Holiday Lighting Guide

Decorating

Looking for a beautiful, hassle-free lighting display this holiday season? This comprehensive guide from 1000Bulbs.com will help you conquer any lighting problem you may encounter.

Decorating Your Christmas Tree

The most iconic symbol of the holiday season is the family tree. Decorating this symbol of Christmas cheer tastefully and beautifully can be a challenge. Keeping that in mind, 1000Bulbs.com suggests 3 simple tips to make your tree more beautiful―and your decorating easier―than it has ever been.

Tip #1: Keep replacements on hand

When you find the perfect lights for your tree, you want to have replacements that match. Buy a set or two more than you need in case a string goes bad sometime over the holiday season. Also make sure to have plenty of replacement bulbs because "borrowing" bulbs from another set can cause burnouts and is potentially dangerous, especially if the bulbs are of different voltages.

Tip #2: Test your lights first

We've all done this before: We decorate the entire tree only to notice afterward that an entire string is dead! To avoid this, plug in each set of lights to make sure they work. Test for burned out bulbs and partially dead strings to avoid the hassle and embarrassment of having to redecorate your tree halfway through Christmas dinner.

Tip #3: Light your tree section by section

Don't light your tree all at once. To make sure your tree is evenly lighted, hang lights section by section and make corrections as you go. You might also try following an "S" or "wave" pattern instead of simply "wrappping" your tree.

Hanging lights in your yard

Want the best looking Christmas decorations on the block? Decorating the outside of your home may seem like a daunting task, but with the right decorations and technique, it can be just as easy as decorating your Christmas tree.

First, make sure your lights are approved by outdoor use. Do this by checking the UL Listing tag at the end your light string. Those marked "Indoor/Outdoor" can be used, whereas those marked "Indoor Use Only" should never be used outdoors under any circumstances. Using lights or decorations not approved for outdoor use can cause premature burnouts, electrical shorts, or even a fire.

When you are sure you have the properly approved lights, bushes and shrubs are usually the best place to start decorating. 1000Bulbs.com offers several lighting choices for bushes and shrubs: LED Mini Lights and Incandescent Mini Lights are typically used over C7 and C9 strings, but both can be used. Decorating bushes and shrubs is much like decorating your indoor tree. Wrap or drape your lights in the fashion that most evenly distributes your lights. Use an "S" pattern to maximize your results. Net Lights are an even easier option that some decorators prefer: Simply cast them on the bush or shrub like a net and pull them back off when the holiday season is over.

Do you have more trees than bushes? If so, you can really go for the "wow" factor by turning your outdoor trees into giant Christmas trees. Start with the trunk of the tree. Mini lights work fine here, but Trunk Lights are even better. Don't stop there! Branches and leaves can be decorated as well. Drape Mini Lights or C7 strings in a random pattern throughout the branches and watch your yard really light up.

Using the right stakes and clips, you can also accent you sidewalks and driveways with LED C7 light strings and Incandescent C7 light strings to give carolers a festive pathway right your front door.

Hanging Roof Lights

Practice electrical safety

At 1000Bulbs.com, we want you to have Clark Griswold's lights, but we also want you to be safe. Use the properly approved extension cords and always plug them into an electrical outlet protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter or GFCI. Remember that these lights will most likely get wet and will be exposed to the elements, so always use lights that are UL Approved for Indoor/Outdoor Use. And if your lights trip a breaker, don't just flip it back; reduce the load of that circuit by plugging some of your light strings into another outlet.

Buy the right lights in the right amount

With the exception of Icicle Lights, mini lights are rarely used on roofs as they simply don't put off enough light. C7 light strings (7/8 in. diameter) are most commonly used and C9 light strings (1-1/8 in diameter) are also used for a truly bright display. Most C7 and C9 strings are 25 ft. long, so an average home (with a 100 ft. roof) will use at least 4 strings.

Test your lights

Having a perfectly trimmed house means nothing if your strings won't light up, so never hang your lights without first testing them. Even before plugging your strings in, look for broken or missing bulbs and replace them with the correct replacements. If your wires are worn, don't patch them; replace the entire string. If all your bulbs are in working order and the string still won't light, follow the manufacturer's instructions to to replace a burned out fuse.

Hang your lights

Despite what the movies may say, staple guns are the worst―and most unsafe―way to hang Christmas lights. Staples will also damage your roof. To hang your lights like the pros do, use the appropriate clips to hang your lights. Shingle tabs work best for mounting lights along the perimeter of your roof, while gutter hooks and gutter clips work best for hanging Icicle lights from gutters. Omni All-In-One clips work well for multiple types of light strings and decorations, and for a variety of surfaces. Clips should always be spaced no more than 12 inces apart.

Go Green!

With advancements in energy-saving LED technology, decorating your home for Christmas is no longer environmentally irresponsible. Are your C7 or C9 bulbs burned out? Instead of replacing them with incandescent replacements, buy a box of LED replacements instead and cut your energy usage by more than 20%. Also consider replacing your old light strings with LED strings. For even more savings, use one of our outdoor rated timers from Intermatic to control your lights for you and save energy at the same time.