Do you remember that breathtaking moment when you were a kid
and the last string of outdoor lights was finally put into place --
and it was you who got to flip the switch?
When the
lights sprang to life, casting their cheery glow, you knew the
holidays were really here!
You knew then just like you know now that
Christmas lights brighten the season for you, your family, holiday
guests, and passers-by!
These
festive little luminaries add zing and take their inspiration from
Mother Nature in a season when there's not always a lot of light or
color left in the landscape.
So,
twinkle, twinkle, now's the time to dress up your yard with these
crafty, budget-friendly season brighteners!
When holiday decorating has you scrambling for
inspiration that spreads the jolly, think outdoor Christmas lighting
ideas!
A traditional display using incandescent lights
can be made into an extra festive experience by using specialty
lights.
Look to pear lights, rope
lights, snowing icicle lights, classic rounds, pearlescent bulbs
shaped like hearts and candies and holly and mistletoe, or
outdoor animated Christmas lights like topiaries, or
synchronized and fiber optic lights and lights attached to mesh
you can wrap 'round your outdoor
Christmas trees
and
bushes.
The lights come in almost every color imaginable,
including your standard white, and clear, and all one color, and
with colors mixed.
And they can be made to blink, chase, or
stay lit with options that are synchronized to flash and
twinkle to any rhythm or flash in patterns and more!
But to get a look that really packs a punch,
focus your efforts.
Design your outdoor Christmas lights by
creating little vignettes, and you'll get more visual appeal than if
the lights are installed willy nilly.
Combine a few colors
with animated features spread and over a large area.
Start your outdoor
holiday decorating with a theme in mind. Having a unifying concept
gives even the most modest light display a professional
twist.
Don't be afraid of
tunnel vision when planning your outdoor holiday decor. It's almost
preferable.
Whether
your theme consists of simple outdoor Christmas trees
with lights or an animated old town celebration complete with trains
on tracks that toot, and toy soldiers come to life, choose a theme
and stay true to it.
Are you wondering
how much is too much when outdoor decorating for this
season?
No worries, it's
really a matter of personal taste.
It's all about the
ambiance of the season!
Christmas is
probably the one time of year that you want your holiday
outdoor decor to be the focus and steal the show.
I like to think
of outdoor Christmas decorations
as jewelry for the home. It's like a
Christmas greeting card to the whole world!
And while
you're dreaming up the scale of any single area, think about how close people will be when admiring your
work.
Large and simple
makes sense for outdoor Christmas lights -- they'll be viewed from a
distance at night.
LED outdoor Christmas lights help you create
Christmas magic with fun shapes like snowflakes, starbursts,
raspberries and strawberries.
And they're 90% more efficient than their old school
tungsten counterparts.
They also last
longer, and stay cool to the touch so the risk of injury or fire is
lower. And their small size makes storage a snap.
Solar powered
holiday lights save you time and hassle. They soak up the sun in the
day, and automatically turn on at night.
Incandscent bulbs
have that classic look, but they use more energy than LEDs. On the
upside, these lights are more reliable. When one light stops
working, all the others continue to shine.
To prepare yourself
for the task of installation, identify the electrical outlets that
will power your light displays.
If possible, use a
switch-controlled outlet or plug to turn the lights on and
off. Or for convenience, use an automatic timer to turn them
on at dusk and off late at night.
Light strings come in
lengths of 25 to 200 lights.
Trees
and bushes need about 50 lights per foot of height. So, measure
the length and height of every object in the yard where you'll
string lights, including the bushes and trees. Then add 30 feet or
so for good measure.
Use plastic
light clips and gutter clips to hang outdoor Christmas lights along
the eaves and around windows, securing them about 12 inches
apart.
Always be careful, though.
Like any other electrical device, outdoor Christmas
lights should be used with caution.
Before you
start, look for damage like broken sockets, frayed wires
and loose connections and avoid using any damaged strings
altogether.
Make sure your
lights are certified as safe for use outside.
Be sure to plug all
outdoor electric decorations into an extension cord large enough to
handle the intended load. The thicker the cord, the larger the
amount of electricity it can carry.
Use surge
protectors to safeguard your house and your family from
harm.
And be sure to turn off the outdoor Christmas
lights when you go to sleep or when you're away from the
house.
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Easy
Outdoor Decor 
When holiday decorating has you scrambling for
inspiration that spreads the jolly, think outdoor Christmas lighting
ideas!
But to get a look that really packs a punch,
focus your efforts. 
Are you wondering
how much is too much when outdoor decorating for this
season?
