How to hang outdoor Christmas lights like a pro

All across the UK, people are adorning their homes with the sparkle that only outdoor Christmas lights can bring. Much like buying a Christmas tree, it’s a staple of the British Christmas season and something that we all enjoy.

If you’re interested in adding to the festivities with a Christmas light display of your own, you’ll need to go about things the right way. And that’s the case whether you’re hanging a few lights or building a massive, dazzling display.

This isn’t just about making sure your Christmas lights look good, but about protecting your personal well-being – and keeping your home safe from accidents.

What you’ll need

Before diving into decorating, assemble everything you’ll need to safely hang your outdoor lights. For most people, that includes:

• Outdoor Christmas lights

Choose between mains-powered and battery-powered lights. In both cases, they should be capable of holding up against wintery weather.

• Gutter hooks or decorating clips

If you want to hang Christmas lights without hammering nails into your home, you’ll need gutter hooks or decorating clips. Both do the job as long as you have the right amount.

• A sturdy ladder

Hanging lights on your home usually means climbing up to some precarious positions. To do this, you’ll need a tall, stable ladder that you can trust underfoot.

• A tape measure

Rough estimations lead to excess cabling and bare spots that just look bad. Make sure you grab a lengthy tape measure to save yourself a few headaches.

Getting started

So, you’ve gathered the right materials – let’s begin.

Check your outdoor lights

Start by checking your Christmas lights. Are they actually suitable for outdoors? Even high-quality indoor lights are no substitute for weatherproof outdoor lights, especially considering how British weather gets during the festive period.

If you’re satisfied they’re meant for outdoors, now is the time to test them. After all, the last thing you want is to spot a broken bulb once the lights have been hung. LED bulbs do last well, but if they’ve been used year after year, they might have given out.

Plug the lights in while they’re still on the ground, taking care to inspect each and every bulb. If you’re not using mains-powered lights, give your lights a try with fresh batteries. 

When you spot any issues, you can quickly replace the bulbs using the spares you should have received at the time of purchase.

If there are loads of busted bulbs, you’ll probably need to buy some new Christmas lights altogether.

Plan your lighting display

Where do you want to hang lights on your property?

Most people set up lights along the roofline, but there are many other places you might consider on top of this. Porches, windows, and other exterior elements of your home – not to mention your garden – could all be used for hanging lights.

Head to the road in front of your house to get a clear perspective on how others will view your home. Once you’ve picked your spots, it’s time to get a little more precise.

You’ll need to measure the width and height of every area where you want to hang lights using your tape measure. Keep in mind that you should include the distance from your power sockets to these areas, too, if you’re planning on using mains-powered lights.

If your lights aren’t going to reach far enough, consider using an extension lead – alongside a weatherproof box – to make up the distance. 

Hang the lights (carefully!)

By this point, you should have your display mapped out. Now for the exciting bit – hanging your lights!

Safety first

Hanging your Christmas lights is good fun, but can be hazardous. Keep these safety tips in mind before you get started:

• Always use a strong ladder when hanging lights in high places

• Place the ladder on a sturdy, stable surface where you can work from safely 

• Make sure an adult is keeping the ladder secure at all times

How to install Christmas lights the easy way

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to decorating your home for Christmas. It’s actually a great chance to flex your creative muscles.

With that said, it might make sense to start with the edges when you begin hanging your Christmas lights. This gives you an outline that you can continue to add to as you go on.

Step 1

You’ll need to grab some gutter hooks or decorating clips at this point. Attach them directly to the surface you’re decorating, taking care to make sure they’re fastened securely.

For heavier installations, like icicle lights, you should space your hooks or light clips every 30cm. Other lighter installations only need them every 50cm. If you’re feeling doubtful, keep them closer together.

You can easily calculate the number of hooks or clips you’ll need by dividing the length of the cable by the distance between each clip. For example, for a 10-metre cable (1000cm) with clips every 50cm, you’d need 20 clips.

Step 2

Once the hooks or clips are in place, you can begin to fit the lights. Plug the lights into your chosen socket and then work backwards, fitting the cable as you go.

The cable shouldn’t have much room to wiggle or hang loosely, nor should it tug on the power socket. This should help you avoid any accidents and enhance the look of your display.

Carefully move across your display area, attaching the cable as you go. Once you’ve reached the end, use a final gutter hook or decorating clip to fasten the cable in place.

Step 3

Now’s the time to step back and assess your hard work. How does it look?

If there are any sagging cables or unevenly spaced bulbs, this is the best time to make alterations. 

Once you’re satisfied with the look of your lights, you can turn them on and admire the results. 

Step 4

With the outline completed, take the time to fill out the rest of your home’s outdoor Christmas decorations. 

You can try different patterns and styles with lights, while a Christmas wreath, window lights, and Christmas inflatables are sure to make your home look suitably festive.

When attaching items to flat surfaces, use adhesive decorating clips instead of nails. Suitable for lights and most other outdoor Christmas decorations, these handy components will save you some work once you’re through the festive season.

What about hanging lights on outdoor trees and plants?

Want to decorate your outdoor Christmas trees and plants with lights? No problem!

Step 1

Take the same earlier steps used to check that your lights are working and that any cables are going to reach the trees and plants being decorated. 

We don’t want to hang lights that either won’t work or fit properly.

Step 2

Now that you’re sure the lights are working and will reach the trees and plants you’re decorating, take hold of one end of the cable.

This will be the first part of the cable you attach.

Step 3

Working your way down from the top of the tree, wrap the cable securely around branches in a spiralling or zig-zag fashion. 

The style you choose partly depends on which parts of the display will be visible.

Step 4

Space out the lights evenly until you reach the end of the cable, then loosely wrap some excess cable to a branch. This should make sure the lights stay in place.

Take the lower end of the cable over to the socket and plug it in. For battery-powered lights, just make sure the end of the cable is well fastened to a branch.

Step 5

Again, step back and take a look at your handiwork. Are the lights evenly spaced? Turn them on and see if you’re happy with the results.

If you want to make any adjustments, turn the lights off and carefully move the cable to avoid ruining your hard work.

How to avoid accidents when hanging Christmas lights

Hanging lights can be a fun festive activity, yet there’s a chance you could do yourself a mischief if you’re not careful. Here are some of the most likely accidents – and how to avoid them.

Falling off your ladder

Stepping onto a ladder is a hazardous business at the best of times. When you’re outside in the cold, wet and wind and stretching to hang your lights, it becomes even more dangerous.

Many people suffer nasty falls – and even serious injuries – doing this, so stay vigilant. Make sure someone secures the ladder’s base, and don’t attempt to reach parts of your home that are inaccessible.

Of course, hanging festive lights during nasty weather conditions is something you should avoid too!

Electrical fires

Many indoor fairy lights and outdoor Christmas lights are produced and sold cheaply. Unfortunately, this brings their safety into question.

Inexpensive lights could be unsafe to use – so it might be worth spending more on some higher-quality installations. If the lights fail after short-circuiting, it could easily set your home ablaze.

Even well-made lights have the potential to cause fires, either through age or overuse. Carefully check the condition of your light strands before you hang them, and make sure you follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions at all times.

Electrical shocks

Cheaply made or damaged lights could give you an electrical shock if the internal insulation fails. 

Again, this is a situation where paying more for higher-quality lights makes sense. You’ll also want to assess the condition of previously used lights to ensure they’re safe to handle after being turned on.

Mind your head

Many modern LED Christmas lights are made from lightweight materials, but that’s not always the case.

Glass lights, in particular, are heavier, and could cause an injury if they drop on someone. Be mindful of where you’re placing light installations, and think about whether they pose a risk.

You can easily avoid potential accidents by making sure your lights are firmly secured using decorating clips and gutter hooks.

Enjoying your festive lights, finally

With all this information, you should have a firm grasp on how to hang outdoor Christmas lights. Follow the steps we’ve laid out and you’ll have a sparkling display that’s the envy of your neighbours.

Installing Christmas lights can be a tricky business, with falls, fires, and even shocks all possible. If you’re feeling unsure about installing lights yourself, you can always lean on a professional instead. 

Whether you need help hanging Christmas lights or other festive decorations, start by browsing your local options or posting a free enquiry on Yell – and get it sorted quickly.