Here are some ideas to light up this holiday season. In this article I'll offer you some tips for planning your outdoor lighting project this season. Then I'll give you some unique ideas you might want to try this year. I will also offer you some safety tips to help keep this season happy and bright.
Tips for outdoor lighting.
The first thing you need to do is plan. Walk around your yard with pen and paper in hand and jot down the ideas you have for this project. Now make a list of the following: 1 What lights do you need for this project? 2 Where will you plug them in? 3 How many extension cords and adapters will you need? You'd be surprised how much time you'll save writing this little bit of information down on paper. Answering these few questions will save you many trips back and forth to Home Depot or Lowe's.
Consider using timers and photocells. These devices will keep you from having to run out in the cold to turn your lights on or off and they will help you save electricity by automatically turning your lights off in the day.
You are probably going to have several cords that you will be trying to plug into one outlet. First follow the safety tips below and make sure that all the lights and chords you're using are rated for outdoor use. Then try this; take an old plastic container with a lid, one big enough to accommodate a three-way or five way plug. Then cut a couple holes in the side of the container to allow your extension cords to pass to the inside after you plug in your records cover the container with a lid. This will help keep all your connections dry.
If you are to have outdoor lighting installed as part of your landscape design one quick and easy way to add some holiday cheer to your lighting is to simply change the color of some of your existing light bulbs.
Some bright ideas.
Window planter boxes are easy to decorate for the holidays. Try stuffing them with bows of Holly or pine branches then add some Christmas lights and you're done.
Another easy idea to bring Christmas outdoors is to place a Christmas tree I'm your front porch or in your front yard. Try decorating it with some frosted pine cones and some bird ornaments, something to give it an outdoor theme. You can also try wrapping the base with some burlap for a nice effect. Another great Christmas tree idea is to buy a dead tree that the pine needles are already falling off of. You'll be surprised how cheap the dead tree is. When you get it home shake all the pine needles off and when it's bare spray paint it red. Then decorate it and display it on your front porch or front lawn.
A simple arch for your front lawn is easy to make. Using some wire rod or quarter inch PVC pipe make an arch by sticking one end of the pipe or Rod into the ground and bending the other hand over to create an arch and then anchor that end in the ground. Once you formed your arch wire tie or zip tie any kind of branches or grass you want to the arch. Then they had some lights and your done.
Birdbaths are nice lawn decorations; for the holiday season try stacking a bunch of shiny bulb ornaments on top of your birdbath. Then wrap your birdbath with icicle style lights and that's it. During the day the bulbs will shine in the sun and night the lights will create a nice sparkling effect.
For your parties try some light up beverage glasses. There are all kinds of wine glasses, martini glasses, shot glasses and pitchers that have battery run LED lights built in. These can add some Christmas bling to your party.
Safety tips.
Stay safe this season. Always check the UL listing for the lights and cords you intend to use. Your lights and records must be rated for outdoor use if you intend to use them outdoors. There is a difference between outdoor cords and indoor cords and outdoor lights and indoor lights. Don't run records through the doors or windows. When you close the window or door on the cord you run the risk of making the cord and damaging the protective outer sheathing. LED Christmas lights are becoming more and more popular with more and more choices available every year. You should consider replacing your old lights with LED lights. LED lights use less electricity and they don't get hot. You are much less likely to start a fire with LED Christmas lights.
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