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The Christmas lights blog
Plain, sourced answers about outdoor Christmas lights: what they cost, when to hang them, which bulbs to choose and how to hire the right installer.
Latest
Latest articles
- When to put up (and take down) outdoor Christmas lights
The traditional switch-on, when installers book up, and how long to leave them up – with a 2026 calendar. - How much does it cost to run Christmas lights?
LED or incandescent, worked out at 2026 electricity prices – with a formula you can use on your own display. - How to measure your roofline for Christmas lights
Eaves, gables and peaks measured from the ground – with a roof-pitch table and a worked example. - HOA rules for Christmas lights: what to check before you decorate
Where your HOA’s rules are, what they usually cover, and how to ask for approval – with a letter you can copy. - C7 vs C9 Christmas lights: which bulbs for your roofline?
The two classic roofline bulbs compared – size, base, wattage, and where each one looks best. - Warm white, cool white or multicolour Christmas lights?
How warm and cool whites differ, what the Kelvin numbers mean, and when multicolour is the better call. - How to hang Christmas lights without damaging your roof or gutters
The right clip for gutters, shingles, ridges and brick, what never to do, and how to set up the ladder. - Outdoor Christmas light safety: a checklist
The electrical, ladder and seasonal checks that matter, from certified lights and GFCI outlets to timers. - Lease or buy your Christmas lights?
What leasing and buying each include, how to compare them over three seasons, and what to ask an installer. - Commercial holiday lighting: a planning guide for businesses and HOAs
A timeline, what a proposal should include, and what drives the price – for storefronts, offices and HOAs.
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