It’s a rite of passage to fight with tangled christmas lighting installation, just like it is to burn the first batch of gingerbread cookies. But I promise that putting up beautiful Christmas lights doesn’t have to take up your whole Saturday. Let’s cut through the noise with some real-world advice that will save you time and sanity.
First, try everything out. Before you even think of climbing a ladder, make sure all the strands are plugged in. No one likes to find out that a big section is out after they’ve already reached the roof. And while you’re at it, get some extra light bulbs. Believe me, one burned-out bulb always hides until everything is hanging.
Be a schemer. Even if it’s only a scribble on the back of a receipt, draw it out. Where are your power outlets? How far does each strand go? If you sketch things out, you can avoid that “extension cord spaghetti” routine.
Use light clips instead of nails or staples. They don’t cost much, don’t take long, and won’t make your siding look like Swiss cheese in January. Also, your future self won’t hate you when it’s time to take them off.
Start at the top. Start at the roofline and work your way down the house. Finish with bushes or trees. Why oppose gravity? It works. Let whatever that falls fall. Put it back together on the way down.
Make portions huge. Unroll your strands and spread them out in ten-foot sections, not all one hundred feet at once. This stops the famous Christmas light limbo, when you end up playing Twister with yourself and five pounds of extension cord.
Get help. For real, get a friend or offer your kids hot chocolate as a bribe. Having backup makes it easier to hold ladders, untangle strands, and yell “a little to the left!” And you’ve got safety in the bag.
Don’t forget about timers. Nobody likes to go outside in their jammies at midnight to turn out the lights. Set the timers. Set them so that you use less electricity than you did last year. This will show your neighbors that your style is better and lasts longer.
Wait if it’s raining or icy. Hospital bills are not decorations for the holidays. Choose a dry day, or have cocoa inside.
After the season is over, tidy storage will help you. Put each pair in a box with a label on it, wrap it in cardboard, and let future you find real joy next December.
Most importantly, have fun. Play some oldies, laugh at the knots, and take a picture when all the lights are on. That’s what you’ll remember long after the lights are put away.