C&G’s Guide to Hanging Outdoor Christmas Lights

Tips & Advice

Enlist help from Christmas elves and fairies with C&G’s Guide to Hanging Christmas Lights. 

Before hot summer days hit Bayside, now is the perfect time to start hanging up your outdoor Christmas lights. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a regular with Christmas lights, it’s essential to prepare your outdoor wonderland ahead of time. In our latest guide, Chisholm and Gamon share tips to installing outdoor lights safely, so your Christmas joy lasts the entire silly season.

  1. Planning

Avoid dangerous hazards by planning ahead. If it’s your first-time, draw up a design that will suit your outdoor space. If you’re a regular, make sure you sort through your decorations and lights before rushing off to buy more strands. Always throw away lights with loose bulbs, damaged wires or rusted lights. Don’t forget to buy extra hooks and clips to hang up your lights!

  1. Design

Make the most out of your home by turning window fronts, columns, roofline, trees, garden ornaments and walkaways into spectacular light structures. Before getting caught up (literally) in Christmas lights, make sure you know where your outdoor electrical sockets are located and if you’ll require extra or extension cords. A heavy-duty cord is recommended. Before heading to the hardware store, make sure you measure your outdoor space - this will help you figure out how many lights you’ll need.

  1. Lights

For first-t imers, incandescent lights are highly recommended. Incandescent lights are usually mini-bulbs and easier to decorate with. Incandescent and LED lights are very different, so it’s best to stay consistent with all bulbs. Keep in mind, LED lights last much longer than regular bulbs – so if you’re in this for the long haul, LED lights are worth their higher cost. LEDs are also safer because they are made from durable plastics unlike glass bulbs.

  1. Decorative Lights

Modern Christmas lights are very innovative with new festive designs released every season. Icicle lights are very popular when creating a white Christmas light design. Usually made from plastic, icicle lights can be hung from a roofline for an icy North Pole effect. For smaller spaces, net lights are great and easy to lay over scrubs and trees. Plastic rope lights are bendable and great to use around window or house corners.

  1. Safety

Hanging lights during the hottest and busiest time of the year requires high-detail and expert hands. Before hanging lights please keep make sure you are not alone – especially when a ladder is involved. Don’t decorate high trees or fences near power lines. Don’t connect different types of lights in the same power socket – hence keep consistent with either LED or incandescent lights. Make sure rope lights or electrical cords are placed in areas where they won’t act as tripping hazards. Consider all weather conditions before hanging loose or large ornaments.

For Christmas events and happenings in Bayside, check out Bayside City Council’s festive calendar here.