One of my favorite holiday traditions growing up was getting out the box of Christmas lights and putting them up around the outside of the house with my dad. We would get out the ladder and string lights on the gutters of our 1950’s ranch and down the cone shaped evergreens that flanked each side of the house. We’d then throw smaller lights over the square shaped evergreens in front of the house and finish things off with the glowing plastic nativity scene figurines, complete with a homemade evergreen bow stable and manger. All of the lights would be plugged into a single extension cord that terminated at the front door next to the outlet so we could plug them in every night during the holiday season. Once we had everything in place we’d plug them in only to find that half of them didn’t work and we’d begin the process of finding the broken or burnt out bulbs and replacing them. When we were done (which was usually just after dark) we’d stand in the middle of the street and admire our work. It wasn’t quite the Griswold’s house, but it sure was pretty.
Twenty-five years later, holiday lighting and decorating has become almost competitive. Perhaps inspired by Clark Griswold himself, people are littering their yard with giant inflatable snow globes, Santa’s and Rudolf’s. Every tree and shrub is strewn with multi colored lights and some even have their lights set blink to music. Not all of this enthusiasm is bad, some people have taken an artistic approach to lighting their house for the holidays and the result can be absolutely beautiful. When done tastefully and professionally, holiday lighting can bring a sense of warmth and good cheer to the outside of any home. Here are a few holiday lighting tips you can use to give your home a professional look.
Ditch the inflatables! They are easy to set up and do make quite a statement, but classy they are not.
White is OK! Not every string of lights you put up has to be colorful. It’s ok to use white to outline structures and trees, use the colored ones for accents.
Take your time! Wrap tree branches individually. Throwing strings of lights up into trees and over shrubs looks sloppy and careless.
Timing is everything! Set your lights on an outdoor timer. Since most of us don’t get home until after dark this time of year, you’ll be greeted with a beautiful lighting display.
Don’t overdo it! Lighting the roofline, the trees and some of the shrubbery will define and accent your homes architecture, but too much can overwhelm your home and not to mention your energy budget.
Jail Break! Avoid using flood lights colored or otherwise to “accent” your home unless you are trying to keep teenagers from sneaking out late at night.
If you’re planning on lighting the outside of your home this holiday season, remember that the most important thing is to have fun. Take your time and enjoy the experience. It’s a great way to spend time with your kids or someone else whose company you enjoy. Of course, if standing on a 16’ ladder in 30 degree weather while trying to hang lights with freezing cold and numb fingers, you can always call in the professionals. Breckenridge Landscape offers professional holiday lighting for almost any budget.
Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!
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