When it comes to decorating for the holidays we can sometimes get a little carried away… which isn’t always a bad thing! As long as your decorations don’t cause harm to you or your home, we say the more the MERRY-er! Here’s a list of a few DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to holiday decor this season.
DON’T staple outdoor lights to your home!
Be nice to your shingles, as well as your soffit, fascia and gutters. Even small holes can cause damage by letting moisture in & cause your roof system to fail. You could also end up stapling through the cord and electrocute yourself in the process! Your best bet is to use trees to hang lights, but if you don’t have the option to do this, invest in clips to hang lights from your gutters & eaves.
DON’T overload your electrical outlets!
Although it might be tempting, stringing multiple sets of lights together and plugging them into an electrical outlet can potentially lead to a fire. It is important to follow installation guidelines when using lights on your home. You will also want to make sure all of your lights & extension cords work properly before you start hanging them. Everything needs to be plugged into the right outlets, and not all to the same outlet, to make sure you’re not overloading the breaker.
DON’T Go At It Alone
It’s good to have another person around to help carry things, help mount clips, hold the ladder, or worst case scenario: call for help in case of an emergency or injury. A second person is always good. While it may seem safe to use a ladder by yourself, approximately 5,800 people enter emergency rooms during the holidays and typically the cause is from falling off of a ladder!
DO Decorate Your Home Early
For those of us who experience harsh winters, decorating early can mean avoiding the perils that go hand and hand with ice and snow. Reduce the risk of injury (and all-together frustration) by getting a jump on your holiday decor. Additionally, knowing your decorations are done can allow you to be more relaxed and stress-free when the holidays come around.
DO Bring The Decor Indoors
Choose a theme for your indoor holiday décor that coordinates with your existing year-round décor. Vintage? Shabby-Chic? Modern? Classic? A simple way to do this is by picking a wrapping paper theme. All of those presents under the tree, a focal point of your holiday decor, will help tie the entire indoor theme together. Another is to choose 2-3 colors for tree decor or tableware and go from there!
DO Keep The Holiday Spirit
Keep the sentiment of the season at the core of your holiday decor. The holiday season is about joy and seeing the beauty in all things around us. The true decorations are the people in your lives and around your table; wrap them in a box of acceptance, a sprinkle of humor all tied up with a big bow of love.
