Lights in Christmas Decorating

Use holiday lights to accent your favorite things.

Use Christmas lights to draw attention to focal points and architectural detail both inside and outside the home. Banish dark spots in the tree with one type of a mixture of holiday lights. Fill corners with small lighted trees on tabletops or in planters. Hide stocking hangers with garland-wrapped lights swagged across the mantle. Create a centerpiece with a large, clear bowl filled with battery-operated lights and silver ornaments.

Christmas Tree Lights

Lights for the Christmas tree come in a variety of styles and sizes, blinking and running, and some even play Christmas carols. C7 or C9 lights are the large bulbs from our childhood. Twinkling or glittering lights provide sparkle as well as color and light. Theme lights include everything from favorite candies to lights shaped as cartoon characters. Look for LED lights for energy efficiency. Make sure the lights don't heat up, and follow the manufacturer's instructions when hooking strings of lights together.

Garlands and Wreaths

Bring dimension and beauty to a fireplace with lighted garlands.

Choose pre-lit garlands and wreaths or add battery-operated lights to them. Swag garlands from mantles, staircases, porches and deck rails. Hang lit wreaths on doorways, lampposts and porch lights. Look for flocked garlands and wreaths for a snow-covered appearance. Make decorating easy and purchase garlands and wreaths pre-decorated with ribbons, bows, pine cones and ornaments.

Exterior Facade

Outline the roof line of the home with lights. Choose from icicle lights (which fall in strings to mimic icicles), miniature lights in any solid color or in multi-colors, rope lights or lit snowflakes and ornaments. Outline entry doors, garage doors and windows. Use universal plastic hangers to attach the lights to the house. Use timers to control when lights are on and off. Plug in lights with extension cords approved for exterior use.

Yard Ornaments

Use holiday lights to replace candles in luminaries.

Decorate the yard with ornaments that light up. Plastic snowmen, Santas, reindeer and elves are readily available. Outline the driveway with small trees that light up. Make a welcoming entrance with a lit topiary on either side of the front door. Hang large snowflakes or ornaments from trees. Bring leafless trees to life by wrapping the tree in Christmas lights. Use lights instead of candles for luminaries. Cut a hole for the lights in the bottom of each bag and slip the bag over the light. Place small rocks on each corner of the bag to keep it stable.

References

• Christmas Central: 33" Lighted Woven Pearl Animated Feeding Doe Christmas Yard Art
• Christmas Lights Etc.: Christmas Wreaths and Garland
• Real Simple: The Art of Christmas Tree Lighting