How To Hang Christmas Lights

How To Hang Christmas Lights Tips & Tricks

Do you dread hanging your Christmas lights because they never seem to work right?

Here’s a list of tips and tricks that will help you avoid all the common problems associated with those darn lights.

The first step I take is to create a holiday lighting schematic. Now this may seem a little Geekish or over-board but it really helps avoid common problems that frustrate the heck out of you after you’ve got everything hung. If this is the first time you’re hanging Christmas lights on your own and need to purchase new decorations then this process will keep you from making multiple trips to your favorite holiday decorations store.

Create your lighting scheme

Step One: Make a list of locations to put your lights

1. Roof-lines or eaves
2. Around pillars or post
3. Atop bushes, hedge rows and trees
4. Around architectural details such as windows, door frames or shutters
5. Along pathways and driveways
6. Large planters or window boxes

This is just a list to get you thinking about how many lights you need and if you need to make a trip to the store.

Step Two: Measure everything

1. Measure the distance for lights running along roof-lines or eaves.
2. Measure the diameter of bushes or trees you want to rap
3. Measure the distance from the decorating site to the outdoor power source.

Of course the number of lights you need will be a personal preference but a good rule of thumb 200 lights for every yard of height on every shrub or bush you want to cover. If you’ve got a small evergreen that is 6 feet tall (two yards) you need at least 400 lights. If you really like lights than you can always add more!

Step Three: Know the limits of your power source

1. A common mistake people make is overloading an outlet. Make sure you know the capacity of the outlet. Check your homes main service panel and identify the circuit breaker that controls the circuit. A 20 amp circuit will handle more lighting capacity than a 15 amp circuit.
2. Add the watts needed per string of lights and add them together. The safe operating capacity of a 20 amp circuit is 1920 Watts and 1440 for a 15 amp circuit. Once you reach that limit on a string of lights you will need connect other lights to a new circuit to avoid over-heating and circuit breaker tripping.

See my House Wiring Diagrams page for more information.

Step Four:Assemble your tools and supplies before you begin

1. Step ladder of extension ladder depending on your application
2. Outdoor extension cords. To avoid having a tail of lights all the way to your power outlet have plenty of outdoor extension cords
3. Power stakes are great devices to bring power to where you need it to avoid cords running all over you yard.
4. Timers and Remote controls are great! They will save you time and money by turning your lights on when it’s dark and shut them off automatically 2, 4 or 6 hours later…you decide.
5. Special hardware like hooks and clamps make it easy to attach lights to gutters, door frames or window trim.
6. Nails, cup hooks etc…
7. Basic hand tools

That should get you started on your way to a great looking holiday festive home. Please leave some comments below if I’ve missed anything.