Christmas Light Styles
Fairy lights are the traditional choice and are most suitable for indoor use. They are best to achieve a pretty, delicate and twinkling look. They are prone to knotting and damage, so care is required when hanging and storing.
Light up ornaments include wire structures and frames in shapes like reindeers, polar bears and gift boxes, which are wrapped in lights. Most varieties are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. They are versatile and easy to use, just sit them on your lawn, your porch or in your hallway to create your very own winter wonderland.
Rope lights consist of LED bulbs inside a transparent vinyl pipe. They are the most hardwearing and weatherproof option. They are also particularly easy to hang and store, and less likely to knot and suffer from loose bulbs. The versatility of the rope light makes it ideal for many applications but its rugged appearance makes it most suitable for outdoor use, e.g. along the bottom of a roof, around a pillar or a tree. The vinyl protects the lights but also means the bulbs cannot be changed, which is why LEDs are used for their very long life.
Christmas Light Decorating Tips
Follow our tips to hang your lights like a professional for a wow effect this year.
- We recommend using 100 - 150 bulbs for every foot of your tree, i.e. a 6ft tree would require Christmas lights with 600 – 900 bulbs to look best. Whether you go for the smaller or larger amount depends on your personal preference. If you prefer to have more room for hanging baubles and ornaments or if you prefer to have more foliage seen, go for less bulbs. If you prefer a strong twinkling effect, go for more bulbs.
- Always test your lights before hanging them. If your lights aren’t working, it’s better to find out before you go to the effort of mounting them. It is also easier to fix any faulty bulbs before they are in position.
- Instead of wrapping the lights around the tree, it is better to divide the tree into three triangular sections from top to bottom, and to hang the lights one section at a time.
- Regularly take a break from hanging your lights and plug them in to check your progress and see if there are any unsightly gaps.
- When hanging lights outdoors, use clips, loops and hooks rather than tacks and nails to avoid damaging the wires.
- If you’re going for a very large and bright garden display, it is courteous to let any close-by neighbours know your plan first.
Safety Tips
Poorly installed Christmas lights pose a fire risk which can be easily avoided. Here are our tips for the safe installation and management of your Christmas lights.
- Never leave lights turned on while unattended. Always turn off the lights before you leave the house and when going to bed.
- Do not overload extension leads and adapters. Please see our How to Guide “How to Use Extension Leads” for information on the safe and proper use of extension leads.
- When buying lights, choose ones that have been tested and deemed safe and carry a European CE mark. This will be noted on the packaging.
- Replace bulbs promptly and with the correct type and voltage.
- Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plug.
- Carefully visually check lights, wires and leads for cracks, frayed ends or loose connections before use. Signs of damage are a warning that use of the lights may be unsafe.
- Only ever hang lights outdoors that are deemed suitable for outdoor use on their packaging.
For more information on the best Christmas Lights for your home, ask any member of the team who are here to help and happy to advise.
Article source: www.topline.ie