How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights

By Lisa Hallett Taylor, About.com Guide

You are going to hang holiday lights. Unlike Christmas lighters and decorators before, you will resist the urge to be impulsive and buy too many lights, to not follow instructions, install lights during a storm, stand on the very top of a ladder, or lean too far over and look at the lights while balancing on your sloping roof.

If this is your first time, keep it simple. You can always add to your holiday light collection each year, adding more rows, outlining architectural features, or wrapping lights around trees and branches That way, you get a feel for what works, what doesn't, what you like and what you don't.

• Do you know the safe way to use a ladder?
• Christmas Light Safety