Exterior holiday decorations are a beloved tradition every year, as homeowners and businesses deck the halls (and the doors, and the windows and trees) with festive décor.

Number one on the list of exterior decorations: lights. But there’s a way to go about hanging lights that makes life, and cleanup, a lot easier. Just ask Dennis Cooke, a Cypress Landing resident who, along with his wife Mary Jane, turn the exterior of their home into a winter wonderland — much to the awe of neighbors and passersby.

The following are recommendations for hanging Christmas lights, with Cooke’s tried and true methods thrown in for good measure.

 

When to hang lights

The best time to hang outdoor lights is before the weather gets especially cold and wet. Some people like to hang their lights before Thanksgiving, while others hang their lights on the days after Thanksgiving. No matter when you hang your holiday lights, make sure you do so when the conditions outside are comfortable and safe.

Though many wait until Thanksgiving to hang lights, or others like the Cookes and get started early: in September.

 

Check your bulbs and make a plan

Remove the lights from storage and inspect them to check for bulb outages or frayed wires. Set the groundwork by running and attaching extension cords and setting up any timers you plan to use.

Cooke tends not to go with a hard plan when it comes to stringing lights on the evergreens surrounding the house.

“I start at the top, intertwine them, up and down, around the branches,” Cooke said. “I want it to look kind of natural — just kind of random.”

He runs three extension cords from the house, each plugging into a power stake with several grounded outlets. All his lights are on timers, which is one way to conserve energy, as lights will never mistakenly be left on overnight.

 

Measure, then measure again

If this is the first time you are lighting up your home’s exterior or if you are trying a new lighting scheme, use a tape measure to determine the width and height of the area you will cover. Then measure the length of each strip of lights you will use. Multiply accordingly to best estimate how many strings of lights will be needed. It’s much less stressful to have an extra box of lights on hand than to realize when you’re up on the roof that you have run out of lights and need to purchase more.

Generally speaking, Cooke uses 600 to 800 lights per outlet — usually about six 100-count strings of lights. At this point, he knows exactly how many strings of lights go where, but just in case, he has plenty: over 100 strings.

 

Easy on, easy off

Invest in a few packages of light clips or nail-on fasteners. These devices attach to the gutters or siding to make it much easier to string up lights. If they are inconspicuous, some clip styles can be left up for several years, saving you more time in the years to come. Space the clips about 12 inches apart, or as needed to keep the lights taut. Do not use staples or nails to hang lights, as they can wear away at the wire covering and insulation, creating an electrical fire hazard.

Another time saver are the plastic Christmas light reels that can be bought cheaply at any big home improvement store. Cooke has 15 of such reels and parses out lights per tree as he unwinds. Cleanup ought to be a breeze.

 

Lights out?

Remember to pay attention to the electrical load limit for the outlet. Do not connect too many strings of lights together. If necessary, use multiple outlets and ensure the outlet and a timer (if used) can handle the combined amperage of all the light strings.

“That’s the hardest part — to make sure I don’t put too many that I would blow fuses,” Cooke said. “You have to make sure not to overload any particular circuit.”

Each of Cooke’s three extension cords that end at the yard transformers is plugged into a separate circuit at the Cooke house — so the Cookes don’t end up in the dark.