The best ways to securely hang Christmas lights – both inside your home and out

It wouldn't be Christmas without some sparkling lights strewn about our homes. Making them look good takes a little more than suspending them from hooks or wrapping them around our tree, however. So, how do you hang Christmas lights, both inside and out?

While it is relatively simple with the right tools, experts warn there are some safety precautions to take into consideration before you throw yourself up a ladder to hang lights from the rooftops.

Here, they break down how to hang your Christmas light ideas safely and securely to keep them looking their best.

How to hang Christmas lights

Avoiding common Christmas lighting mistakes starts with hanging them correctly, ensuring they aren't likely to fall, cause electrical shorts, and look their best to wow guests and passers-by.

Here's how the experts do it.

Safety above all else

The first rule of making your outdoor Christmas decor ideas a reality is to be safe, begins Patricia Derpinski, lead designer at Hudson Holiday Decor.

She says, 'Safety is my top priority when hanging lights. I only use outdoor-rated lights for exterior displays and check all lights for frayed wires or loose connections before installation.

'For both indoor and outdoor displays, I always try to avoid overloading electrical outlets, use grounded extension cords, and secure cords properly to prevent tripping hazards. I also always make sure to hang lights away from flammable materials and install timers to avoid overheating. This approach keeps the display beautiful and safe for everyone to enjoy.'

When picking lights for exterior use, find sets that are UL-certified, use outdoor-rated GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) extension cords, and plug them into a GFCI-protected outlet.

Make sure you use a good ladder when working at height and have someone to hold it.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Hanging lights on a house

Whether you are upgrading your Christmas porch decor or want to drape lights from the rooftop, the first priority when hanging outdoor lights is safety. You should always use a well-maintained ladder, secured to the wall of your home. You should also work in a pair, to have someone to further secure the ladder, hand you things as you work, or assist should anything go wrong.

Then, you can hang the actual lights. Outside, there are a few ways to do this.

Lead designer Patricia Derpinksi shares, 'Outdoors, I avoid using nails or screws and instead attach lights with clips that won’t leave marks or require any drilling or power tools. My goal is to create a beautiful display while leaving surfaces completely unmarked and undamaged.' We like All Purpose Holiday Light Clips from Amazon, which can be installed on gutter edges or slid under shingles.

To avoid common outdoor lighting mistakes, it is important to carefully consider where you want your lights, and whether it is a suitable location.

Daniel Mock, VP of operations at Mister Sparky adds, 'Installing your outdoor lighting ideas so that they will be dry as often as possible is the key to avoiding nuisance outages and safety hazards throughout the holiday season.' This means hanging them under covered areas, such as porch cover ideas or overhanging roofing sections.

He continues, 'Ideally, you’ll position the plug connections under an area protected from moisture and above ground, out of water. Hang your lights under awnings where possible so they are covered from rain. Position them so they can dry out if water enters the bulb.

'The outlet you plug in to should be GFCI protected. GFCI protection cuts off power by sensing a potential water shock hazard. In up-to-code homes, GFCI-protected outlets are present in all wet areas, including bathrooms, kitchen, garage, and the home’s exterior.'

How to hang outdoor tree lights

Hanging Christmas light ideas for outdoor trees in the front yard makes a beautiful display as they illuminate its shape.

Once again, safety is key when hanging outdoor string lighting ideas. As with hanging Christmas lights on a house, you will need lights specified for outdoor use as well as extension cords that are outdoor rated and have GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protection reminds Daniel Mock, master electrician.

He warns, 'If you’re using extension cords, select ones that are intended for the outdoors and UL-listed. Do not use extension cords that are taped up or spliced.'

Calculate how many lights you need, allowing around 100 lights for every 1.5 feet of coverage. Before you hang light strings, check they are in good condition and plug them in to ensure they work.

Lay the extension cord to the base of the tree and plug a strand of lights in to start the installation. Wind the lights upwards around the trunk, spacing them evenly, then wind them onto large branches. Here, leave larger gaps between each circuit of the branch then work back down the branch wrapping the string in the center of each gap to create the same spacing as on the trunk. You may need to connect strings when hanging outdoor light strings to illuminate the whole tree.

How to hang indoor Christmas lights

Indoor Christmas lighting ideas are a little easier to hang and manage than outdoor lights, but you still need to be careful of overloading outlets to avoid common fire risks.

How to hang indoor tree lights

Getting your tree lights wrong is one of the biggest Christmas tree decorating mistakes bringing down your decor scheme.

Luckily, they are fairly easy to apply. The trick is to have lots of lights – and we mean a lot of lights to elevate your Christmas lights.

Scott Sergeant, expert landscaper and owner of Seargeant Landscape & Arboriculture says, 'I have a unique way of putting lights on a Christmas tree. Start by folding a Christmas lights string in half. Then gently pull the strand up from the bottom of the tree along the trunk all the way to the top.

'Some adjustments may be needed depending on the length of the strand and the height of the tree. Putting a strand or two along the trunk gives the tree depth. It lights up the center of the tree and really makes a tree shine.'

Scott continues, 'Another tip when putting lights on the outside of the tree. Do not wind the lights around and around the tree in a spiral fashion. This makes it harder to remove when taking the lights off after the holiday. Instead, start putting on the lights in the back of the tree.'

He advises instead to work your way around the tree until you get to the back again. 'Then go up a few inches and reverse direction until you get to the back of the tree and again go up a few inches and reverse direction. Keep doing this until you get to the top,' Scott says.'

Doing it this way means when it comes to removing the lights after Christmas, all you have to do is find the end and gently pull the light strand. 'It will unravel from the tree without having to go round and round,' Scott advises. 'It literally takes 15 seconds to remove the lights when done this way.'

How to hang window lights

For Christmas window decor ideas, as ever, check the light strings for damage then plug them in to make sure they’re working.

Lucy Searle, content director of Homes & Gardens says, ‘I prefer to use battery-operated LED light strings for windows to avoid the need to have an extension cord running from the outlet to the window.'

You can hang the Christmas lights from hooks – we like Command Indoor Mini Light Clips from Amazon. Position the hooks around the top and sides of the window frame at around two or three-inch intervals, following the manufacturer’s instructions on attaching them to ensure they stick and later come off without damage.

Work the light string around the window by fitting it onto the hooks.

How to hang railing and mantel lights

When hanging Christmas lights as part of your Christmas mantel decor ideas, or suspending them from banisters, railings, or walls inside your home, you likely want to do so without risking any permanent damage.

Patricia Derpinski, expert holiday decorator, says, 'I like to use non-invasive methods like adhesive clips and hooks designed specifically for holiday lighting. For interiors, I usually opt for clear, removable adhesive hooks that won’t damage walls or paint. Command indoor hooks [available at Walmart] are great because they are nearly invisible against most surfaces.

'I also like to use smart plugs or timers,' Patricia adds. 'This allows you and your family to schedule your outdoor lights on and off instead of having to manually manage them.'

To hang lights inside, simply place the hooks in the desired location and hook the lights into place once they are secure. Some sticky hooks need to be stuck in place for up to 24 hours before you add weight to them to ensure they are securely adhered to and do not peel off prematurely.

When planning your Christmas stair decor ideas, ensure lights and garlands do not obstruct the railing that people may need to safely use the stairs. Similarly, for your Christmas fireplace decor, Avoid hanging them over a fire to avoid a fire hazard.

Nailing your Christmas lighting will give you great foundations for the rest of your Christmas decor ideas. Now all you have to do is make your home cozy for Christmas to really set the festive mood.