Light Installation

Patios and lights go hand-in-hand—almost as if they were made for each other. The patio becomes an outdoor oasis during the warmer months to enjoy the embrace of the sun on a hot day, or the breeze on a cool evening. As you spend more time out on the patio, why not enhance the ambiance around you and your guests...[...]

A town decorated in picturesque glow for the holidays… a park dressed in shining Christmas décor…an eye-popping, award-winning home display…what do they all have in common? Tree wraps. And not just any tree wraps—but tree wraps with a professional flair that looks absolutely lovely. Tree wraps are iconic in holiday arrangements, but there’s one big question: how to wrap a...[...]

Every year, Christmas Designers holds a photo op contest that gives holiday decorators the chance to show off their arrangements. Contests are a great opportunity to spread Christmas cheer with your own display designed to amaze—and the spirit of competition is a nice motivator for taking an arrangement to the next level. Our photo op contest gives us a chance...[...]

As the weather warms up, outdoor spaces become more comfortable, offering more hours of enjoyment. And what makes any outdoor space even better? Some outdoor string lights. They’re not just a great source of light at night—but they also make tasteful decorations that bring a touch of magic to your outdoor spaces. Outdoor string lights are lovely fixtures that you...[...]

It’s almost time to decorate for Christmas! You’re looking for the best way to put up your lights—and the fate of your Christmas display hangs in the balance. Roofline Christmas lighting is an integral part of any Christmas display, and the the Christmas light clips you use can make or break your install. Light Clips—Above the Rest Any great roofline...[...]

For Christmas enthusiasts and professional installers alike, the king of Christmas lights is the C9. Big, bold, and beautiful, C9 lights form the cornerstone of the vast majority of holiday displays across the country. C9s are the large bulbs you see all over the place on Christmas; they’re most people’s favorite, and instantly familiar to anyone. However, not all C9...[...]

Does your neck of the woods become a winter wonderland that’s prettier than the inside of a snow globe? Then you know the magic of a white Christmas, where the land gets a beautiful blanket of snow that can be played in or simply admired—where Christmas embodies the timeless visions of holiday joy. But you also know how living in...[...]

It wouldn’t be a truly ultimate outdoor lighting checklist if we didn’t cover EVERY area that you can don with the most dazzling of lights and decorations. Before we begin, make sure you’re getting the full benefit from this checklist—check out part one to discover all of the fresh and familiar ways to dive into outdoor Christmas lighting. Now that...[...]

Have you ever looked at a breathtaking Christmas arrangement and wondered, “how did they put all of that together?” Better yet, did you wonder, “how can I put something like that together?” During the holidays, the outdoors like a stage to let your lights shine and make your home merry and bright. But decorating is not as simple as putting...[...]

The Wonders of String Lights Anytime is a great time to look at making your space as beautiful as can be. We enjoy being in attractive spaces, and it’s hard to resist staying as long as we can with beauty all around us. Explore the perfect decorations for brightening everyday areas or special occasions in this ultimate guide to string...[...]

Some mistakes are costly—others are dangerous. They make reaching success with your Christmas lighting install a challenge. So rather than deal with mistakes as they happen, why not avoid them altogether? Whether it’s off-season decorating, or you’re putting together a holly jolly holiday masterpiece, you’ll be well on your way to creating your next sparkling spectacle when you take heed...[...]

If you live in an apartment with a balcony, then you have a special space. The balcony is your place to bathe in the sun, take in the moon, and generally relax outside. It’s also a space that you you can decorate to communicate your unique style. A charming balcony is one that has the charm of gorgeous lights. But...[...]

Your backyard is the outdoor spot that you call your own. It’s where you make memories with your kids, share tasty meals with friends and family, or escape to find tranquility. If you’re spending quality time in your backyard, why not turn it into a space that shines evening and night? From glowing branches that reach for the stars to...[...]

When the weather gets warmer, the outdoors become inviting. And the most inviting area on a warm evening? The pool! But don’t let the sunset keep you from enjoying your pool. With some Christmas lighting magic upon your outdoor foliage nearby, your pool area will become a shining summer oasis that’s just as appealing in the dark as it is...[...]

12 Must-Have Tools for any Christmas Lighting Project The time between the upcoming holiday season and the last is a time to prepare. And preparation is a time to gather the tools you need. Your project might seem daunting, but having the right tools makes all the difference. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, whether your next project is...[...]

You might see them in movies, or on a drive out and about. Maybe you’re lucky enough to live in one. Their displays are magnificent, and orchestrated with fine attention-to-detail. These neighborhoods that plan and coordinate their Christmas displays… How do they do it? In one neighborhood, it all started with a contest to lure prospective residents. Let’s start our...[...]

Roofline Christmas lights stand literally above the rest of other forms of Christmas lighting. Roofline lighting crowns your house with the beauty of a thoughtful Christmas display that shines brightly in your neighborhood, helping to share the cheer that makes Christmas the best time of year. You too can share the enchanting spirit of the holiday season by lighting the...[...]

There’s nothing quite like a beautifully bright yard during the holiday season. And Christmas lights on bushes, hedges, and trees are what make a yard really shine. The joy in looking upon a glimmering yard that both you and your neighbors enjoy is a real treat. So how best to brighten up your yard and outdoor plants? There are a...[...]

Christmas time brings families together, creates fond memories, and inspires breathtaking Christmas lights displays. A beautiful Christmas display has the power to spread cheer to even some of the most cold-hearted Scrooges! But for a display to evoke the wonder that will make it memorable, it needs to look its best. And the best displays feature truly professional looking Christmas...[...]

The holiday season is approaching, and you know what that means—Santa’s coming to town! Well, not yet. But it is time to start planning how you’ll be decorating your home. Special focus goes toward the cornerstone of Christmas decorating—your indoor Christmas tree. Christmas trees are essential for celebrating the holidays. So bring the cheer by dressing your tree in the...[...]

When Santa Claus goes for a stroll among the fabulous ice formations near the waters of the North Pole, he doesn’t see much of our traditional red, green and gold Christmas colors. What he does see is a lot of glistening silver and blue…the colors of nature in his neighborhood. Red, green and gold are beautiful colors that have defined...[...]

As we wind down the second half of the year, we eagerly anticipate the moment we can enjoy the crisp, cool outdoor weather. Nothing goes with a fall breeze better than a cup of spiced cider and some inviting patio string lights. Like a teaser before the Christmas season, LED string lights create a warm, cheery ambiance for your porch...[...]

It’s no secret that perfect, professional perimeter Christmas lighting is created with a little bit of help from our friend, the Christmas light clip. A roof line lighting project is never complete without the trusty plastic clips that keep light lines aligned and bulbs perfectly straight on gutters and shingles. Designed to hold empty socket light line, stringers, and specialty...[...]

These days people expect more from their Christmas lights than simple on/off functionality. They want more control, more colors, and more customization. They don't want a light set that is only capable of a single color, but rather a light that is able to achieve any color combination imaginable. And that is where Twinkly comes in. Twinkly Christmas lights true...[...]

Decorating for Christmas is a cherished part of preparing for the holidays for many families. This year, instead of using the same lights and decorations as last year, you may want to consider a few inspirational Christmas lighting and decoration options to create something new and unique. The decorating tradition doesn’t always have to be exactly the same each year...[...]

Since the beginning of 2020, the world we knew has been turned upside down. The stability, economic prosperity, and confidence in knowing we have a strong year ahead have suddenly vanished. Many of us are still coming to terms with such a rapid turn of events. We long for the good old days of 2019 when increasing tariffs and tight...[...]

When it comes to professional-quality Christmas lights, there are many different products out there that people are not aware of. Unfortunately, sometimes these lesser-known products are actually the best ones on the market. One of the best products that a lot of people haven’t heard of is coaxial connect Christmas lights, also known as RY connect light sets. While they...[...]

Attaching Christmas Lights to Brick with Hot Glue When decorating your home for the holidays, there are several different ways to attach your lights to the perimeter. One of the most common ways is to use standard clips, and those work very well for a variety of different materials and designs. However, certain surfaces can make attaching lights a bit...[...]

As the world continues to face the challenges of COVID-19, everyone is looking for ways to support their community. Many families are using COVID Christmas ornaments to adorn their Christmas trees this year as a way to remember the lives lost from 2020. Many people are also using their Christmas lights as a unique and creative way to show their...[...]

Before we get started on the how-to portion of this article, we need to say a thing or two about having your Christmas lights hung by a professional light-hanging company. People who hang Christmas lights professionally are a great resource for homeowners. They have all the gear necessary for doing a safe and thorough job. Many of them are valued...[...]

Putting up Christmas lights at home each year makes a lot of people look longingly at street-corner signs advertising professional Christmas light installations. For other people, who love getting out there and attempting a personal best with their lights every year, those signs bring a different thought to mind: “I wonder if I could make some money doing this for...[...]

It doesn’t matter how serious or passionate you are about your Christmas light display; If you don’t work as the professionals do, your results simply won’t be able to compete. Luckily, top-tier Christmas design doesn’t require complex techniques or dozens of more hours of labor—it just requires using the right materials for the job. If you’ve been wondering why professionally-installed...[...]

If there’s one problem that has plagued nearly every amateur who’s ever tried to set up a top-tier Christmas light display, it’s what to do with extra light line. You don’t have to be a pro to notice it in your own neighborhood: Those points on an otherwise perfectly lit perimeter where the installer suddenly realized their string was several...[...]

If you’re a Christmas enthusiast looking to up the ante on your annual light display, it can be difficult to know where to start. Maybe you’ve done a little digging, and have discovered the open industry secret that is empty socket light line. You know that the key to clean a display with no trailing lines is measuring out the...[...]

For some people, Christmas lights are an essential piece of the holiday season. For others, they’re a way of life. Get any seasoned light installer talking about their craft, and you’re sure to hear a barrage of unfamiliar terms, strong opinions, and unmitigated passion for their favorite hobby. But whether you’re a Christmas enthusiast on a mission to make your...[...]

Much of the information we provide about installing Christmas lights and decorations is focused on homeowners. But that's not really fair! After all, millions of Christmas Enthusiasts aren't homeowners. Instead, they live in apartments, townhomes, and condos. But there's no reason that these millions of Christmas Enthusiasts can't participate in the Christmas decorating fun. Because even if you don't live...[...]

Your Christmas light display last year - was it all you had hoped for? When you stood back and surveyed your handiwork from the curbside, were you satisfied with it? Was it everything you'd expected it to be? Or did you experience a tiny tinge of disappointment? Perhaps you felt that your display was missing something, just some final touch...[...]

So you're thinking of hiring a professional Christmas light installer to put up your Christmas light display this year? That's not a bad idea. In fact, it's a very good idea. Every holiday season there's a frightful rash of injuries, trips to the ER — and even the occasional death — as homeowners perform light installation chores that are very...[...]

Would you like to add a unique and enchanting dimension to your outdoor Christmas display this season? Consider hanging a number of animated snowfall tubes within the winter-bare foliage of your trees. Animated snowfall tubes - also called falling snow lights - consist of a series of brilliant white LED lights that illuminate sequentially from top to bottom within a clear...[...]

Many people wonder how, as professional installers, we're able to quickly attach Christmas lights to brick, concrete or stucco. These surfaces can be difficult to work with and time-consuming to install. This is where hot glue comes in. Using hot glue to attach lights to solid, non painted surfaces is quick, easy and very effective. This type of installation application...[...]

I work in the Christmas business all year long. And because of that, I think sometimes people wonder if maybe I get a little bit jaded about Christmas: Since I'm around Christmas-related activity all the time, doesn't that blunt the joy and excitement of Christmas when the holiday season rolls around? Nope. I'm happy to say that it doesn't. Mostly...[...]

It's Never Too Early to Get Ready for Installing Next Season's Christmas Light Display As you read this, Christmas may be a ways off. But it's never too early to start planning for it. After all, part of what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year is the anticipation and the buildup. And no matter the time of...[...]

Use LED Christmas Lighting to Create a Warm and Cheery Ambiance for the Outdoors We're a big proponent of using LED bulbs for Christmas décor. But in truth, the very same LED bulbs that are used for Christmas lighting can be used for a wide range of purposes year-round. One great example is using LED retrofit lights to cast a...[...]

Hi Jason, Can you explain why someone would want to use a 5 mm Wide Angle Conical Christmas light as opposed to the classic bulb design of the M5? - Chris Hi Chris, Thanks for asking; that's actually a very important question. It's important because I feel that lots of Christmas Enthusiasts as well as casual Christmas lighters are missing...[...]

We sell many wonderful products at Christmas Designers. But one of our very favorite products tends to fly under the radar a little bit. And that's a shame because it means lots of Christmas Enthusiasts are missing out on one of the most delightful of holiday decorations: animated snowfall tubes. Enchanting, and a Little Bit Magical The very best Christmas...[...]

If you're a Christmas Enthusiast, you take a lot of pride in your holiday displays. You go through a lot of work to put them up every year and endure no small expense in buying and maintaining them. And while you certainly enjoy the breathtaking beauty of your Christmas light displays, you get even more satisfaction from the joy that...[...]

For all Christmas Enthusiasts, Christmas is truly a magical time of year. And for most Christmas Enthusiasts, the yearly tradition of installing Christmas lighting signals the beginning of that magical season. But there's a common scenario that's played out year after year among Christmas Enthusiasts: An enthusiast invests money on his Christmas lighting and outdoor décor. He pours hours of...[...]

As the old saying goes, there's a right way and a wrong way to do every job. And that's especially true for installing Christmas lights. In fact, for every type of surface to which you wish to attach a light, there's probably one right way and lots of wrong ways to do it. Choosing that one 'right way' will pay...[...]

Planning an outdoor party? Whether your party will be held on your patio or at some other outdoor venue, lighting can make all the difference in creating an elegant, ethereal atmosphere for your party. Lighting can take your party from ho-hum to unforgettably delightful. And the very same string lights that you might use to decorate your place for Christmas...[...]

How-To Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights on a Variety of Surfaces If you’re a fan of the National Lampoon Vacation series of movies, you probably remember Clark Griswold's Christmas light installation antics in Christmas Vacation. Old Clark made a number of buffoonish mistakes in that movie, all to great comedic effect. But in real-life terms, Clark's Christmas light installation techniques...[...]

We've all see the businesses and homes that are outlined with absolutely perfect perimeter lighting. Every bulb is exactly in line with the next bulb and every dormer, ridge row, and architectural structure is cleanly outlined with no extra cord or bulbs hanging off the end. When done correctly, perimeter lighting can take an ordinary lighting project and turn it...[...]

As professional Christmas installers, one of the most valued pieces of hardware that we carry with us is slide on plugs, also known as zip plugs or vampire plugs. Our toolboxes are always crammed full of hundreds of these handy little plugs. We've come to count on the slide on plugs so much that we don't know how we ever...[...]

One of our favorite ways to install professional looking C7 and C9 perimeter light line is with LiteClip Strips. LiteClip strips consist of 5' plastic strips that are permanently attached with adhesive, staples, or screws. Once the strips have been installed, you simply clip on the appropriate size clip for fast perimeter lighting installations year after year. Clips are available...[...]

Installing a Male Slide on Plug Male and female slide on plugs is often used by professional Christmas installers. Slide on plugs allows you to custom make your own extension cords as well as custom cut perimeter light line for cleaner and more professional results. Slide on plugs is available in Spt-1 and Spt-2. If the cord you are using...[...]

We are often asked, “How can I start a professional Christmas lighting installation business”. Many people find great enjoyment in installing Christmas lights and decorations on their own home or business and it’s not unusual to wonder how those of us that do make our living doing this professionally actually got started. Just about everyone in this industry has a...[...]

Putting up Christmas lights at home each year makes a lot of people look longingly at street-corner signs advertising professional Christmas light installations. For other people, who love getting out there and attempting a personal best with their lights every year, those signs bring a different thought to mind: “I wonder if I could make some money doing this for...[...]

It doesn’t matter how serious or passionate you are about your Christmas light display; If you don’t work as the professionals do, your results simply won’t be able to compete. Luckily, top-tier Christmas design doesn’t require complex techniques or dozens of more hours of labor—it just requires using the right materials for the job. If you’ve been wondering why professionally-installed...[...]

If there’s one problem that has plagued nearly every amateur who’s ever tried to set up a top-tier Christmas light display, it’s what to do with extra light line. You don’t have to be a pro to notice it in your own neighborhood: Those points on an otherwise perfectly lit perimeter where the installer suddenly realized their string was several...[...]

If you’re a Christmas enthusiast looking to up the ante on your annual light display, it can be difficult to know where to start. Maybe you’ve done a little digging, and have discovered the open industry secret that is empty socket light line. You know that the key to clean a display with no trailing lines is measuring out the...[...]

For some people, Christmas lights are an essential piece of the holiday season. For others, they’re a way of life. Get any seasoned light installer talking about their craft, and you’re sure to hear a barrage of unfamiliar terms, strong opinions, and unmitigated passion for their favorite hobby. But whether you’re a Christmas enthusiast on a mission to make your...[...]

Much of the information we provide about installing Christmas lights and decorations is focused on homeowners. But that's not really fair! After all, millions of Christmas Enthusiasts aren't homeowners. Instead, they live in apartments, townhomes, and condos. But there's no reason that these millions of Christmas Enthusiasts can't participate in the Christmas decorating fun. Because even if you don't live...[...]

Your Christmas light display last year - was it all you had hoped for? When you stood back and surveyed your handiwork from the curbside, were you satisfied with it? Was it everything you'd expected it to be? Or did you experience a tiny tinge of disappointment? Perhaps you felt that your display was missing something, just some final touch...[...]

So you're thinking of hiring a professional Christmas light installer to put up your Christmas light display this year? That's not a bad idea. In fact, it's a very good idea. Every holiday season there's a frightful rash of injuries, trips to the ER — and even the occasional death — as homeowners perform light installation chores that are very...[...]

Would you like to add a unique and enchanting dimension to your outdoor Christmas display this season? Consider hanging a number of animated snowfall tubes within the winter-bare foliage of your trees. Animated snowfall tubes - also called falling snow lights - consist of a series of brilliant white LED lights that illuminate sequentially from top to bottom within a clear...[...]

Many people wonder how, as professional installers, we're able to quickly attach Christmas lights to brick, concrete or stucco. These surfaces can be difficult to work with and time-consuming to install. This is where hot glue comes in. Using hot glue to attach lights to solid, non painted surfaces is quick, easy and very effective. This type of installation application...[...]

I work in the Christmas business all year long. And because of that, I think sometimes people wonder if maybe I get a little bit jaded about Christmas: Since I'm around Christmas-related activity all the time, doesn't that blunt the joy and excitement of Christmas when the holiday season rolls around? Nope. I'm happy to say that it doesn't. Mostly...[...]

It's Never Too Early to Get Ready for Installing Next Season's Christmas Light Display As you read this, Christmas may be a ways off. But it's never too early to start planning for it. After all, part of what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year is the anticipation and the buildup. And no matter the time of...[...]

Use LED Christmas Lighting to Create a Warm and Cheery Ambiance for the Outdoors We're a big proponent of using LED bulbs for Christmas décor. But in truth, the very same LED bulbs that are used for Christmas lighting can be used for a wide range of purposes year-round. One great example is using LED retrofit lights to cast a...[...]

Hi Jason, Can you explain why someone would want to use a 5 mm Wide Angle Conical Christmas light as opposed to the classic bulb design of the M5? - Chris Hi Chris, Thanks for asking; that's actually a very important question. It's important because I feel that lots of Christmas Enthusiasts as well as casual Christmas lighters are missing...[...]

We sell many wonderful products at Christmas Designers. But one of our very favorite products tends to fly under the radar a little bit. And that's a shame because it means lots of Christmas Enthusiasts are missing out on one of the most delightful of holiday decorations: animated snowfall tubes. Enchanting, and a Little Bit Magical The very best Christmas...[...]

If you're a Christmas Enthusiast, you take a lot of pride in your holiday displays. You go through a lot of work to put them up every year and endure no small expense in buying and maintaining them. And while you certainly enjoy the breathtaking beauty of your Christmas light displays, you get even more satisfaction from the joy that...[...]

For all Christmas Enthusiasts, Christmas is truly a magical time of year. And for most Christmas Enthusiasts, the yearly tradition of installing Christmas lighting signals the beginning of that magical season. But there's a common scenario that's played out year after year among Christmas Enthusiasts: An enthusiast invests money on his Christmas lighting and outdoor décor. He pours hours of...[...]

As the old saying goes, there's a right way and a wrong way to do every job. And that's especially true for installing Christmas lights. In fact, for every type of surface to which you wish to attach a light, there's probably one right way and lots of wrong ways to do it. Choosing that one 'right way' will pay...[...]

Planning an outdoor party? Whether your party will be held on your patio or at some other outdoor venue, lighting can make all the difference in creating an elegant, ethereal atmosphere for your party. Lighting can take your party from ho-hum to unforgettably delightful. And the very same string lights that you might use to decorate your place for Christmas...[...]

How-To Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights on a Variety of Surfaces If you’re a fan of the National Lampoon Vacation series of movies, you probably remember Clark Griswold's Christmas light installation antics in Christmas Vacation. Old Clark made a number of buffoonish mistakes in that movie, all to great comedic effect. But in real-life terms, Clark's Christmas light installation techniques...[...]

We've all see the businesses and homes that are outlined with absolutely perfect perimeter lighting. Every bulb is exactly in line with the next bulb and every dormer, ridge row, and architectural structure is cleanly outlined with no extra cord or bulbs hanging off the end. When done correctly, perimeter lighting can take an ordinary lighting project and turn it...[...]

As professional Christmas installers, one of the most valued pieces of hardware that we carry with us is slide on plugs, also known as zip plugs or vampire plugs. Our toolboxes are always crammed full of hundreds of these handy little plugs. We've come to count on the slide on plugs so much that we don't know how we ever...[...]

One of our favorite ways to install professional looking C7 and C9 perimeter light line is with LiteClip Strips. LiteClip strips consist of 5' plastic strips that are permanently attached with adhesive, staples, or screws. Once the strips have been installed, you simply clip on the appropriate size clip for fast perimeter lighting installations year after year. Clips are available...[...]

Installing a Male Slide on Plug Male and female slide on plugs is often used by professional Christmas installers. Slide on plugs allows you to custom make your own extension cords as well as custom cut perimeter light line for cleaner and more professional results. Slide on plugs is available in Spt-1 and Spt-2. If the cord you are using...[...]

We are often asked, “How can I start a professional Christmas lighting installation business”. Many people find great enjoyment in installing Christmas lights and decorations on their own home or business and it’s not unusual to wonder how those of us that do make our living doing this professionally actually got started. Just about everyone in this industry has a...[...]