by 10 people |
Why does everything tell you to "hang Christmas lights" but don't tell you HOW to hang them!
So I'm sitting there in my new house looking at my beautiful paint... How DO people put up indoor Christmas lights? Why do theirs always look so much better! Does everyone put big giant nails in their walls? I sure wasn't about to put extra holes in the walls of the first nice house I've ever lived in!
I tried looking up instructions - everyone just assumes you know how! Well I didn't, and on my quest to becoming a Christmas light hanging expert, I've decided to share what I've learned...
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Locating and Disciplining your Strand of Lights
How long a strand do you need?
If you're like me, you can pull out your measuring tape, measure your window, then your light strands, and pick the correct length so you don't fall short or have too much excess. I still end up with too much.You could wing it and end up redoing it in the end. I did, after my measuring was unsuccessful.
NOTE TO SELF:
label light strand measurements on masking tape and put on light strand near plug before throwing away box.
Christmas Light Storage Wheel
Christmas Light 92435-16 3 pack Red Storage Reel Bag
Amazon Price: $9.25 (as of 12/22/2009)
Have you seen these? What an amazing invention! I thought it, someone invented it. Sure they've probably been around for a while, but I just discovered them last year! Wrap your lights around it and decorate with no tangles, no damage and less hassle! Look forward to holiday decorating, without spending an entire evening just untangling the lights!
Get Organized
Make this Christmas the last one where you dread decorating!
Fix Christmas Light Sets with a Squeeze of the Trigger
Lightkeeper Pro Repair Tool fixes Christmas Holiday light sets with a squeeze of the trigger - Includes Battries, Extra Bolbs and Bulb remover
Amazon Price: $16.12 (as of 12/22/2009)
* Fixes most miniature light sets with the squeeze of trigger
* Easily fix & replace damaged bulbs, Fixes lights while still on the tree
* Sound and light continuity detector, Bulb and fuse tester, Bulb remover and Storage in handle included
* Batteries included (uses 3 1.5V alkaline batteries)
* Solves problems associated with miniature light sets
Easy Indoor Christmas Light Installation
How to hang your indoor lights.
Plug your strand in to make sure all lights are working. Replace any bulbs that are burnt out.Once everything is in working order, you are ready to hang your indoor lights.
Start at the outlet with the lights plugged in and work your way up and around.
Insert push pins, nails or small hooks above your window or door frame - right in the small crack so it won't be noticeable when you remove them. If using sharp objects, try not to insert them INTO the light strand - I don't know nor want to find out what would happen if you touch a bare wire...
Once your lights are fastened at the top - these will be your most secure points, fasten strands to the sides and below your window or door with your choice of fasteners.
What do you need?
Gather all your decorating tools and keep it all in a handy basket during the Christmas season.
Fastening and Hanging Options
What you can use to hang or fasten them.
Small nailsPicture frame hooks or other small hooks
Clear thumb tacs
Blutac
Masking tape or painters tape
Sellotape or clear tape
Suction cups (for windows)
Zap straps, garden twist ties, floral tape or wire (for posts, railings or banisters)
If hanging garland, you can twist the lights around the garland and hang them both up using garland clips
3M stick on hooks or stick on cord organizers (which stick on your wall but are easily removed leaving no adhesive behind)
Of all these, my preference is clear thumb tacs up top, and clear tape on the sides. Masking tape if it's a big job.
You can also paint tape or blutac to match your walls.
Lit Christmas Extension Cord with On/Off Foot Switch
Coleman Cable 09493 9-Foot Christmas Extension with On/Off Foot Switch
Amazon Price: $8.30 (as of 12/22/2009)
* Automatically cuts power to the lights if tree is tipped over for safety
* 9 feet long
* Three total outlets
* Great for indoor villages
* Comes in a Christmas green color
* Lit switch makes it easy to find it in the dark
* On/Off foot switch
Your Christmas style
Suction cups: Friend or Foe
How do you hang Christmas lights on your window?
Do you use suction cups to hang your Christmas lights? Do they work for you? Do you need a special kind?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLove 'em
val says:
If your windows are clean and DRY they work perfect. But if your windows tend to get all dewey in the cold weather, there isn't much at ALL that will hold your lights. Unless you want to just fix them umpteen times a day each time they fall.
Posted December 04, 2009
Hate 'em
CoolD says:
Foe. I live in GA and with the extreme shifts in temps they just do not stay on the windows.
Posted December 11, 2009
Jones says:
I have tried suction cups several times and they fall off. I don't know how others get them to work well. Maybe it depends on the weather in your area. We are in Iowa, and the windows could be wet, icy, or snowy and they just
fall off.
Posted November 21, 2009
Hanging Garland
If you are using real garland, wrap floral or light wire around it before hanging, so that it can bend where you want it to. Other garland of course, has wire built in it for your bending needs.To hang garland you can use garland clips for banisters and railings. You can also buy extra large banister clips for wider banisters.
For posts and poles you can use floral tape or wire, or zap straps.
To hang above a doorway, fasten at the middle first using either a nail, hook or tac (fabric tacs can also be used). Use two at each corner of the door frame, and let it hang naturally. Bend garland where needed for desired effect.
There are also hooks you can try that stick on your wall which can be removed without removing any paint.
Ideas to Hang Garland
Hanging a Wreath
Hanging a wreath does not mean putting a hook or nail in your door. There are plastic, metal and decorative wreath holders that hang from the top of your door.You can also display them indoors with a special wreath stand, or use as a centerpiece with candles in the middle.
Wreath Holders and Organization
Ideas for Hanging Wreaths
When do you hang your Christmas lights?
Christmas Decor Ideas
- Holiday Lighting Ideas | Inspired Spaces
- Wrap your chandelier arms with garlands (greens or wire stars, etc.) or twisted gold ribbon and Christmas lights. Use low wattage "flicker flame",
- How To Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights :: Holiday Lighting
- Installing Exterior Christmas Lights Can Be Handled In A Few Easy-to-Understand StepsDo you love the look of outdoor holiday lights, but dread the
More Great Lenses
Get Ready for Christmas!
Come check out some other pages about Christmas I've made!-
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Through some prodding and poking, I retrieved the vital information to see me through my Christmas shopping. I never thought I would have to pry gift ideas out of my four year old, but once he got going, he was on a roll! I clarified that...
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Comments
I would love to hear from you, as well as how you hang YOUR Christmas lights!
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Reply
- lasertek lasertek Dec 8, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
- Nice! I share your dilemma. During the holidays, I'm the one in-charge of hanging the Christmas lights. I must admit that I hate this responsibility because I really do not know how to make Christmas designs out of the lights. But this year, I will surely surprise my family because now I know how to hang the lights. Thanks for sharing what you've learned.
Rated 5* Hope you could visit my lenses as well.
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Reply
- SoyCandleLover-Maker SoyCandleLover-Maker Nov 24, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
- WE use platic light hangers that come in 3 different style. They work great on the gutters and around our vinyl sided house in Upstate NY. Great info and well thought out. 5 stars, lensrolled and used as discovery for The 16 Best Christmas Light Displays on YouTube . Thanks so much
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Reply
- mekimare mekimare Oct 27, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
- Great page - decorating is so fun and yet such work!! I like to use those stick-on hooks for garland and wreaths that you can get (I think they are made by 3M), that pull right off after the season's over. I also have outdoor holiday decorating tips at http://www.squidoo.com/holidaylighting - please check it out and see what you think, I think it complements nicely!
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Reply
- janices7 janices7 Dec 11, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
- Fun! Lensrolled you back to my Family Christmas Traditions lens. I've found that those plastic wheels that hold lights work the best for storage.
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Reply
- pmolinero pmolinero Dec 4, 2008 @ 3:19 am
- A very nice lens, welcome to the Christmas decorations group.
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