Ten clever Christmas light ways to reduce stress
Whether you want to host a large, flashy light show or a modest display for the holidays, putting up holiday decorations can be stressful. When you want to put on a great show without subjecting anyone to an emotional breakdown, decide how to install things without damaging your home, install lighting the way you want it, and set aside time to celebrate, These are all challenges. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to make the decorating process easier and faster, giving you more time to enjoy the holidays with friends and family.
Make a "reaching stick".
Make a "reaching stick". h2 >
Reachy in use Pole Photo Credit: Becca Lewis
Instead of lugging around a ladder or step stool, you can use what I call a "stretch pole." Used for hanging lights, garlands, and wreaths, this is a barbed rod. If you don't have hooks, you can use the hook side of a wire hanger or similar shaped object. Once set up, you can use it to hang lights and garlands in hard-to-reach places without having to climb a ladder. Store it away when the season is over so you can hang it back up easily.
Pre-installed hooks
Pre-installed "S" hooks for easier access. If you are hanging your lights over the edge of a gutter or other edge, you can use an "S" hook every few feet and secure the lights to the string with electrical tape. With the "Reach Stick" you can push the hook up and let it drop onto the edge of the gutter without having to climb or permanently attach anything to the gutter. To avoid scratching your gutters, you can wrap the hookswith electrical tape or choose hooks with arubber coating.
Strand lights come in strips, not spirals
If you installed the lights on a tree or garland at the end of the season, you will need to remove the lights. You should place the lights on the surface of the branches rather than wrapping them around the branches. For a tree, start at the top of the tree and extend a rope to the top. Then work your way down, placing fairy lights on the branches as you go. This will allow you to distribute the lights more evenly, showing more light per string, and will also make it easier to remove the lights later.
Tag your lights
Tagging light strings to add to your display will help you identify the source of any problems, count the number of strings per circuit, and add them to your display. Keep your light strip organized when you store your lights next year. Using letters first and then numbers when running multiple circuits simultaneously can help you sort it all out and keep your counts accurate. Another benefit of tagging a chain is that it can help you eliminate problems over time. If you have a problem with a skein (such as A-3), you can either resolve the problem later by knowing exactly what skein to look for on the label, or decide to stop using that skein. If you don't want to number the wires, you can also mark the problematic wires with colored tape so they can be easily identified later.
Pre-light your decorations
Light your decorations before hanging them. For garlands and garlands, adding lights and then hanging them means you spend less time on ladders and fiddling with string lights. Test the lights on the floor before you start hanging anything so you can troubleshoot comfortably and safely on a table or floor. You can use Velcro straps, reusable zip ties, or electrical tape to secure the light securely while preventing damage. For tall trees, you can also start attaching lights to the top of the tree before you set it up.
Use smart timers and light strips
Use stripping or attaching lights with smart power to smart control timers that put you in control The light turns on and off without having to access the outlet to which the light is connected. This is especially helpful if you want to hide power strips and cords behind furniture or other hard-to-reach places. Controlling your lights with your phone or smart home hub makes it easier to turn them on and off.
Store lights without damaging them
Wrap lights around a bucket, a garden hose reel , even the outside of the box they come in from. Wrapping lights in a larger object can help prevent them from getting damaged. This method also helps prevent lights from getting tangled, which often results in loose bulbs and failure of the entire string.
Hold the connector firmly.
Prevent connectors Use insulating tape or Velcro to separate the connectors to prevent loosening. Not only does this keep the display bright, it also helps reduce the risk of fires caused by partially connected cables. Making sure the plug is securely connected gives you peace of mind that a loose extension cord isn't slowly warming up somewhere behind the couch.
Use solar options
For outdoor displays consider solar street lights, solar fountain lights and with color-changing bulbs >Solar lanternsto enhance your overall appearance. Solar lights require no batteries or wires, making them a low-maintenance option that adds a touch of colorful light to your garden.
Hide your sins with bows
Use ribbons and other embellishments to hide any large, obvious hooks, connectors, batteries, or other items you don't need. Make festive bows to match your wreaths and garland, and secure them to hanging hardware, Velcro or rope where the connection is obvious. You can tie garlands or other decorations before hanging them so you don't have to haul them up and down a ladder.
To make your Christmas decorating process more efficient, you might want to consider employing some Christmas decorating hacks. For example, using a "reaching stick" can help you hang lights and garlands in hard-to-reach places without the need for a ladder, saving you time and reducing stress. Additionally, pre-installing "S" hooks every few feet on gutter edges allows you to secure lights with electrical tape or hooks with a rubber coating, preventing damage and scratching.
Source: aussiedlerbote.de
