by An EverLights holiday light installation comes to life with a certain kind of enchantment. Those first brilliant lights appear to be saying every year, “Yes, the season’s finally here!!” Your house needs some TLC to get ready for the glow, though, even before you start pulling apart the complex box of lights or consulting experts. Although the prep isn’t all sparkle and shine, it’s what keeps the twinkle looking crisp and stress-free all season.
Start outside, at the very beginning. Count your gutters, eaves, and roof edges. Holiday décor does not combine well with leaves, nests, or mystery trash from last spring. Not only does cleaning these places improve curb appeal. If electrical lines are close by, clogged gutters might mean water pooling into areas it shouldn’t be in, which causes drama.
Look closely at your electrical outlets next as well. Installation of outdoor holiday lights depends on grounded, safe outlets. Now is the moment you should have looked at them since last December. Your friend here are GFCI outlets; they will turn off should something go wrong. Do not risk it if you come upon an outlet that seems worse for wear. Arrange an electrician familiar with exterior wiring.
Turning now to the measuring tape. It is a hero dressed differently. Too-short light strands or miles of additional wire snaking around shrubs might throw off your plans (and your mood). Jot those figures down after walking your planned path, measuring those straight lines, dips, and corners. Future-you will appreciate you not trying to string the remaining three feet of roofline out of thin air.
While you are about it, check your landscaping. Hanging lights can be interfered with by hedges, plants, or that aggressive climbing vine. Trim them. Make room for amazing displays as well as extension cords. For a simple, less frustrating method if you are working with especially bushy plants, try sketching them instead of wrapping.