Clark Griswold's Guide to Covering Your House with Christmas Lights

'Tis the season for holiday cheer and that means it's time to roll out those Christmas lights! Nothing says “happy holidays” like a house outlined in twinkling strands of lights. It's a great way to show off your creative side, spread holiday joy, and impress your neighbors. But how do you get started? Read on for your complete guide to outlining your house with Christmas lights.

Step 1: Choose Lights Carefully

The first step is to choose the right type of lights for the job. LED bulbs are usually the best option because they are more energy efficient and longer lasting. You'll also want to decide how many strands you need based on the size of your home. Generally speaking, one strand of lights per foot is a good rule of thumb. If you have a two-story house, you'll need twice as many strands as if it were one story.

Step 2: Prepare Your Home

Now that you've chosen your lights, it's time to prepare your home for installation. Start by checking all of your outdoor outlets to make sure they're in working order. If any are not, call an electrician or handyman service to replace them so they can be properly grounded and protected from moisture and other elements. Once all the outlets are checked, run extension cords from each one up along the sides of the house so you can plug in each strand at its highest point (you don't want visible cords running down from each light).

Step 3: Hang Your Lights

Now comes the fun part—it's time to hang those lights! Start at the highest point possible on each side of the house so that gravity will help pull them taut against its surface (this will also help prevent sagging over time). Work around windows and doors first so that these frames look their best when lit up; then move onto covering any flat areas such as shutters or railings before filling in any gaps between them with smaller strands or single bulbs. Finally, plug everything into its respective outlet and test out each strand until it works perfectly!

With just a little bit of planning and preparation, outlining your home with Christmas lights can be an easy way to add a little extra sparkle this holiday season! No matter what type of home you have or how big it is, these tips will help make sure that everything looks perfect when those strands start twinkling away! So grab some eggnog (or hot cocoa) and enjoy showing off your handy work!