Outside Christmas Decorations

Decorating for Christmas is one of the best parts of the holiday season. Here are some simple tips that will help anyone from a novice designer working on their first yard to old pros who have been decorating for years.

A common question is when you should start decorating. This varies greatly by culture and region, even in the United States. The basic rule, though, is that you can decorate anytime after Thanksgiving. We always do it the second week of December, and I used to have neighbors who would do all of their decorating on Christmas Eve.

Putting up outside Christmas decorations can take hours, or even an entire weekend. The best way to cut down on that time is to start with a good plan. Here are some tips:

1. Stand in your yard and decide how you want it to look. Visualize the display and how it will look at night.

2. Pick a theme. This can be something specific like having all Santa decorations, or something more abstract, such as several displays centered around a tree.

3. Think of colors. All white lights make the display look more elegant, but can get boring for large displays. Large, solid blue, green and red lights give a retro feel and make people think of their own childhoods. Current trends are leaning more towards neon colored led lights, which give a fresh and exciting look.

4. Pick a focal point. This can be an inflatable Santa, a nativity scene, or several lighted reindeer standing around a lit tree. This will give the display more purpose, and will make it much more visually appealing.

5. Choose a wreath. You will want to hang something on your door. This makes the home look inviting, and gives a little decoration during the day when the lights are off.

6. Once you decide on the basics, measure the areas where you will put lights so that you know how much to buy. You do not want to have to go back to the store to pick up another set of lights, only to find that the color you need has sold out!

7. Decide how you will hang your lights. If hanging from the roof, climb up and look at the edge of the roof before going to the store. Stores will have several types of hooks, and you want to be sure they will fit your roof before going to buy them.

8. Check your power. Where are your outlets, and do you have enough power cords to reach the strings of lights and displays? You should also make sure you have a timer that will automatically turn the lights on and off. A good rule of thumb is to keep them on from dusk until midnight.

Once you have your plan together, then it's just a matter of heading to the store, picking up your decorations, and setting them up.

And do not forget, Christmas decorations are for Christmas, and should be taken down no later than one week after the New Year.

By following the above tips, you should be able to create a great looking outside display that you will get to enjoy through the entire season.

Merry Christmas!