How to Hang Christmas Tree Lights Like a Pro

Introduction

Everyone loves looking at beautiful Christmas lights during the festive season, and if you want yours to impress everyone that sees them, you need to make sure you hang them properly. We are going to walk you through a step by step process on how to do this like a pro, so read on to learn tips and tricks.

First, what not to do

Before you try putting up Christmas string lights, you need to make sure they are not in a tangle. It is very hard to nicely hang lights when they are knotted and stuck together, so make sure they are prepped and ready for you to get decorating with!

What You’ll Need

Start by working out how many lights you are going to need, and what styles and colors you want to go for. There are lots of options to choose from, from RGB string lights and classic lights, rope lights, net lights, icicle lights, cluster lights to curtain lights. What you want is entirely personal preference, and depends on the space you have available too. A good rule to follow is 100 lights per foot, but if you want more or less that’s good too.

How to Hang Christmas Tree Lights Horizontally

Step one: test before you trim

Make sure all the bulbs are working before you start to hang them. Keep them switched on as you work around the tree so you can spot any dark areas.

Step two: work in loops, not lines

Wrap the lights around the tree in circular motions, and vary their placement for a more professional look. You can tuck some lights deeper into the tree and let other shine brighter on the edge to add depth to the overall look.

Step three: hide the plugs

If you are connecting multiple strands, tuck the green plug deep into the branches to avoid a big gap where one string ends and the next one starts.

Step four: lock the lights in place

If a strand won’t stay in place, use floral wire to secure it to a branch of the tree, making sure any sharp wires are at the back for safety.

Step five: fix any awkward branches

If any branches are sagging, snip it off from behind using floral clippers to perfect the look of the tree.

How to Hang Vertical Christmas Tree Lights

Some prefer to stack their lights vertically not horizontally, and they still make an impressive impact. Darroch Putnam of NYC’s Putnam & Putnam advises you “weave lights upward, branch by branch-not around the trunk. It gives each layer its own glow and adds depth that wrapping can’t match.”

This has to look convincing- he continues: “Don’t just wrap the tree- drape it.” This will make sure that the lights elegantly cascade down in curves from top to bottom, looking effortless yet stunning.

Step one: Visually split the tree into three vertical sections from the trunk to the tip, this will distribute lights evenly layer by layer.

Step two: start weaving lights at the lowest branch, moving inwards and back out towards the top of the tree. Work upwards through each section, filling in any gaps so there aren’t any dark patches.

Conclusion

Use our expert tips to create a stylish, elegant and professional looking Christmas tree this festive season. You can get creative with different Christmas tree lights and methods of hanging them to create something that is unique, and yet will look professional and effortlessly beautiful.