How to Install Christmas Lights

To make the most of your outdoor Christmas lights, some advance planning is required. Here are some tips for creating a beautiful light display for the holiday season.

Find the electrical outlets you can use for outdoor lighting and make sure they are safe to use, and that the cords will not get wet. It is also important that children cannot play with the cords and adults cannot trip over any wiring when walking through the garden. Then draw a basic plan for your display. Take a good look at the outside of your home and the garden, and draw a simple plan that includes all the garden features such as trees and bushes, and the electric outlets you can use. Think about what you want to achieve with the display and create an outline on paper before heading off to install the lights.

Check through all your old festive string lights and make sure all work well. Check for any broken strings or defective bulbs and see if you can replace them. If using the typical C7 and C9 bulbs, the most common bulb sizes for decorative lights, one broken bulb will not affect the rest of the lights. With miniature lights, one single defective light can often break the rest of the string. Test all your lights from last year and replace any broken ones. If you have been shopping for new seasonal lights, you need to test them too. Before purchasing festive lights, always check that they are suitable for outdoor use and can be used in any weather conditions. Make also sure that they conform to all current safety standards and do not cause any fire hazards.

For the best deals in festive lights, and to see the widest selection of lights available, use a Christmas lights finder.

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