Save money, time and energy this holiday season with these must-have
tips, tools from
Lights
Outdoor lights will help make your home the most festive house on the block. They'll brighten your mood and provide a warm welcome to visiting friends and family.
Insider Tip: A good rule of thumb is 100 lights for every foot and a half of tree or shrub you want to cover. Of course, if you love lights, you might want to double or even triple that amount.
After you know how many lights you need, your biggest decision is the type of bulbs you'll use:
-- Incandescent mini lights have been around for years. They're inexpensive and produce a warm glow. They're sold in various lengths that hold from 50 to 300 or more lights and come in numerous colors and combinations of colors. -- LED lights are the newer option for outdoor decorating. They give off brilliant white light and remain cool to the touch, even after hours of use. Thanks to unbreakable plastic bulb covers in various shapes and colors, you're sure to find a light that suits your style and needs. LEDs are up to 80 percent more energy efficient and last thousands of hours longer than comparable incandescent bulbs, saving you money.
Specialty lights are good for decorating certain areas of the house:
-- Icicle lights feature many short segments of lights dangling from a central strand. New outdoor LED technology from GE offers multifunction color changing, chasing and flashing light effects, such as LED Icicle Show (item #25182). -- Net and blanket lights make it quick and easy to cover shrubs and bushes with sparkle. Kits come in various sizes, from 100 to more than 300 lights. -- Stand-alone shapes such as holiday-themed images, spirals and mini-trees can be great additions to open spots in garden beds, lawns and porches.
Yard Art
For those wanting more than traditional lights, the options are endless. Let your personality shine through with inflatables, animated tinsel characters or a more sophisticated golden scroll deer to accessorize your yard. New inflatables this year include Frosty the Snowman (item #329276), Santa in RV Camper (item #329256), Children of the World (item #329263), Tigger and Snoopy with snow cone machine.
Insider Tip: The more multifunctional, the better. Go for larger sizes, lights, sounds, movement. The intent of inflatables is to provide grand entertainment (so, small and unnoticeable don't work)... that can be packed away at the end of the season into an efficient storage box.
Natural Beauty
On a more traditional note, small live potted evergreen trees flanking the front entrance are also very popular, inviting and a great way to add a different look to the exterior of your home. Tie the look together with a live wreath adorning the front door and draping the railing with fresh greenery. Add personal touches to the greenery by incorporating pinecones, berries, ribbon or burlap.
Insider Tip: Natural and rustic decorating themes are popular this year creating a holiday garden feel. Natural elements add earthy elegance: think Magnolia leaves, natural greenery from pine, spruce and natural wood finishes.
Decorator's Toolkit Must-Haves:
A few tools and organizing supplies can make Christmas decorating quick and easy while saving valued time and energy.
Insider Tip: In general, start high and work your way down. To eliminate a tripping hazard, avoid lights running on the ground or pavement.
-- Extension cords - You want to be able to set up decorations anywhere in your home or yard, regardless of outlet placement. -- Surge protector or power strip- If your electrical decorations share an outlet with appliances or electronics, chose a surge protector rather than a power strip to guard against sudden changes in electrical current. -- Timer- Save money and extend the life of bulbs by turning on holiday lights only when it's dark or when you're home to enjoy them. -- Wire- Use wire to help outdoor lights, wreaths and pine boughs stay in place. -- Ladder- If you have low ceilings and mainly decorate indoors, a sturdy three-step stepladder can do the job. For taller trees and outdoor projects, purchase a 6-foot stepladder or a longer extension ladder, such as the Werner 13' Aluminum Telescoping Multi Position Ladder (item #78390). -- Cable ties- A set of plastic ties in various widths and lengths allows you to tidy up a few extra feet of cord or bundle up items for end-of-season storage. -- Resealable plastic bags- Gather little things such as hooks, replacement bulbs and ornaments in clear bags and place them in airtight, waterproof containers. -- Basic hand tools- Gather screwdrivers, a hammer and pliers (to bend wire and pinch hooks tight). -- Work gloves- Get a pair of thin, flexible gloves that keep your hands warm while still allowing you to easily use tools and work with hardware.
For more tips on decorating for the holidays, storage options for your lights and how to pick the perfect Christmas tree, visit Lowes.com/home101 or lowes.com/holiday.
About
With fiscal year 2009 sales of
Source:Lowe's