First things first. Everyone is standing in the bitter cold, trying to untangle cords while gritting their teeth and using bad language. But the lights in your neighbor’s house shine like they do in a Hallmark movie, with each one in perfect shape. Jealousy hurts, doesn’t it? Forget about that jealousy; this holiday lighting companies tactic will shift the game.
The lights themselves are a good place to start. C7s or C9s for a classic bold look, or minis for a twinkle-fest? Do you want warm white, cool white, or a full rainbow? It doesn’t matter as long as all the bulbs function. Test them inside so that frostbite doesn’t sneak up on you as you fix burnt-out reds.
Here’s the trick now. Get one (or five) boxes of gutter and shingle clips. Don’t be cheap; get the sort that snap on tight, not the flimsy ones that break if you look at them too hard. Put your lights on the ground, plug them in, and make sure that all of the sections are facing the same way. One bulb that is reversed messes up the symmetry of an army. Believe me, no one wants unsteady, uneven lines dancing on their roof.
This is where the magic happens: clipping. Put the clips on the light string first, instead of dashing up and down the ladder like a squirrel on caffeine. Yes, before you get anywhere near the roof, snap each clip onto the bulb socket on the ground. Take that thread, which is already ready, and climb up once. This way, you won’t have to deal with cold fingers and gravity working against you. Every bulb fits exactly into place.
Do corners keep you up at night? Put one clip on the twist and one on the straight edge. Your house will look amazing and geometric, and the bulbs won’t slip. Going in circles around windows? Use painter’s tape to designate where the string should go so it stays straight. It’s like dot-to-dot for grown-ups, but without the crayon stains.
Cords that are longer. Put a label on them. Really. “To Bushes,” “Upstairs Eaves.” When the snow comes and wipes your memories clean, you’ll be glad you did.
One last tip. Set your timer to go off 30 minutes before sunset. That way, the lights come on just as dusk starts to set in, and your neighbors will be left guessing if you’re clairvoyant or simply well organized.
You don’t have to fight with tangled wires until you lose your mind when you put up holiday lights. A little planning, a lot of clips, and some time on the ladder? All of a sudden, everyone on the block wants what you have: warm fingers and a clear mind.