How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree

Christmas memories of Dad getting tangled in a mass of wires and bulbs might make you anxious when getting the lights out. But fear not - the job's a snap if you follow these simple steps.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Christmas Decorations
• Christmas Tree Lights
• Christmas Tree Skirts
• Christmas Trees
• Tree Stands
• Extension Cords
• Ladders
• Ladders

1. Set up your tree in a tree stand.

2. Get out all your Christmas lights. Join the strings together and test the lights. Replace any dead or dying bulbs and make sure the cord isn't damaged.

3. Unplug the cord.

4. Climb on a chair or stepladder, if necessary, and attach the socket end of the cord to the top of the tree.

5. Walk around the tree, barely tucking the cord into the branches in a gradually lowering spiral. (Make sure the plug end will reach the electrical socket. You can use an extension cord if you need to.)

6. Step back and take a look: Are the rows basically even? Will the whole tree be lit? Make any necessary adjustments.

7. Climb back on the chair and repeat your spiral pattern, this time attaching the cord to the branches (if applicable). Tuck the cord in to hide it as much as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Always unplug the cord before messing with the lights. If the cord is damaged (chewed on by your brother's pet hamster, for example) replace it; frayed wires are a fire hazard.

Resources

• Santa Letters
• Christmas Recipes

[ab2000us]

on 12/11/2008 If you want to get the perfect lit tree, stand about 10 feet away and squint. It will allow you to see all of the gaps more clearly. Trust me, it works. My Grandmother taught me this a couple of years ago and it works great.

on 11/22/2005 Be sure to get many lights deep inside, near the trunk. This gives more dimension to the view. Also, be sure to include ornaments deep inside (especially in the sparse branch areas). The inside lights will reflect nicely on the inside ornaments. Before putting on the ornaments, turn off all the room lights, step back about 10 feet, and squint. This will give you an idea of the evenness of color distribution, etc.

on 11/22/2005 I've found the quickest method to getting lights on a tree is to first unstring a set of lights. Then, holding the end with the plug, loop the string in your hand (you should end up with the lights in a circle about 1 foot long).

Starting at the top of the tree, begin spiraling the lights around and at the same time, weave them over and under the branches near the edge of the tree. Attach new strings and repeat as necessary.

on 11/22/2005 I have a Christmas tree extension cord (the one with multiple outlets on the cord). I took it and attached it to the trunk of our artificial tree with zip ties (green, of course). Our tree came with extra twigs to cover up the metal pole (trunk). Just wrap some of these around to cover it up. I keep it on the trunk when we put it away and it's there for next year!

on 11/22/2005 Before I set my tree up on my expensive bare floors, I put a thick bathmat or bath towel folded in half under the tree stand. I then set my tree up in the middle of my room on the bathmat. I add the lights before sliding the tree into place, whether it's in the corner or in front of the window. The towel or mat makes it so easy to slide the tree in place and protects my flooring from scratches.