Secrets to a Stunning Holiday Light Display

It’s beginning to look a lot…different than holidays of the past. But if there’s one tradition that can brighten a socially distanced celebration, it’s decorating a house with lights.

Kelly Fitzsimmons, who owns the decorating service Light Up Your Holidays in Chicago, says many of her clients are reaching out and ready to have some fun after a challenging year.

“Clients and prospects are calling me and saying they want to add cheer to the neighborhood and have their kids look forward to something, especially as many of them are distance learning,” Fitzsimmons says. “There has been a huge demand for my services this year.”

Fitzsimmons says everyone has an opportunity to “spread amazing joy throughout the neighborhood” with their holiday lights this year.

“I highly recommend, whether you can hire a professional service or not, that you get up and decorate to spread the cheer, even if it’s four bushes in your yard. Help people smile – that’s our goal here!” she says.

According to Christine Rowley, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Classic Realty in Somers, New York, even the smallest display can go far in lifting spirits. This will be the fifth year Rowley has organized a holiday lights contest to help raise awareness for local charitable organizations.

 “Winners are not judged based on the size of the home, or how many lights they have. It’s really based on the love and the care that they put into their displays, and how they are bringing out that holiday spirit,” Rowley says.

To help 2020 end on a lighter note, Fitzsimmons and Rowley share their top design tips for decorating this holiday season.

Don’t skimp on the foliage

If there’s one décor mistake that Fitzsimmons hates to see, it’s “pancake wreaths.” And yes, they are just as sad as they sound.

Inexpensive wreaths and garland may look fine at night when they’re illuminated, but during the day they can appear flat.

“If you want a home to look elegant, then you want three dimensional wreaths and garland. Bows can also be beautiful and really pop,” Fitzsimmons says. “It’s important to consider the placement as well as the quality of the décor.”

Fitzsimmons advises that homeowners take care to make sure garland is uniformly wrapped around columns, and wreaths should be large enough to fill an entire window. When purchasing decorations, she advises artificial greens over real wreaths or garland.

“Pre-lit, artificial decorations stay full all season long, whereas ‘live’ plants can go limp or are not as robust,” she says.

Get clever with colors

Decorating with white lights offers a warm, nostalgic look that’s popular among Fitzsimmons’ clients. But there’s a place for multicolored lights too – especially for families that want to involve kids in the decorating process.

“We often take a classic approach to decorating and then make it playful with strategically placed, multicolored lights,” she says. 

Fitzsimmons says one option can be outlining the home in white and using crimson bows, or wrapping bushes and trees in red lights. She’s also been asked to design a home this year that uses a different color on every tree.

When a compromise can’t be reached with the kiddos, you can always give them free reign of the backyard – which Fitzsimmons suggests is also one of the most overlooked spots for lights.

“You look out into your backyard all day as you’re hanging out in the living room or during the evening when you’re preparing dinner,” she says. “Decorating the deck or those two or three trees in the back allows more illumination to be enjoyed. And if your kids want crazy colors, that’s a good place to put them.”

Keep in mind balance, symmetry and simplicity

Be strategic in the placement of lights, which can be used to highlight a home’s features and hide imperfections.

“Wherever you install lights, that’s where the eyes will go,” Fitzsimmons says. “So if you have a tree that is too large or you really just want to focus on your home, use the lights to support that design.”

Maintaining balance is also important. “One common mistake I see is homeowners lighting up some bushes on the right and not the left. Make sure you have symmetry in your design.”

Rowley adds that while there’s certainly a place for creativity, she advises avoiding getting too experimental with your display.

“I’ve noticed a lot of homes use flashing lights that blink very fast,” Rowley says. “It can be great for a certain audience, but the majority of people like something more calm and relaxed.”

All that glimmers can be SOLD

For many, holiday decorating is a treasured tradition. But what if your home is on the market?

Rowley says it’s perfectly fine to still decorate for the holidays – as long as your real estate agent is able to take listing photos before the lights go up.

In several instances, Rowley says she’s seen how adding some touches of cheer can help a potential buyer feel welcome.

“When you walk into a home and the fireplace is going and the mantle is lit up with garland, it’s a very comforting experience,” Rowley says.

In fact, Rowley once sold a home after hosting a holiday-themed open house. Community members – including prospective buyers – were invited to the home for a photo shoot with Santa.

“The future buyers ended up attending and said they loved the feeling they had that day and could picture themselves living in the home hosting their own Christmas celebration,” Rowley says.

Just avoid putting out every holiday knickknack when decorating a home that’s currently on the market.

“If you put up too many decorations, it can make the room feel a little smaller and more congested,” Rowley says. “Err on the side of simplicity – I would keep the design simple and elegant.”

Skip the stress and stay safe – consider hiring a pro

It’s all fun and reindeer games until you discover the string of lights are – astoundingly – even more tangled than last year. With the new work-from-home hustle and virtual student wrangling, homebuyers may want to have someone else check hanging holiday lights off their list.

Hiring a professional service to install lights not only saves time, but many designers also know installation secrets for a magical display that can’t be replicated on your own.

“My team is trained to do perfectly symmetrical installation, without any cords,” Fitzsimmons says. “We focus on helping busy parents and professionals create these memories for their families hassle-free.”

Nothing ruins the holiday like an unexpected injury – which is why safety is another important consideration when deciding if it’s time to call in the pros. Hanging holiday lights often involves ladders and working with electricity – two areas many professional installers have special training in.

“Most do-it-yourselfers hang lights only once a year,” Fitzsimmons says. “Someone could be standing on the top rung, and that is just dangerous. They’re risking slipping or wasting time that they could be enjoying with their family.”

Illuminate your personal style

Whether a home is decked out with white, multicolored or even flashing lights, joining in on the holiday spirit is what matters most. Fitzsimmons even suggests filling a yard with every holiday decoration available – seasonal or not.

Why not? 2020 seems to have no rules, and that should extend to going big with your holiday lights.

“Decorating with lights really does brighten up our very bleak and dark winter months,” Fitzsimmons says. “Many of the homes I work with often want a classic holiday look, but if you want to go the complete other direction, I say just go for it!”

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