Get matched with top holiday decorators in Yantic, CT

First of all, don’t shop for bargain lights—often, you’ll end up with a faulty or broken strand, full of dead bulbs or less-than-luminous brightness. Choose quality lights that will last you many years—LED lights have been known to last as long as 100,000 hours. Second, plan ahead and purchase lights for next year’s Christmas during this year’s post-holiday sales. Finally, have a vision and a plan—if you know the measurements of your home, including any windows, doors, and outside bushes you wish to light up, you should be able to only purchase the necessary lights and not more than you need.

You can take a few steps to prolong the life of your holiday lights. Make sure to replace burnt-out bulbs as quickly as possible to avoid overloading the rest of the circuit and knocking out more lights. Before packing them up each year, plug each strand into the wall to confirm everything is still working. Wrap the lights carefully back into their original packaging or something similar—winding a strand tightly together or leaving it to hang loose in a storage bin can lead to frayed or damaged wiring. 

There are many types of Christmas lights to choose from when working with a light installer. The main types available for outdoor lighting are dome, LED, incandescent, and C9, and your lighting professional’s choice will depend on the location and overall design. 

C9 lighting is typically the most expensive option, ranging from $15 to $70 per 25-foot strand. These usually have fewer bulbs per strand, so you might need more than expected to cover a large area. Dome lighting is usually the most cost-effective option, ranging from $6 to $15 per 25-foot strand. These bulbs are smaller and rounder than other options, creating a softer look.

Take a picture of your house to easily replicate the same design for next year and keep the clips and accessories. When storing your lights, wrap them around cardboard so they don’t get tangled. Purchase a ladderless extension pole kit to hang your lights (around $30 to $50) for hard to reach areas.