Twinkling lights, fragrant green wreaths, ribbons and bows ― all these generate that very special, once-a-year feeling of wonder and hope that is only associated with the holiday season. And this year, perhaps more than ever, we all need a little wonder and hope.
Many people have already begun decorating their homes and are putting time, effort, and a lot of love into bringing joy into their neighbourhoods. Holiday lights already line the roads in communities across Calgary, with families bundling into cars for evening drives to find the very best of the displays. As we’ve been instructed to stay home as soon as possible, why not join in and create your very own winter wonderland.
Different types of holiday lights
Opt for LED lights whenever possible for the best long-term usage. Not only are they far easier on your electricity bill (and consequently, your wallet), they are also more durable and practically impervious to colder weather.
Different choices for holiday lights include:
- Classic string lights, which can be used to accentuate rooftops, highlight windows, wrap around shrubs and bushes, and make doorways even more welcoming.
- Icicle lights offer brilliance and a touch of class.
- Lights can do more than just blink these days. They can twinkle, flash, staccato, and even dance to music.
- Projection lights are getting much more popular. They are easy to set up, and can cast all manner of holiday patterns on the side of your house.
- Laser light actually cast patterns into the air, so you can even make it look like it’s snowing when it’s not.
Not only do holiday lights make every season a little more special, you can also help keep your guests from slipping or tripping and falling on steps or stones with the added illumination. They are especially helpful during the extra-long nights of the winter.
Tips for hanging holiday lights
Hanging holiday lights is a tricky business. It’s really not a job that should be done alone, as there is more than likely going to be a ladder involved. Another person can hold the ladder to ensure it’s sturdy, and also hand you the things you need so you aren’t constantly reaching around for things. Another person can also provide that second set of eyes that is so important when decorating anything.
When climbing a ladder, always maintain three points of contact with the steps or sides at all times. This means only one arm or one leg can be moving at a time. Only place the ladder on a flat and level surface (this may hamper some of your decorating plans), and never ascend higher than the top three rungs. A-frame ladders are the best, and always follow the instructions for use.
When hanging your holiday lights:
- Wait for nice weather. Never try to hang lights when it’s snowy or windy.
- Test all lights before putting them up. You don’t want to step back to admire your work to discover that a burnt-out bulb or an entire string isn’t working.
- Untangle your lights and lay them out according to your plan before starting to ensure you have enough.
- Use plastic clips with hooks to string your holiday lights across your eaves, around your windows and doors, and to wrap around pillars.
- Ensure you can reach a power source easily and that cords are not a tripping hazard.
- Use a smart plug as a timer.
- When wrapping a tree, a measurement often used is about 100 lights for every foot of height of the tree.
- Read the instructions and never string together more strands than recommended and double check that your circuits can handle the extra load.
If all of this seems to be too much, but you still want to hang holiday lights, remember that there are a number of professional installers in the city who would be more than happy to lend a hand. They have the expertise necessary to help come up with a magnificent design, plus the manpower and equipment needed to get to hard-to-reach spaces and up to the very tops of trees. Light installations can be made to be permanent, and versatile. With careful planning, you could end up with an installation that can create a spooky ambience during Halloween, help celebrate Canada Day on July 1, add some extra romance on Valentine’s Day, and make bright summer skies something to revel in.
Mirage Landscaping is your southeast Calgary snow removal company
Six mandates we live by as your southeast Calgary snow removal company include prompt service, employees who care, protecting you from liability, sensible billing, easy accessibility, and three generations worth of snow removal expertise. Make winter a little more tolerable and let us take care of the shoveling. Contact us for a free quote today.
