‘Tis the season to be jolly—and cover your house with holiday lights, of course. If you’re getting ready to show off your holiday spirit with a well-lit property, make sure you go about it the right way for best results. That means choosing the right decorations while staying safe as you put them up. You can get started by checking out our holiday lighting tips.

Highlight Your Home’s Best Features

If you want the best look for your house this holiday season, make your property stand out by wrapping lights around the features you want to show off. If you have any arches, a chimney or a beautiful front door, put lights around them. And if you have a nice water fountain, some stunning shrubs or a tall tree, draw attention to them with some holiday lights. Any walkways on your property should also get some lights, or perhaps a few lighted candy canes along the sides.

Make Sure Your Supplies Are Meant for Outdoor Use

Pay attention to the labels on your lights. They should state if they’re meant for indoor and outdoor use or indoor only. Do the same for any extension cords you use for your holiday lights. This detail is important because indoor lights and cords are not meant to withstand extreme weather or get wet, so if it rains or your sprinklers come on, the lights could break, damage your property or hurt anyone who is nearby.

Complement Your Lights with Other Décor

You don’t have to stick to lighting when decorating your house for the holidays this year. In fact, the best displays usually have more than just lights. Once you put lights on your house and around your yard, consider adding a few inflatable characters—such as snowmen, the Grinch or Santa Claus. Then add a wreath to your front door and wrap garlands around any railings or columns on your property.

Stay Safe

Above everything else, keep safety in mind as you decorate the exterior of your house. Inspect every strand of lights to ensure the cords are not cracked and the wires are not frayed. Replace any missing bulbs before you put up the lights. If you have to use a ladder, make sure it’s on a stable, flat surface, and consider having someone else there to keep it steady and hand you your lights. Finally, don’t overload your extension cord by putting more than a few strings of lights together.

If you have any electrical concerns, contact Piper Electric.