- Be bright and save money. Investing in LED lights now saves money in the long run because they use less energy and last longer than older incandescent sets. Available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors, professional-grade holiday lighting products like the Celebrations Platinum line burn five times brighter than traditional LED lights, will last up to 75,000 hours, and use up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent lights.
- Think beyond the string. If you want a dramatic display but would rather spend your time sipping eggnog than stringing lights, net lights, icicle lights, and cluster lights can create immediate and dramatic impact with minimal effort.
- 100 for 1 ½. For maximum impact, use 100 lights for very 1½ feet of tree or shrub you want to decorate. For example, a six-foot evergreen will require at least 400 to 450 lights.
- Go big. Think perspective and scale. Larger-sized lights are the best choice to accent a house’s roofline. Mini-sized lights should be reserved for illuminating garland, wreaths, and smaller bushes or trees.
- Set it, forget it, and smile. A timer is your best friend when it comes to holiday lighting. You’ve worked hard and strung the most beautiful light extravaganza on the street, so the last thing you want to remember to do is flip a switch once or twice a day. With a timer, you can relax and enjoy the festive fruits of your labor – and possibly save some electricity by setting it to shut off when the neighborhood is tucked in bed with visions of sugar plumbs dancing in their heads.
- Dress up the unexpected. Look for ways to dress up found and overlooked objects in your yard and garden. Mound the base of empty planters and window boxes with a string of LED lights and top with fresh evergreen branches to create a natural glowing display. String lights through garden arbors and archways. Fill lanterns with weatherproof ornaments and lights to create additional interest on the patio and near the front door.
- Play it safe. Use only lights, timers, and extension cords that carry an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label and are approved for outdoor use, which means these products meet industry safety standards and that they will be waterproof. Secure all lights and cords with electrical tape, insulted holders, twist ties, or plastic zip ties; never use screws, metal hooks, nails, or tacks. If you’d rather leave the roof climbing to Jolly Old St. Nick, limit your display to first-floor windows, small trees and shrubs.
