bust out the boxed-up lights you dragged down from the attic or visit the store to buy new, plan out your display. As you decide where to place lights, choose a few focal points to help anchor your design. Doors, columns, and eaves offer architectural interest that can be highlighted with lights. Next, measure out the area that will be covered with lights to ensure you have enough, or if you do need to purchase, you buy the correct amount. Don’t forget to take into account the amount of length it will take to reach your power source.
lines. You can also use a staple gun to secure strands. Just be careful not to staple the wire, and be prepared to pull out the staples when it’s time for the lights to come down after the holiday season is over. Another option is outdoor mounting tape, which comes in both permanent and temporary versions. Outdoor mounting tape provides an effective way to hang lights, but isn’t always easy to remove. You may have to use rubbing alcohol to get rid of all the adhesive. If removing from a painted surface, you may have to touch up some spots where the paint is damaged.
TAKING DOWN DANGERS By the end of the hectic holiday season, the last thing you probably feel like doing is spending hours taking down holiday lights, organizing them, carefully packing them up, and putting them in storage.
If buying new, make sure the lights are rated for outdoor use. Incandescent lights offer a warmer glow, while LEDs tend to come in more styles and are more energy-efficient. Also, pay attention to the connection strand limits to make sure that you won’t be connecting too many, creating a potential fire hazard. Finally, double-check your measurements and make sure that you have enough lights so you don’t have to make multiple trips to the store. If you have lights from previous years that you will be using, take a moment to test each strand before you start hanging. This will save you time and frustration. Then plug in the first strand to your power source to ensure everything will reach correctly. When it’s time to finally hang the lights, make sure that you have a sturdy ladder that will allow you to safely reach eaves and other high places. For roof lights, plastic clips and hooks provide an easy way to hang and remove lights at the end of the season, while also creating a cleaner and more professional look with straight 60
CIRCA Magazine
| October • November • December 2021
|
circamagazine.com
