What Can I Use To Hang Christmas Lights Outside

The job of stringing lights on your tree is no joke, and unless you take a squad of elves to assist you out, you're likely all on your own to figure out an piece of cake way to put lights on a Christmas tree. And even though this tedious task tin exist a headache, oh, the rewards! That glow can downright take your breath abroad!

Chances are you lot've been hanging lights on your tree the fashion your parents did. But believe it or not, in that location are a few dissimilar ways to calorie-free a Christmas tree. Online and off, questions abound: Do you hang Christmas tree lights horizontally or vertically? Do you go top-to-bottom, or bottom-to-meridian? Practise you put lights on a Christmas tree first? (For the record, nosotros say definitely yeah to this!)

Before you starting time doubting (or changing) your stringing technique, nosotros've got some adept news: There really is no right or wrong fashion to lite your tree. If your method of outfitting your tree suits you, stick with it—you've got no reason to change!

Still, it never hurts to effort something new, which is one reason we're sharing these tried-and-true Christmas lighting methods. Who knows? Peradventure you'll find a more efficient fashion to tackle the almanac task. Now become glowing!

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Tip: Mostly, plan for most 100 Christmas lights per foot; a 6-foot tree would get 600 lights.

How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree Vertically

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The vertical approach to hanging Christmas tree lights is a trend that started circulating a few years ago. This method ensures that the tree shines brightly, because the lights are more visible, as they are less likely to be covered up by branches. Bonus: Information technology'due south a whole lot easier to take them downwardly once the holiday's over!

Plug in each strand of lights to make sure all the bulbs are in working guild.
Offset with the plugless end of your lights at the top or bottom of the tree and permit the lights lay vertically like a seam.
Each time you achieve the top or bottom, turn the lights dorsum the other manner until you take a sideways "South" pattern around the whole tree.

Tip: Hang shiny ornaments in the middle to help reflect the light for more depth.

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How to Hang Christmas Tree Lights Horizontally

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Hanging Christmas lights horizontally is the nearly widely used technique when it comes to decorating the tree. It's pretty self-explanatory, but if this is your get-go time hanging lights, you'll want to follow these directions:

First, plug in each set of lights to make certain all the bulbs are working. (This will save you a lot of stress subsequently.)
Starting at the meridian or bottom of your tree (depending solely on preference), wrap the lights over and under the branches of the tree.
You tin can mix things up by placing some lights "deeper" into the tree than others, and by alternating the patterns then that it looks more organic. Go creative with information technology, and accept fun!

Tip: When y'all have to connect plugs, hide the eyesore by fastening the expanse to a branch with floral wire.

How to Hang Christmas Lights Top to Bottom

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"I cord my lights from pinnacle to lesser because your plug is at the terminate of the strand and closer to the bottom of the tree and outlet," says The Home Depot's director of trend and design Sarah Fishburne, making a solid case for this method. Plus, she says, if you lot run out of lights, it's easier to spread them out this manner—and it's easier to add more lights to the bottom versus the tiptop of the tree.

Plug in the lights to make sure all the bulbs are working.
Starting at the height of the tree, intertwine the lights on top of and nether branches.
Work your way down and around the tree, hanging lights in the back likewise.
When you achieve the bottom, hide any extra lights behind the tree.
If you want to add more lights, just do some other pass, starting again at the peak and working your fashion down.

Tip: Make sure you lot wrap the lights loosely on each branch for the best overall affect.

How to Hang Christmas Lights Lesser to Peak

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The Home Depot's Senior Merchandising Manager Kelie Charles goes bottom to peak because she can plug the lights in first. "It makes information technology easier to see what the lit tree volition look like as I'm stringing the lights," she says. Got extras? Just wind them back down. And if you run out, only get-go a new cord and run an extension cord down the back of the tree.

Plug in the lights to brand sure all the bulbs are working.
First at the lesser, zig zag Christmas tree lights through the tree in quadrants, section by section, versus effectually the tree.
Place some lights deeper into the branches and place some closer to the front end to create depth.
Hibernate the lights' connectors by pushing it deep into the tree branches well-nigh the trunk.
Once you accomplish the top, you can either tuck the extra lights into the dorsum of the tree or run an extension cord downwardly the back to the outlet.

Tip: Try to avoid any obvious pattern or spiral; you want the lights to expect natural.

Happy decorating!