Have you driven around your neighborhood at Christmas and been amazed and delighted at the bright and sometimes even theatrical displays of outdoor Christmas lights in other people’s yards and houses. Don’t be scared, this year decide that you are going to create a little outside magic of your own!

The trick is to start the preparation for hanging the outdoor Christmas lights early, while the weather is still warm! One of the simplest ways of dressing your house is to run strings of hanging icicles around the top of your house. You will need to buy metal hooks and screw these in just under the roof. When it gets to nearer Christmas time all you will then have to do is drape your outdoor Christmas lights over the hooks and switch them on. You can even put up your outdoor Christmas lights in October or November when the weather is milder and just leave them off until it is time to light up. Just make sure to test that they are working before putting them up.

Another easy and effective way to brighten up your yard is to drape outdoor lights around a tree, if you have one, if you do not you can buy an artificial Christmas tree that will last you for years. Make sure that you have a plug nearby to plug your outdoor Christmas lights into and cover the cable so that it cannot be walked on or tripped over. And if you do not fancy leaving your cozy home to turn the lights on and off you can use a battery and timer control. So let this be the year that you make the outside of your house special with your outdoor Christmas lighting.

Decorated trees in yard