Hang Decorative Lights for Holiday Cheer

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And that means it’s time to deck the halls – and eaves, windows and shrubbery – with decorative lights. Nothing says "happy holidays" quite like a bright and cheerful light show; so whether you want to add some seasonal sparkle to your home, or create the most eye-catching display on the block, follow our tips to make the job easy and enjoyable. Then head to your local True Value hardware store for everything you need to make your house shine.

Step 1. Make a Plan
Draw a plan of the outside of your home and note the areas from which you'll be hanging lights, such as the eaves, gutters, doors, windows, shrubs and trees. Use a tape measure to measure the distances around and between them to determine your total lighting needs and mark these figures on your drawing.

Step 2. Provide Power Sources 
You'll need a 16-gauge landscape extension cord, along with an in-line circuit breaker if you'll be stringing a lot of lights. To seal the ends, wrap all connections with electrical tape and/or cover them with a plastic bag taped to the cords.

Check to see if you have an outdoor outlet specified as a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). If not, install one. If you're not experienced with electrical wiring, or want to create a dedicated branch circuit for the lights, hire a licensed electrician. If you are skilled at electrical wiring, locate an underutilized circuit in your home and extend a 14-gauge cable to a surface-mounted box.

• Use ''landscape'' cords that are colored green to blend with your grass and shrubs.
• If your GFCI outlet has covers that snap over the unused receptacles, replace them with the larger "in-use" type to protect the receptacle from rain and snow, even when in use.

• If you're installing your own outlet, remember that 1800 watts is the maximum you can safely use on a 15-amp lighting circuit. To determine your total wattage, add the wattage of all the light bulbs on the circuit.

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Step 3. Go Automatic 
A plug-in outdoor timer saves effort and electricity by programming the lights to turn on and off whenever you choose.

Step 4. Testing One, Two, Three 
Retrieve the lights you used last year and test to make sure they still work. It's much easier to replace burned-out bulbs before they're hung.

To test, plug each strand into an outlet. Remove any dead bulbs with a pair of needle-nose pliers and replace with fresh ones. Note how many working strands you have, as well as how long they are, to make sure you have enough lighting. Finally, create a loose coil by wrapping the strand around your bent arm, from elbow to hand, for easier portability and hanging.

• Always unplug light strands before you remove or replace any bulbs and wear gloves to protect your hands.

Step 5. Do Some Light Shopping 
If you need more lights, head to your local True Value store. Whatever your budget and taste, we've got lots of choices - colored or clear; solid, blinking or chasing; icicles, light mats, C9 and C7 large-bulb lights, or electricity-saving mini-lights. You can also buy pre-shaped, pre-lit figures, such as stars, reindeer and of course, Santa Claus. Make sure to buy lights that are UL-approved for outdoor use.

• When purchasing bulb sets, be sure to read the labels to see how many strings you can safely attach together.

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Step 6. Hang 'Em High 
Choose a clear day with no rain in the forecast, get out your ladder and get ready to hang your lights.

• Wooden Homes. A staple gun makes it easy to secure the lights to the façade in any shape or pattern you choose.
• Brick Homes. Buy brick clips, which are available in various sizes. Like all clips mentioned in this section, they can be removed and reused each year.
• Sidewall, Eaves, Gutters and Shingles. Use S-hooks or gutter clips, which attach to the surface and have lower hooks to hold light strands or extension cords. Slip universal-style clips under the sidewall siding or the shingles at the gable roof edges and snap the wires or lamps into the clips. 
• Window Trim, Door Frames and Other Vertical Surfaces. You can use tube light clips, nail-on plastic clips, or small nails to hold light strands.
• Window Panes. Hang lights on suction cups placed directly on the glass.

Step 7. Light Up Your Landscaping 
Back on solid ground, outline footpaths and gardens with strings of lights, working your way along their borders by inserting light stakes and clipping on the lights. To encircle bushes and tree trunks, wind light strands around them in any pattern you like. For tree branches, use reusable clips and/or various sizes of plastic cable ties to blend with your grass and shrubs. A quick way to decorate bushes is to use light mats, which are net-like arrangements of evenly spaced lights. To use, simply center each light mat over the bush and drape. Hide open or overlapping areas in the back.

• To determine how many feet of lights you'll need to encircle a tree or bush, multiply the average width and height, then multiply the result by 6 for mini-lights or by 3 for C9 and C7 large bulb lights.
• If using an indoor power source keep the window or door ajar to avoid crushing the cord.

• Be sure to only use lights designed specifically for outdoor use.
• Always steer clear of power lines.

Step 8. Remove and Store Lights 
When the holiday season is over, remove and carefully store your lights so you can reuse them next year. Test each strand to make sure it's working, then coil it around your bent arm and secure in several places with a twist-tie. Otherwise, you risk having to undo a tangled mess next year. Place the lights in a plastic container to store.

For more projects, go to TrueValue.com. >

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