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.
Professionals use the same methods found in this guide unless they’re decorating a particularly large Christmas tree. In that case, they may also make use of tools like extension poles to get the job done.
Professional holiday decorating services cost between $300 and $2,500 or more, with an average cost of about $1,500. The total price depends on the size of your home, the extent of the work, your location, and whether materials are included. Simple interior decoration may cost around $300, while a combination of interior and exterior work often totals around $800. For large or extensive design services, you could pay $2,500 or more. Common service costs can include: exterior holiday light installation ($400), Christmas tree decoration ($200–$600), interior holiday design ($50–$200 per hour), and holiday landscaping ($50–$100 per hour). Note that some prices may only include labor, not the cost of the decorations themselves.
Technically, you can use duct tape to hang Christmas lights, but it’s not the best bet. Duct tape or other types of tape retain moisture, which isn’t ideal when near an electrical wire. Plus, it can peel off due to the elements. Duct tape is also a very unattractive option, visually speaking. Instead, opt for roof clips for Christmas lights, which are affordable and easy to use.
For a 7-foot-tall column, choose a light strand that is at least 32 feet long. You’ll also need to measure the distance from the column to the closest outlet to get outdoor extension cords that are the right length.
The Philip, SD homeowners’ guide to holiday decorating services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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