4 Holiday Decorating Tips
With the holidays upon us, many Americans will take the time to make their homes, yards, and offices look seasonally-appropriate. While decorating is a fun way to show your holiday spirit, the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky wants to make sure that you do it properly. Below we have included a list of tips on how to decorate in a safe, energy-efficient manner.
Have a Plan
Decorating your home isn’t like decorating the tree, you can’t just haul everything out and hope it all fits. When plotting your decorations, especially your lights, you need to take into account the resources you have at your disposal — like how much room you have and how many sockets are close by. Also, with regards to lights, check the packaging to see how many strands you are able to connect and then safely plug into a single outlet. Doing so will ensure that you have a sparkling display instead of a fire hazard.
Torn and Frayed
Speaking of fire hazards, now is also the time to double-check the condition of your wires, plugs, and electric-powered decorations. After spending months in the attic, bulbs can crack and wires can fray meaning that sparks could fly – and not in a good way. Thoroughly inspect everything you want to put up and repair or replace anything that is not up to code.
Consider the Ladder
Once you have the lights and decorations picked out, it’s time to get the proper gear to hang them. Chances are you will need a ladder to reach the tippy-top of the tree and the frame of your home. Instead of using a metal ladder, which can conduct electricity, consider using a wood, rubber, or plastic one as a safer alternative.
Once you are up there, make sure you have someone on the ground holding you down. Even if you have the sturdiest ladder in the world, it is still good to have a buddy at the base to provide extra stability and peace of mind.
Hit the Lights
Once your home is ready for Santa and his sleigh, you should be good to go, right? Well, not quite. Just because your house can light up the night sky doesn’t mean you should do so all the time. The average American household can increase its electric bill by up to $200 for the month of December if they choose to turn on their lights every night. Instead of paying a hefty bill, pick and choose certain days to light up — your wallet and the environment will thank you.
For more decoration tips, or to get a new garage door for the holidays, contact the Overhead Door Company of Western Kentucky today!