Lighting up your home this Christmas

Have you made up your mind about your Christmas Light decorations now that the Festival season is almost on you? Don’t be left out. You do not want to be the odd one out in your neighbourhood when it comes to Christmas decorations, do you? You may have the ones you used last year nicely stored in your attic or store space. If so go ahead and check whether they are still usable. There are many ways these could now be out of commission.

If these are usable then all well and good, go ahead with your planning. If you did not have any last year now is the time for you to plan out things for this holiday season.

Think of a good theme which may or may not be for both indoors and outdoors. You can certainly go for two different themes altogether, but a common theme will look better and will be less complicated too. The outdoors will certainly take up more of your attention, because it will be a tad complicated because of the harsh outdoor conditions at this time of year. Regardless, it is one thing which will help you to share the fun and spirit of the season with others in your neighbourhood.

Your plan would reflect what sections of the house or garden should be decorated, what type design is best for the outdoors and indoors, which trees, plants and flower pots should be fitted with decorations. You will need to know where your power can be linked from, and if nowhere is available what modifications you should go for. There are a host of other considerations which will depend on your individual requirements.

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Now is the time to think about a theme for your Christmas Light decorations. The theme naturally has to blend with the physical features like trees, garden ornaments if outdoors and if indoors various furniture and the built in features. Some common themes you can consider are;

• Magical

   Winter land

A theme where you can incorporate snowman figurines, reindeers and sleighs, even Santa Claus if you feel like it. Cool blue and white lights in every form will form a suitable back drop, but all colours would blend in well with this. One can easily add items which you yourself or your family members make and get these incorporated in your decorations. In the alternative many items made of synthetic material are available if you fancy them. Whatever it is the decorative lights will have the final say in bringing out the fun and laughter the occasion demands.

• Nativity Theme

The key issue of the festival is the nativity and is therefore an appropriate theme to put your mind too early on in you planning! If you want to make the decorations solemn, whilst still bringing out the religious joy, there is no other theme better suited. The birth of Jesus Christ is a joyous occasion and gaily decorations of Christmas Lights are therefore not out of place! The traditional crib has to be the pivotal decoration. Lot of tiny blinking stars, and a few spotlights with concealed indirect lighting thrown in would be most appropriate

• Trendy Green theme

With the current consciousness on sustainability and natural products this is an ideal occasion to let others know of your feelings about the issue. Your children will get an opportunity at home level to experience what it is all about. It is a good theme to spread the message that man has no right to destroy what God has created. Lighting naturally will be green, with lots of low power consuming LED lights and colourful CFLs thrown in.

• Or any other which may emphasise your individuality. Here you are free to be more individualistic and creative. You know the best the topography of your outdoors and that of the neighbours. You are free to select lighting to suit your own theme.

You have a multitude of choices for decorative lights. Traditional lamps, which you have grown up with, will bring about nostalgic feelings too. This is the least trouble maker perhaps of all types, except when it comes to the electricity bill!

The smaller mini lights in strings are good for any occasion, not only for Christmas. However if a tiny bulb comes loose or breaks the whole series will black out! For the green decorator and the ones with an eye on the electricity bill the ideal is the LED light, a newer entrant to the scene. Slow to get damaged, either due to mishandling or longer usage, these come in different colours as well. If your theme is Green this is a must.

Whatever the theme you decide on it is prudent to select decorations that you can expand on next Christmas season. If the whole family can take part in the preparations what better pleasure can you get than that? Christmas Lights are electrically operated and it is most important to take the safety measures, in line with safety regulations, at least when your do your installation.

 

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