Here’s How to Prepare Your Outdoors & Home for Christmas Décor

There’s something magical about a holiday stroll through the neighbourhood to take in all the outdoor Christmas decorations. Decorating your outdoor space is a great way to get into the festive spirit and build community. Before you roll out the holly, set yourself up for success. Plan ahead, start before cold weather sets in, and check out these tips to prep your yard for the big show.

Outdoor Christmas Lights

From twinkling eaves to glowing pathways, getting your home decked out for the holidays starts with lights. A little prep and planning will have you stringing outdoor lights like a pro.

Outdoor lighting with lit up christmas tree

Brightly coloured christmas lights outside a home

Power Consumption

Before you start stringing lights, you’ll need to consider your home's electrical capacity. Everything that plugs into your outdoor electrical outlets typically runs on one circuit. If you don’t have enough capacity, you risk tripping breakers. To calculate the total watts of string lights, multiply the watts per bulb by the number of bulbs. To figure out the amperage, divide the total wattage by 120 volts. If you are unsure of your electrical capacity, consult a qualified electrician. Here’s more to consider:

The more light bulbs on a string, the more electricity you need
You can only string together so many incandescent mini-lights, so you may need extra outlets and outdoor extension cords
LED string lights use little power and you can connect many more strings than with incandescent lights
Set outdoor Christmas lights on a timer or using app-controlled smart lights to save electricity
Consider outdoor solar lights for areas far from outlets

Someone plugging in Christmas lights to extension cord

Yard Decorations

Whether you opt for a traditional outdoor nativity set or a showy display of Christmas inflatables, your yard is another place to let your creativity shine.

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Rooftop Decorations

Christmas roof decorations can be stunning, but installation requires a safety-first approach. You’ll need a safety harness, a sturdy extension ladder, and a spotter. If your rooftop is steeply pitched (greater than 45 degrees) you should skip the holiday treatment. Here are a few more things to consider:

Wear non-slip safety footwear and work gloves
Inspect and repair shingles, eaves and gutters ahead of time
Check and test extension cords and rooftop Christmas lights in advance
Never staple or nail your shingles: use shingle and ridge clips to secure outdoor Christmas decorations and lights
Keep a three-foot buffer between the chimney and any decorations
If you plan to put up the same rooftop Christmas decorations every year, consider hiring a qualified roofer to install permanent mounts that won’t damage your roof

Prepping your yard early for Christmas décor will help avoid last-minute scrambling. Have a vision, make a plan, and get everything you need ahead of time. Once the heavy lifting is out of the way, it will be much easier to get decorating and into the Christmas spirit.

Lighting & Electrical Winter Installation Holidays & Celebrations Design

Here’s How to Prepare Your Outdoors & Home for Christmas Décor

Outdoor Christmas Lights

Yard Decorations

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