How to Put Lights on a Christmas Tree Like a Pro
There’s a reason towns and villages across the country turn the switching on of their Christmas tree lights into a big event. Watching all those twinkling lights appear as if by magic on a dark evening is a delightful experience and, for many, marks the start of the festive season. The moment the Christmas tree lights go on can be just as special at home – but perhaps not so much if they don’t look good!
Hanging lights on a Christmas tree can be a frustrating task, especially if you need to spend ages untangling them before you can even get started! However, there are some tips and tricks to make it much quicker and easier. Follow our handy guide to putting lights on a Christmas tree and wow your family when you switch them on. Whether you decide to have outdoor tree lights or indoor, this guide will help you get where you need to be.
Choosing Lights for Your Christmas Tree
If you don’t already have Christmas tree lights or fancy upgrading or changing your colour scheme, the amount of choice in festive lighting can seem quite daunting.
Colour
Firstly, you need to decide what colour of lights you want on your tree. Multicoloured lights are ideal for a fun, bright appearance and are brimming with childhood nostalgia. On the other hand, white lights offer a timeless glow and complement any style of interior design. Choose between warm white tones for a cosy feel or cool white lights for a lovely wintry look.
Type
Incandescent Lights
These classic fairy lights are the type we all remember from childhood Christmases. The filament bulbs produce a gentle glow that is perfect for Instagram! Incandescent lights have a lower initial cost than more contemporary lights, and there are often more bulbs per strand, adding to the intensity of the effect.
LED Lights
LED lights are fast becoming the most popular type of Christmas tree lights in the UK. LEDs use much less energy than other Christmas tree lights, making them more environmentally friendly. They also last up to 5 times longer, so don’t need to be frequently replaced. They are cool to the touch, making them child-friendly, and are much less likely to break than incandescent bulbs.
How Many Lights Does a Christmas Tree Need?
Everyone seems to have an opinion on how many lights a Christmas tree should have – and very few agree! The answer depends on the size of the tree, the effect you’re aiming for and personal preference. Some people prefer a minimalist look, while others add more lights and additional strings for a spectacular effect.
If you’re unsure how many Christmas lights to put on the tree, use 100 lights per 1-2 feet as a general rule. So, for example, a 4ft tree should have 200-400 lights. Try to space them evenly over the tree, placing small lights closer together and larger bulbs slightly further apart.
Hanging Lights on a Christmas Tree
When you’ve decided on the colour and type of lights and have them ready to go, it’s time to get them on the tree. There is no right or wrong way to hang lights on a Christmas tree, and nothing is stopping you from just flinging them on the branches willy-nilly. However, if you’re aiming for a more cohesive effect, the following light stringing methods produce an artful look that is easy to achieve.
How to Put Lights On a Christmas Tree Horizontally
Also called the spiral method, this is by far the most popular way to hang Christmas tree lights.
Plug the string lights in (without turning them on) to ensure the cable reaches okay. Start at the bottom layer of the tree, at the side closest to the socket, and place the lights across the branches. Continue draping the lights over the tree branches, working in a spiral pattern up and around the tree until you reach the top.
Hanging lights horizontally allows you to create depth by placing some lights deeper into the branches than others.
How To Put Lights On a Christmas Tree Vertically
Hang Christmas lights vertically for a modern take on tree lighting. This method is quicker and easier than stringing lights horizontally but creates just as striking an effect.
Again, start at the bottom of the tree, close to the power socket, with the lights plugged in but turned off. Mentally divide the tree vertically into triangular sections. Move around the tree, draping the lights up and down in a zig-zag pattern. Step back to ensure the entire tree is covered and evenly lit when you switch them on.
Tips and Considerations to Safely Hang Tree Lights
- Ensure Christmas lights carry the British Safety Kitemark or UKCA marking. This confirms they are safe to use in the UK.
- Check the lights work before you start. There’s nothing worse than building up the big switch-on moment, and nothing happens!
- Always string lights before adding other decorations, such as baubles or tinsel. It’s much easier to hang Christmas lights on a bare tree.
- Leave the tree in the middle of the room until you’ve finished decorating it. Move it into place when you’re done.
- Use a step ladder to reach the highest branches. Perching on a chair or reaching up on tiptoes is just asking for you to fall and the tree knocked over.
- Be careful not to plug in too many lights in the same place, overloading a power socket.
- Tuck extension cords out of the way. Apart from detracting from the tree’s overall appearance, trailing cables are a trip hazard.
- Never use real candles to light up a Christmas tree. You could light up more than you bargained for.
Storing Christmas Tree Lights
Untangling the lights is usually the first task involved in getting them on the tree. Nobody wants to spend an hour getting the knots out before even beginning to put the lights in place. Thankfully, it can be easily avoided by taking some time to put them away properly.
That might be too late for this year, but when you take your tree lights down in January, remember the pain of untangling them and take some time to store them correctly. Wrap string lights around an empty Pringles tube, a coat hanger or a sturdy piece of cardboard so they’re easy to unravel next Christmas.
Without lights, a Christmas tree is really just a tree. A well-lit tree with carefully placed Christmas lights truly makes the season, providing a warm glow on dreary winter evenings. Whether you have an artificial or real Christmas tree, an indoor tree or an outdoor tree, lights transform it from a boring old tree into a magical, cosy and twinkling Christmas centrepiece.