subject: Tips For Putting Up Outdoor Christmas Decorations [print this page] Tips For Putting Up Outdoor Christmas Decorations
The days of the father perched high on an unstable ladder trying to put up the outdoor Christmas decorations while his wife holds on at the bottom trying to keep Dad from falling and hurting himself is gone. Today, putting out the outdoor decorations can be easy and provide family fun. However, to make the experience a family experience, there are some things to remember.1. Put safety first. If you must use a ladder keep it as far away from overhead lines as possible. Power lines and metal ladders go together like oil and water. Use only UL-approved outdoor electrical lines and displays. All UL-approved labels will be displayed on the package and will also have a tag on the electrical cord. Try to use as few cords as you possibly can and make sure to keep them out of the way of traffic.2. Have a plan for the lighting. Decide before hand where you want to put your lights and then lay any cords out ahead of time. Be sure to measure the area you want to put lights up, that way you can make sure you buy the right length of lights. Lights are probably the least expensive outdoor Christmas decorations and the best way to decorate a large area, and lights are sold in many different lengths. You do not want to end up with 10 or 15 feet of lights you don't know what to do with. Also, plan your light colors, and if you want to use icicle type hanging cord lights or single bulb string lights. Uniformity looks the best.3. Use energy efficient outdoor Christmas decorations. Lighted non-cord wreaths are available. Solar-powered candy canes look good down the edge of a driveway or walkway. LED lighting is becoming more popular all the time and provides bright efficient lighting.4. You can choose many different options like inflatable, animated and even silhouette displays. Animated displays are enjoyable, and the movement of the lights portraying movement can present many different displays. The slow movement of the electrical powered silhouette reindeer and the lighted outline of trees and other outdoor decorations add lots of color. You can show many different possibilities with inflatable displays. You can have your favorite cartoon characters in a plastic bubble with a blizzard of Styrofoam snowflakes spinning around. Or display outdoor Christmas decorations with a lighted nativity scene with angels, barnyard animals and wise men.Involve your family no matter how you decorate. Get them to help with the planning and putting up the displays. Better holiday memories will result if you do not try to tackle outdoor Christmas decorations alone.
