It’s obvious. The most depressing aspect of December for some people is putting up holiday light installation service. Tangles. Sets of steps. Thawn fingers. That one light bulb that won’t turn off. Everyone does it for that enchanted light. Would you believe me if I said that a little trick may rescue both your sanity and your Saturday afternoon?
Let me fill you in: Hang light-weight clips from your roofs or gutters. Instead of using hammers, you can avoid catching cables in branches, patch up fewer holes, and save time. Envision yourself clipping lights together with the same ease as assembling Legos! Pushing and snapping are all it takes.
But hold on a second—what about those areas where the siding or brick is completely absent of gutters? Those unassuming kitchen heroes, twist ties, are ready to go. Secure them to any sturdy object, such as fence posts, railings, or hooks, after winding them around the light strands. They are more durable than tape in cold weather gray.
Are you still fighting the insanity that is your jumbled lights? Wait until you’re not red in the face before pulling. To untangle it, take a coat hanger hook and insert it into the knot. Carefully pull the knots apart. On a cold night, with a mug of hot cocoa, it’s strangely pleasant and restorative.
Space is the next topic we’ll cover. Far too many people try to be “Clark Griswold” but instead come out as a disoriented jumble of words. Before anything else, lay the thread down. That will save you from the “just one more inch” dilemma at the end of the strand or from uneven gaps. Before you hang, measure twice. You will be praised by your own future self.
A lot of people really recommend pre-connected sets, which are sets of bulbs that have already been spaced and looped. Like utilizing a cookie frosting stencil, it eliminates the element of guesswork. Quick, easy, and stress-free if you’re attempting to maintain peace on Earth (or at least within the family).
May I offer you some advice? Be sure to plug in the entire string before hanging it. Spending hours on a ladder just to find that half of your screen is completely black is the worst sight imaginable. This is something I’ve learned the hard way twice.
Instead of climbing on top of your house, frame your windows, porches, or even bushes. Its uplifting light is still there, and your knees will be grateful. As an added bonus, fixing or adjusting lights located on the ground is a snap.
The magic is in the recollections, not the hours spent tangled in cables. Oh, these quick cuts? Not fighting with bulbs and bushes, but reclaiming time for hot cider and cookie decorating is what they’re all about. Hey, I’ll keep an eye on those lights if you want to put them up early and use them as patio lighting for the winter.