How to Hang Beautiful Christmas Lights From a Tree

Hanging beautiful Christmas tree lights from a tree can be accomplished with the right tools and materials.

It is essential to do your research before you start because there are many different ways to go about this project depending on what type of lights you have, what kind of surface you will be attaching them to, etc.

Continue reading to learn how to hang beautiful Christmas Lights from whatever tree you decide on for your Christmas celebration.  

How to Hang Lights on a Fresh Christmas Tree

A great tip for planning the number of lights for your Christmas tree is using around 100 lights per foot of tree.

For a six-foot tree, this equals 600 lights. To hang the lights-

• Mentally divide the tree into triangular sections, from top to bottom, keeping the tree’s cone shape in mind.
• Hang the first string of lights at the top and nestle the last bulb near the trunk. Then weave the lights back and forth through the triangle. When you reach the end of the first string, grab the second and repeat the process.
• After hanging the lights, try to relax your focus on the tree. Wherever you see dark holes, rearrange the lights as necessary. To remove the lights without tangling, complete step two in reverse.

How to Hang Lights on an Artificial Christmas Tree

Many artificial trees come in collapsible sections. If you use miniature tree lights, you can wrap them around the branches and leave them permanently.

When decorating an artificial Christmas tree with Christmas lights, be sure to decorate each section separately.

How to Hang Christmas Tree Lights Vertically

Hanging your Christmas lights horizontally is more traditional than vertically, but who doesn’t like doing things differently now and again.

Hanging your lights vertically will be a welcome change.

When doing so, again, mentally divide the tree into triangular sections. String the lights by starting at the bottom of the tree and pulling it up to the top.

Then pull the string back down and continue zigzagging up and down the tree until it’s entirely wrapped.

Once finished, tuck the strands farther into the branches to make room for the ornaments.

How to Hang Christmas Tree Lights Outdoors

When you’re considering adding Christmas tree lights to your outdoor trees and shrubs in your front yard, use the following guidelines.

• If using floodlights to show off your outdoor evergreens, use white, blue, or green lamps. Red, yellow, amber, and pink lights make trees look muddy and brown.
• Don’t hang Christmas lights from the eaves with cup hooks. Strong winds can swing loose. Instead, you can use gutter clips that hook to the gutter and hold the wire in place.
• Make sure you have outdoor electrical sockets to plug your lights into when you use outdoor Christmas lights.

The Easy Way to Put Christmas Lights on a Tree

There are plenty of hacks for hanging Christmas tree lights.

Using Multiple Outlet Extension Cords

One of the easiest ways to cut downtime while hanging Christmas lights is to use multiple outlet extension cords.

Using a regular extension cord with one outlet tap means all the plugs from the lights have to reach the one outlet bar, causing a mess.

Additionally, multiple outlet extension cords are safer than buying multiple, one-outlet extension cords.

Testing the Lights Before You Wrap Them

Test each light strand before using them to make sure they work correctly.

Few things are as frustrating as going through all the work of hanging your lights only to find out they don’t work.

Plug each strand into an outlet and leave them on for five minutes to ensure they’re working correctly.

Then gently shake the cord to make sure the bulbs are secure. If half your light strand lights up and the other doesn’t, you should consider replacing the first bulb.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to test each bulb individually.

Lighting the Christmas Tree Trunk

To add beauty to your Christmas tree, make sure you light the trunk. Lighting the trunk makes your Christmas tree look like it’s lit from within.

It will be a stunning, welcome addition to your decorations.

Keep the Christmas Tree Light Strands From Getting Tangled as You Work

To keep Christmas tree lights from tangling, you can wrap them around your shoulders as you would a blanket.

Doing so makes it easy for you to pull the strand away freely as you need more Christmas lights.

Buying the Correct Amount of Lights

When planning your Christmas tree decorations, buy more lights than you think you need. The accepted amount of Christmas lights is 100 per foot.

You want to buy more than you think you need because it is better to have a surplus of lights rather than a shortage.

Having a shortage of lights can throw off your entire light display. Having a surplus of lights will only give you more ideas down the road.

Storing Christmas Lights

Store your lights where they won’t get tangled. Wrap them around a piece of cardboard, plug each strand’s male and female components and then place them in a large box.

When wrapping your light strand around the cardboard, start with the male end so when you unwrap the strand the following year, it’s ready to start hanging on the tree immediately.

Tips and Considerations for Hanging Your Christmas Lights

• You can either hang Christmas lights end-to-end or string-to-string.
• Before buying the tree lights, check to make sure your boxes are all compatible.
• Using stacked plugs, you can join more strands than when you use end-to-end plugs.
• Do not plug multiple extension cords together. Instead, buy them in the lengths you need and get extension cords with more outlets.
• The wattages for your lights should be the same. Having the same wattage prevents surges and prolongs the life of the bulbs.

Conclusion- How to Hang Beautiful Christmas Lights

Christmas is a time for holiday cheer and decorating your tree with lights shouldn’t take away from that.

By following the suggestions in this article, hanging your Christmas lights will be an enjoyable experience instead of a hassle you dread.