Here’s How to Prepare Your Outdoors & Home for Christmas Décor

There’s something magical about a holiday stroll through the neighbourhood to take in all the outdoor Christmas decorations. Decorating your outdoor space is a great way to get into the festive spirit and build community. Before you roll out the holly, set yourself up for success. Plan ahead, start before cold weather sets in, and check out these tips to prep your yard for the big show.

Outdoor Christmas Lights

From twinkling eaves to glowing pathways, getting your home decked out for the holidays starts with lights. A little prep and planning will have you stringing outdoor lights like a pro.

Plan Your Lighting

Walk around your property taking notes and measurements. Snap photos up close and from across the street for different perspectives. Note the number of windows, the size of your front door and porch, outlet locations, and the number of roofline peaks. Incandescent outdoor Christmas lights are more affordable, while longer lasting energy-efficient LED lights cost a bit more but save you money in the long run. If it looks like your lighting plan surpasses your budget, consider decorating in phases over several seasons.

Power Consumption

Before you start stringing lights, you’ll need to consider your home's electrical capacity. Everything that plugs into your outdoor electrical outlets typically runs on one circuit. If you don’t have enough capacity, you risk tripping breakers. To calculate the total watts of string lights, multiply the watts per bulb by the number of bulbs. To figure out the amperage, divide the total wattage by 120 volts. If you are unsure of your electrical capacity, consult a qualified electrician. Here’s more to consider:

• The more light bulbs on a string, the more electricity you need 

• You can only string together so many incandescent mini-lights, so you may need extra outlets and outdoor extension cords 

• LED string lights use little power and you can connect many more strings than with incandescent lights 

• Set outdoor Christmas lights on a timer or using app-controlled smart lights to save electricity 

• Consider outdoor solar lights for areas far from outlets

Pre-Testing

Test everything you plan to include in your outdoor light display before installation. It’s a lot easier to fix something on the ground than after it’s mounted to eavestrough.

Gutter & Eaves Prep

Rooftop Christmas lights are the crowning glory of any outdoor light display. To do it right, you need a plan and the right tools for the job. If your home has horizontal eaves, measure around the base of the house to get an estimate. If you have peaked eaves, you’ll need to grab a buddy and get acquainted with ladder safety. Alternatively, you can guesstimate and buy more lights than you think you’ll need. Make sure you have the right Christmas light clips for the strings you've chosen. Once you have your measurements, make sure your gutters are clean to prevent ice dams from building up.

Yard Decorations

Whether you opt for a traditional outdoor nativity set or a showy display of Christmas inflatables, your yard is another place to let your creativity shine.

Tree & Shrub Wrapping

Outdoor Christmas tree lights add twinkle and cheer to the foliage in your yard. Trunk wrap lights are inexpensive and quick to install. With a uniform, grid-like light pattern, these lights work better on thicker trunks and branches. Christmas net lights are easy to install and ideal for lighting up bushes and hedges. String lights take a little longer to hang, but you get more control over the design.

Inflatable Christmas Decorations

Christmas inflatables or Christmas blow ups have become some of the most popular Christmas yard decorations on the market. Choose an inflatable that works with your theme and make sure it fits in your yard. Place it close to an outlet and away from tree branches or other potential deflaters. Once your inflatable is up, remember to stake it down to keep it from wandering the neighbourhood.

Pathway Lighting

A lit-up pathway draws the eyes of passersby to your magnificent outdoor light display. Choose brightly coloured Christmas lights to work with your theme, or natural golden-hued lights that work as year-round lighting. Solar pathway lights are perfect for lighting the way far from outlets.

Porch Decorations

From railings wrapped in Christmas garlands to a statement Christmas wreath on the front door, Christmas porch decorations are a great way to welcome holiday visitors into your home. Start with a plan, working from your front door outwards and consider these tips for a holly-jolly, house-friendly porch:

• To hang a wreath without damaging your wood door, use a wreath hanger 

• Use a magnetic hook for a metal door 

• Use removeable self-adhesive strips to hang outdoor Christmas decorations 

• Make sure to use outdoor Christmas lights and make sure extension cords are either taped down or away from foot traffic

Rooftop Decorations

Christmas roof decorations can be stunning, but installation requires a safety-first approach. You’ll need a safety harness, a sturdy extension ladder, and a spotter. If your rooftop is steeply pitched (greater than 45 degrees) you should skip the holiday treatment. Here are a few more things to consider: 

• Wear non-slip safety footwear and work gloves 

• Inspect and repair shingles, eaves and gutters ahead of time 

• Check and test extension cords and rooftop Christmas lights in advance 

• Never staple or nail your shingles: use shingle and ridge clips to secure outdoor Christmas decorations and lights 

• Keep a three-foot buffer between the chimney and any decorations 

• If you plan to put up the same rooftop Christmas decorations every year, consider hiring a qualified roofer to install permanent mounts that won’t damage your roof

Prepping your yard early for Christmas décor will help avoid last-minute scrambling. Have a vision, make a plan, and get everything you need ahead of time. Once the heavy lifting is out of the way, it will be much easier to get decorating and into the Christmas spirit.