Festive light installation ceiling! The sparkle in a child’s eyes on Christmas morning is akin to them. Putting them on trees and roofs, meanwhile, is an entirely new story. Turn your home into a dazzling fantasy with these easy steps.

Imagine this: Holding a mug of steaming chocolate, you stand in your front yard, gazing up at your roofline. A little glitter would make it look like an unruly canvas. Get a plethora of clips first. No one clip is ideal, but the universal shingle and gutter clips should do the trick. In terms of hanging light, they’re like a Swiss Army knife.

Shingles, speaking of which… Rest assured, my darling companion! Priority number one: safety. For the love of God, use a strong ladder and ask someone to watch over you. No one is willing to go to the emergency room to describe their defeat at the hands of an icicle light.

Alright, let’s make our way to those magnificent trees. Getting lights to work around branches isn’t easy. Work your way up from the bottom. Imagine wrapping a huge, spiky candy cane. Trust me when I say that a light-hanging pole will save your neck if you struggle with your vertical orientation. And use bigger bulbs for trees that are rather tall. They will be as noticeable as Rudolph’s nose in the dark sky.

Here is where the magic (or mystery) happens—wiring procedures. Watch the wattage at all times. Avoid tripping off your entire block by taking precautions. Keep the connections off the floor and use extension cords that are approved for outdoor use. Electrical tape is your buddy here, securing those plugs from the winter’s mischief.

“Always hang lights when the weather is nice,” my Uncle Joe told me. Fixing lights in snow is about as pleasant as donning a pair of soaked socks. Timer tools are useful, so keep that in mind. Being the neighbor that leaves the lights on all day is something no one wants to be.

If you do it well, your house will be the envy of the block. People will stroll past, nodding in holiday appreciation. Having a light show reminiscent of a winter fairy tale eliminates the need for reindeer. Enjoy the holiday season to the fullest, embrace the mayhem, and string those decorations with care.