Have you ever curled up under the blankets on your warm, cozy couch to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and thought, “I can do that, no problem!”? Or maybe you thought the movie just threw up on your neighbor’s lawn. And every night after work you’re forced to drive past it, deniably admitting that a little bit of jealousy faintly brushes over you.
While nothing screams Christmas more than homes illuminated with bright lights and decorations, it can be difficult to figure out how to kickoff this craziness. Luckily, there are plenty of tips and 
tricks on how to express your holiday spirit this season by starting this fun tradition on your own home.
Glamorize your yard with decorative shapes.
Different shapes, such as a Moravian stars or snowflakes, helps break up the cliché stream of lights lining the rims of your gutters. By randomly grouping them together in odd numbers you’ll create an appealing visual effect that will have onlookers ogling over your display. Don’t feel like buying extra shapes? Utilize objects around the house that aren’t seeing much attention during these chilly days. Old bikes or vintage cars make great subjects that highlight your quirkiness! (Harvey, 2014)
Wrap walkways, branches, tree trunks, hedges and more with lights.
Those twinkles around your house aren’t just meant to line your rooftop! Take advantage of those bushes softening the hard lines of your yard. Throwing a set of net lights over them are a great, easy way to get a warm lighted look without all the hassle. Rope lights are a perfect solution to cast light onto your walkway, making your home more inviting for company to safely make their way up to the house! Wrap branches and tree trunks like a candy cane to add dimension and balance to your picture. If you feel like being more of a free spirit, take the muffin cups you shoved to the back of your kitchen drawers, cut a hole in the center, and poke a bulb through it. Do this with a string of lights and wrap them around your railings and porch posts for making your composition feel magical! (Bernard, n.d.)
Place unlit decorations in bare spots.
While lights are good at illuminating structures, you don’t want to be that guy that makes people pull out their sunglasses as they drive by! Design your own art installation and allow the glow from your lighting display to showcase your creations. Get festive and create a snowflake marquee to add to your front yard (see how here). Or, if you’d rather take the traditional route you can also place garland around your bench or porch railings.
Decorate your grand entry.
Create an eye-catching threshold by dressing it up with a “joy” sign that puts life back into that wreath you’ve been using for the last 20 years (here is one example). Garland, ribbon, or even ornaments also work well! Don’t forget to keep in mind how your decorations will look from the street; too many items may cause a cluttered look.
Set your lights to the beat of the music.
Bring in a new dimension of entertainment to your lights display by adding music. You may need to have someone in the family that is tech savvy and has a bit of time on their hands for this, but is totally worth it once completed! Coordinating the flashing of the lights with music will have everyone buzzing about your house!
Christmas lights have become a staple to the holiday’s décor. Get the best bang for your buck and a jump start on the neighborhood competition before next Christmas by buying your lights after the Christmas holiday’s this year! Just remember that having the best lights display in town may come with a lot of attention, so be sure your yard is well maintained!
Keeping Your Property Neat And Trim
Our dedicated employees and commitment to high quality work help us stand out. If you are in need of a trusted landscape company to work with you and alleviate your landscape headaches, look no further. We serve commercial properties throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area with an extensive list of landscape maintenance services. Give us a call at 314-770-2828 or use our simple contact form to discuss your landscape maintenance needs.
From Sites We Love:
Bernard, S. (n.d.). 7 Ideas for Using Christmas Lights to Brighten Up Your Outdoor Summer Party. Retrieved from The Stir: http://thestir.cafemom.com/home_garden/156682/7_ideas_for_using_christmas
Gummerman, L. (n.d.). A Beautiful Mess. Retrieved from Giant Snowflake Light-Up Marquee: http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/11/giant-snowflake-light-up-marquee.html
Harvey, K. (2014, October 28). Top 10 Outdoor Christmas Lights Ideas. Retrieved from Christmas Lighst Etc.: http://blog.christmaslightsetc.com/decorating/top-10-outdoor-christmas-lights-ideas/
The Great Canadian Wreath Hop – JOY Outdoor Wreath Sign. (2013, November 25). Retrieved from Fynes Designs: http://www.fynesdesigns.com/the-great-canadian-wreath-hop-joy-outdoor-wreath-sign-2/
