The first of the Ber-months has arrived. Christmas is near, and holiday decorations are needed here and there soon.
No matter the struggles, we will celebrate as we have always had. With holiday spirit and warm joy in our hearts. And Christmas lights!
This guide on how to hang indoor and outdoor Christmas lights will make you a master at it. We’ll show you all the necessary steps plus some tips. At the end of this article, you’ll be able to avoid common mistakes. (Find the Battery Operated String Lights)
Overview
We’ll go over the materials and tools needed first. Then we will discuss the different types of lights. After these two sections, the steps would make more sense. The holiday season is a time to decorate your home, and we want to help.
It’s a fun process overall. You’ll have to make a plan and stick to it. Or you could go with whatever comes to your fancy.
Materials and Tools
The following are things that you need. You don’t have to get everything.
- Rags
- Outdoor extension cords
- Ladder or scissor lifts
- Adhesive light clips
- Staple gun
- Hooks
- Sucks
- Ruler
- Adhesive Fastener
- Thread
- Scissors
- Window suction cup
- Measuring tape
- Outdoor extension cords
- Outdoor Christmas light strands
- Lights
Types of Lights
Knowing the different types of light is essential. It gives us options and makes our choices sound.
1. LED and Incandescent
LED lights are more expensive than incandescent lights. But LED is energy-efficient, and they don’t heat up. It is a safer option.
The way that they emit light, sadly, makes them a bit harsh indoors. Incandescent is kinder to the eyes, but they’re a downer at times. They are less durable than LEDs. (Learn How To String Lights On A Tree)
2. Power Source
There are three options. Plugged, Battery-powered, and Solar Powered.
- Plugged is the best choice for most people. The availability of sockets might be a problem for some. Anyways, they are more durable than their battery counterparts.
- Battery-powered can reach places where a plug is far away. They don’t shine as bright as mains. You can save money on these until you buy another set of batteries.
- Solar Powered comes with all the pros of solar appliances. But as with all things solar, it comes with its cons. It’s expensive and not suitable for all climates.
3. Different Aesthetic Designs
This time we’ll emphasize the visual aspects of lights. The visual appeal is the main point of all lightning designs. This par will cover the best types of lights for windows.
- Mini lights-They are the most common and are the classic small bulbs you see often.
- Curtain lights-they add serenity to your designs. It makes windows more attractive, and they are easy to install.
- Led Ropes Lights- A good choice for outdoor borders. They come in a great color range and are bright.
- Icicle Lights- A rival to the curtain lights. Go for these if you are looking for an uneven design.
There are loads more designs out there for windows. There are those have shapes, and there are candles. You won’t have to follow the steps below for those making them less of a hassle.
The 3 steps in hanging Christmas Lights
Step 1: Making A Plan and Preparation
You have to visualize what your windows would like after you’ve put in the work. Make sure it fits the overall theme of your house.
What looks are you trying to go? Classic and warm, or bold and bright? It’s your choice but make sure that the Christmas lights will be appealing for everybody.
What options are available to you in terms of money and source of electricity? It is the number one question when you decide what lights to choose.
Now, hanging Christmas lights is a relatively safe activity, but you still want to be cautious. Make sure there are no distractions and that it’s safe.
Measure your windows before you do any holiday shopping. When you hang Christmas lights, you want them to look snug and perfect. But you also don’t want to waste money spending on excess lights.
Use a measuring tape to measure the distance of your distance between your windows nearest outlet. Make sure to take into account both horizontal and vertical height. It’s prudent to add extra length to your measurement as a buffer. (Read Christmas Light Bulb Size Chart)
You must calculate the number of hooks and the length of lights you would need per window. Measure the frames for that calculation.
Step 2: Lights, Hooks, and Tools
Make sure your lights are working. If you go to the store, have the staff test it. If you are using old lights, test them too.
Your hooks should be the right ones for your needs
- . A staple gun is secure but hard to remove after.
- A cup sucker is easy to install and remove but less secure.
- A gutter hook is perfect for windows near gutters.
- A cup hook requires drilling, but they hold tight.
- An adhesive plastic hook is pretty.
Before you go to the store, remember to buy the tools you might need. Prepare all the materials and tools after securely.
Step 3: Hanging the Lights
We want the lights to be straight unless otherwise. Around 15 inches is the spacing advised for any fasteners.
There are different kinds of fasteners, but it doesn’t matter what you choose. If your hook is weak or conspicuous, then that’s a problem.
Outdoors or indoors don’t make much of a difference. You would have to take into account the surface you would be attaching the fasteners.
Select a corner to attach a clip or hook. Then attach hooks to the sides and on the other corners. Insert or wrap the Christmas lights in the fasteners.
Hanging curtain lights are a lot easier considering you only have to attach the fasteners to the top part of the window. However, you would have to deal with its cord and plug (if it has one).
Arched windows are trickier. You have to follow the arch, and a frame is needed. Garlands are handy in these types of windows. Attach the lights to a garland decoration.
There’s this neat trick found on YouTube that allows you to hang Christmas lights without nails or adhesives. You’ll use a frame made out of PVC that fits tight in your window borders or casings. Attach the Christmas lights into the frame.
Parting Words
When done attaching the lights, the next step is to see if they work. You might also want to redo it or add a few things to make it look clean.
Remember to follow safety guidelines when using electricity, and wires. Use outdoor wires, and cords for the outdoors. (Read Christmas Cactus Propagation Guides)
With this guide, we hope hanging Christmas lights would be easy for you.
