Outdoor Christmas Lights

Christmas decorations have become more elaborate over the years, and Christmas lights  are no exception. Christmas enthusiasts of all kinds have made this hobby a passion, and the variety of lights available to consumers reflects this. This is great news for the rest of us - the more intricate the lights, the more fun it is for us to watch!

The Basics

There are a few standard lighting arrangements that you'll find are most common around the holidays.

Stringed Lights	Icicles	Mini Lights	Net Lights

Making It Fun - Christmas Light Figures

You can buy your favorite Christmas characters fully lit, ready to put on your front lawn and impress your neighbors. Pre-made figures  can be found in shapes of anything from Santa to Spongebob Squarepants, and it's a great deal of fun to try and have the most unique figures in your neighborhood. Here are some of the more popular figures.

Santa Claus	Snoopy	Angels

Buying Tips

Before buying lights for your home, measure the space(s) that you want to be lit. To make sure that you have enough slack, add about 40 yards to this measurement. Also measure any trees or bushes you plan to put lights on.

For trees, expect to use somewhere around 75 lights per feet of height (double the number if you're using miniature lights). Net lights work well on bushes, and can save you a lot of time and money. No matter the number of lights you use, only use lights that are specifically designed for outdoor use. These use a specific amount of wattage that makes the lights safe to endure the potential harshness of the winter. This wattage also allows for the bulbs to be brighter and longer lasting. When shopping, look for lights that can be plugged into eachother, especially if you're using chasing lights. Having too many lights independent of eachother creates a large mess of strings that all need to be plugged in somewhere.

If you're using stringed lights, try to use shorter strings. This will make it easier to replace the lights if they go out in one isolated situation.

Staying Safe

If you're not careful, your Christmas lights could prove to be a serious fire hazard. To keep you and your loved ones safe during the holidays, here are a few guidelines to follow when shopping for outdoor lights.

• Only buy lights that are labeled specifically for outdoor use.
• Buy lights that bear the seal of an independent testing lab, and follow their directions for installation and use.
• Connect your lights to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupting (GFCI) outlet. If you don't have one in your home, contact an electrician for installation.
• Don't use nails or staples to secure lights to any part of your home.
• Avoid causing any damage to the wires by closing doors or windows on extension cords or lights themselves.
• Absolutely do not overload your extension cords, and check new and used lights before plugging in.

External Links

eHow.com - How to Buy Outdoor Christmas Lights

eBay Guides  - Christmas Lights

Mygreathome.com - Light Up The Holidays - The Safe Way