Christmas Wreaths For Your Front Door

When it comes to decorating your home for the holidays, there are pretty much two staples you'll want to make sure you have: outdoor Christmas lights and a Christmas wreath for your front door. As soon as you get these items up, not only will you start to feel the spirit of the season start to set in, but your neighbors will too. Before you know it, the whole neighborhood will slowly (sometimes not so slowly!) start to transform into a holiday wonderland!

There are a few things you should keep in mind when setting your home up with these outdoor Christmas decorations. Failing to follow these simple guidelines may lead to your holiday spirit turning quickly into holiday frustration, and no one wants you to go through that. So read on, follow these few simple, basic recommendations, and enjoy your Christmas festivities along with your whole family, friends and neighbors.

First of all, when getting a wreath for your front door, you need to remember that as beautiful as a particular design might look in a magazine, web page or in the store itself, this decoration is going to be on the OUTSIDE of your door. That means it will be exposed to the full fury of whatever Mother Nature decides to dish out this season. And as I'm sure you're well aware, that can sometimes be a pretty mean dish!

So before committing to a particular wreath, make sure it is put together with strong wire and that there aren't any fragile, dainty pieces on it if your front door is in any way directly exposed to the elements. For example, you may not want to have any delicate bows attached if your door can get drenched by rain, freezing rain, sleet etc. Of course if your door is well protected, you can go with pretty much any design you want.

As far as outdoor Christmas lights are concerned, the biggest thing to be aware of is that not all Christmas string lights are designed for use outdoors. Just like the issues mentioned above with the wreaths, you have to take weather conditions into consideration. This is even more critical when you're talking about something that runs on electricity! Don't go cheap and think that you can get by with indoor lights on the outside of your house. If you do, you might just find your holiday light decorations suddenly go dark. Or worse yet, you could even cause a fire or cause someone to get an electrical shock.

How to Decorate With Outdoor Christmas Lights

Hanging Christmas lights is popular and traditional for many families. But, it can be a daunting and frustrating experience. Take the time to plan and hand the Christmas lights in a step-by-step, organized fashion. A little planning can go a long way!

Here's what you need to know to get the Christmas lighting project done without the stress and hassle.

1. Create an Electric Plan. Plan ahead and know exactly what you want to hang lights on, and how you plan to plug them in. Connecting too many strings of lights together can blow fuses (especially the cheaper strings of lights). Plan the set-up by utilizing a couple of electrical outlets.

2. Safety Issues. Clean the dried leaves from gutters and downspouts to alleviate the chance of fires. Make sure the electrical cords are intact and not cracked or torn. Be sure the hooks are secure and provide a sturdy place to attach the lights.

3. Use Proper Tools. Get out the tools you will need for the project. Most likely, you will need a ladder, tape measure, light clips or hooks, decorative lights and extension cords. You might also need a hammer, pliers and a screwdriver.

4. Separate light strands and test the lights. Before hanging any decorations, separate the strands, lay them out across the yard or driveway to get all the twists and kinks out of the strings. Check for broken bulbs and split wiring. Plug in the light strings, and replace any dead bulbs. It's easier to replace burned out bulbs before they are hung and out of reach.

5. Hangers, hooks and clips. Evenly space the hooks or clips along the eaves of your home. Make sure the hooks/clips are attached firmly and spaced far enough apart to keep the light strands from dangling or swinging in the breeze. Usually, 12 inches is about right. Attach all the hooks along the areas you plan to have lights. Don't use staples or nails, because the wires can be split, light strands can be ruined, and potential fire hazards can be created.

6. Hang the lights. Before climbing the ladder, make sure it is on flat ground and has a firm footing. Ask someone to hold the ladder steady. When hanging Christmas lights, be sure to hold the strings up to prevent the weight from the not-yet-hung portion of the strand from pulling off or breaking any clips or hooks.

7. Power Up. Once the lights have been placed securely in the light hooks, plug the strings into the planned outlets. Set timers, if you're using them. Check to be sure there are no extension cords dangling, or hanging wires that could create a safety hazard.

8. All Systems Go. Now it's time to turn on the lights and do a final check for any missing or dead bulbs. If there should be an entire string that isn't working, check the connections before replacing the string. Many times the problem is a bad connection or a burned out light bulb instead of a faulty string, especially if the strand worked before hanging.

9. Enjoy the Show! Pick up any debris and empty boxes, put your tools away, and walk from your house to get a better look at your handiwork. Bet you've got the prettiest light display on your block!