Christmas Trees

How to Conquer Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro

Does the notion of hanging Christmas lights instills feelings of fear? Have you stared longingly in a gorgeous storefront tree and felt embarrassed by your own tree’s look? Follow these easy steps and your days of disgrace is going to be a matter of the past.

Eric Bain, a partner at Innovative Construction, spent a year in his youth hanging Christmas lights to the town of Vail, Colorado. After his professional tree-lighting help will make the wires and cords from your lights disappear from view. This easy installation process also can allow you to stay stress free, with guards to be sure your lights work before and after setup.

So exhale — those hints may help you actually enjoy light your Christmas tree this season.

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Voilà! The final result — yes, it can be accomplished without pulling your hair out.

You’ll want:
• A Christmas tree
• 4 strands of Christmas lights
• A power strip
• An electric cable with a power splitter (brown or green)
• Scissors
• Cable ties (optional)
• Measure stool (optional)

For an exterior tree, you will also want:
• A GFCI receptacle
• Electrical tape
• A painter’s pole (optional)

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1. Twist in each strand of lights until you hang on them. If you can not get a strand to work within five minutes of tinkering, then please throw it off. A few dollars is a small price to pay to avoid an emotional meltdown before you begin.

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2. Remove all tags in the lights.

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Safety note: If you’re installing the lights out, make sure you plug them into a GFCI circuit. These receptacles are designed to prevent shocking and electrocution.

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3. Put in a power strip into the closest receptacle. This not only makes it effortless to turn your lights on and off but has the advantage of adding a built-in circuit breaker.

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4. Plug an extension cable to the power strip. Make sure that the extension cord can accept more than one plug. Attempt to use green and brown strings to blend in with the tree.

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If your extension cable doesn’t accept more than one plug, you can add a splitter such as the one in this picture.

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5. Install the cord about halfway up the back of the tree. Insert a second cord near best for taller trees. You can wind the cord around the back of the tree to keep it in position or utilize little cable ties.

Note:
should you need to use a second extension cable, plug it into the primary power strip.

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6. Plug in your very first lights. Be sure you’re sinking into the extension cable you placed halfway up the tree to help conceal the wires. This will also maximize your lighting strand by not having to extend it back to a wall outlet.

Pull on the string of lights along the trunk of the tree to the top.

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7. Install the lights in the top of the tree to the bottom. Eric Bain prefers to start at the top so that he always works downward, toward the sticks placed along the back of the tree. This will also help avoid your attempting to hang a half strand of light in the uppermost portion of the shrub. Spreading lights out in the base tends to be simpler.

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8. String the lights in the back of the tree out toward the tip of the branch. Doing so will set the focus on the lights instead of the wires. Draping the lights throughout the front of the tree sets the wires in plain view. Instead, wrap the lights around the branch as you work out your way toward the tip.

Be sure to wrap the lights somewhat loosely on each branch, and also aim to get about 12 lights on each branch.

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Tip: Install the lighting where they’ll be viewed. It is possible to reduce the amount of lights you put in on the back of the tree whether it’s going to be set against a wall socket.

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Tip: Do not connect more than three strands of lights together. Connecting over three will cause the lights to burn.

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9. Tie the sticks together. If your tree is outside, wrap electrical tape around the regions of the plugs that connect together. This is going to keep the lights attached and can help protect them from water.

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Plug your string of lights that was placed in the middle of the shrub.

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10. Work your way to the base of the tree. You might need to install another extension cable near the base of the tree. Plug this into the primary power strip thus turning the lights on and off is simple.

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Suggestion for your tall trees: Remove the roller from a painter’s pole. String your lights on the metal bracket and use it to set the lights on the tree. You’ll be able to string the lights on a 10- to 15-foot-tall tree (based upon your elevation, of course) without a ladder.

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Now stand back and admire your own masterpiece. Invite friends, neighbors and in-laws over to see them squirm with jealousy.

Tell us Which are your tree-trimming hints? Share your suggestions and photos of your tree below!

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