The holiday season is upon us! With so much going on this time of year, it can be easy to put off decorating the outside of your home. It may seem like a daunting task, but with a few tricks up your sleeve, decking out your home can be an exciting tradition you look forward to every year. We’ve created a guide to outdoor holiday decorating that will make it easier to have the most-festive house on the street.
Out with the Old! Before you start, get rid of any decorations that are broken or not functioning properly. You are better off tossing them beforehand so you don’t accidentally use them up or put them back in storage for yet another year. Are only one or two bulbs causing a problem? Invest in a Christmas light tester, they not only tests bulbs, they fix them too, saving entire strands of lights!
Save Some Money. Including lights in your outdoor holiday display can leave you with a sky-high electricity bill at the end of the month. To keep it in check, purchase a timer that automatically turns them on and off at selected times. Consider LED lights, which last longer and are more energy efficient than traditional ones. Battery-operated lights are also a great alternative.
Minimize Damage. Wreaths can be hard to hang without damaging your door or using an unsightly hook that ruins the aesthetic. Rather than attaching it to the front of your door, hang your wreath discreetly and with minimal damage from the top. Just open your door, drill a small screw on top, flush enough so your door will still close. Then simply tie fishing line from the screw to your wreath on the other end. With the fishing line and screw out of sight, your wreath will look as if it is effortlessly floating! Save more than your door: Hang lights and garland on columns, poles, railings and fences with zip ties that can easily be removed at the end of the holiday season.
Consider Outlets. Make sure to locate your outdoor outlets before you put any lights or other decorations up. Measure distances and the length of your lights to gauge if an extension cord is needed. If you have areas of your house that cannot be reached, try using battery-operated lights to add to some holiday cheer.
Cheat a Little. If all of this still seems too much but you still want your home to embody the holiday spirit, there is something made just for you! Easy-to-install light projectors cast colors, patterns and shapes wherever you aim them on your home. They’re an affordable and hassle-free way to “decorate” your home for the holidays.
Now that you’ve learned some new outdoor decorating tricks, make sure you keep your holiday decorations safe and in good condition after you to take them down. Contact the storage professionals at Secure Self Storage and find the perfect place for all your holiday decorations today!