Don't hang your holiday lights untill you read these tips!

Safety First

• Don't use nails or metal hooks! They conduct electricity and can cause rust!
• Be safe on the ladder, try to minimize the number of times you have to go up and down, have a helper.
• Don't install lights in the Rain or Snow!
• Only use lights approved for outdoor use
• Make sure lights are in good condition.  Frayed cords can cause a fire!
• Tape extension cords down to avoid tripping hazards.

Before you begin

• Look for inspiration by walking around your neighborhood, looking in magazines or high end home furniture stores,  Use the style of your home as your guide.  Traditional homes call for more elaborate lighting, contemporary ones need more simple lighting. 
• Make sure you measure to make sure you have enough lights
• Get short strings that are easy to replace. If one string burns out and get male female strings that are easy to string together.  
• Test lights to make sure they work!
• Make sure the female and male parts of the lights are on the correct side.  You don't want to have to redo thee lights because you can't plug them in! 
• Make sure you have the right extension cord. 
• Use plastic hooks and clips to secure lights. They are easy to find this time of year and are inexpensive. 

How to

• Use the power source closest to the roof line. 
• It's OK to have extension cords go through windows.  You can use any sort of fabric to block the drafts  
• String lights along roof line and or windows.  Lights can hang in upside down arches or in tight  lines.  Pick one method and stick with it.  Periodically step away from your work to make sure the lights are all the same.  Keep in mind, it's OK to have lines and swoops, just not along the same string of lights.  
• To do columns and porches, wrapping the areas barber pole style works best.  Adding garland makes the lights look more finished and keeps them from slipping.  Another way to keep them from slipping is to get tacky clay from the hardware store.  Plastic coated twist ties are helpful with attaching lights to small branches or shrubs.  
• Net lights are great for decorating bushes and shrubs.  

For the advanced people

• Animated  lights are great for outlining shapes, like Santa or Words.  They are made of wire frames and are surrounded with little lights with a variety of patters and colors.
• Shimmer Spheres come in different shapes like, stars or snowballs and have lots of lights in a variety of sizes.