The most wonderful time of the year can be even merrier with festive holiday lighting.

But to catch your family and neighbor’s attention with a stunning display, you need to understand the ins and outs of lighting.

To make sure you have a bright Christmas, here are our top 4 outdoor holiday lighting tips.

1. Put safety first

Creating the perfect holiday lighting display won’t be worth much if you are injured in the process.

So, it’s important you follow safe practices from start to finish.

One of the most dangerous parts of installing holiday lights is using a ladder. Here are ways to prevent ladder and fall injuries:

• Keep the ladder at a 75-degree climbing angle.
• Watch for overhead power lines.
• Ask someone to hold the ladder.
• Make sure the safety feet are deeply embedded in the ground, which is especially important when there are ice or slick conditions.
• Only use a ladder that is in proper working order.
• Don’t step on a roof with snow, ice or a steep pitch.
• Keep three points of contact on the ladder at all times.

You also need to be careful working with electricity to prevent overloads and electrical trips.

Keep plugs and extension cords off of the ground so they don’t come in contact with water.

2. Don’t mix and match lights

Whether you choose LED or incandescent lights is up to you.

However, you should only use one type of light at a time, as using both types together can create a jarring contrast.

The two types of light have very different qualities, and they do not look good together.

Most holiday lights used today are LEDs because of their benefits.

LED lights use about 80 percent less electricity compared to incandescent lights.

There are a variety of LED colors like warm white light, which can bring you that classic, traditional feel of Christmas.

3. Create personalized designs

There are always lighting trends you can look at and follow, but the most important thing is to find colors, styles, and designs you and your family will enjoy.

If you have children (or are a child at heart), you might want to make your home more festive and fun with different color combinations.

To create focal points, you can also add starbursts to walkways, trees, and door entryways. Or, use linkable lights — like snowflakes — to add character to your outdoor space.

4. Call a professional

A lot more goes into installing outdoor holiday lighting than just hanging a few strands of bulbs.

To decorate your home for Christmas, you need to:

1. Come up with a design plan.
2. Choose colors and lights.
3. Manage the electrical components.
4. Follow safe practices.
5. Install and take everything down once the season is over.

It requires a good bit of work and experience to successfully and safely add holiday lights, and that’s where Landscape Lighting Pro of Utah comes in.

Landscape Lighting Pro is all we do, and we’ve built our reputation on our experience, skilled installations, quality products, artful designs, and customer service.

We treat our client’s property like our own, so the only thing you’ll notice when we leave is the stunning lights.

Take time to relax with your family this season, and let us bring your holiday lighting ideas to life.

Contact us today for a free lighting consultation, and let’s get your home holiday ready!

Landscape Lighting Pro of Utah is located in Midvale and serves customers in residential areas including Salt Lake City, Park City, Draper, and Holladay.