Do's and Don'ts: Decorating for the Holidays

Holiday lights and decorations can make your home brighter and full of cheer, but it's important to decorate safely and efficiently. Here's what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to decorating this year.

Do:

Use timers

There's no point to lighting your home in the middle of the night when everyone's asleep, but it's easy to forget to pull the plug before heading to bed. Timers can help you save energy by setting the lights to turn on and off again at set times.

Inspect lights before hanging

After pulling your holiday lights out of the box, check the strings for frayed wires, loose connections or broken or cracked sockets. Throw out damaged light strands, and replace burned-out bulbs with new ones that are the same wattage.

Decorate with sustainability in mind

Want to save money and decorate sustainably? You can craft holiday decor at home. Use boughs from your tree to create a festive wreath; repurpose old books and fabric scraps to craft ornaments and snowflakes; and turn old bottles into festive displays using string lights.

Don't:

Use incandescent holiday lights

If you're still using old incandescent light strands, it's time to toss them and upgrade to energy-efficient LEDs. They're brighter, more durable and use 75% less energy than incandescents. Plus, they come in many different shapes, colors and sizes to coordinate with your other decorations.

Use extension cords irresponsibly

Be sure any extension cord you use isn't damaged and is rated for indoor or outdoor use, depending on where you plan to use it. Never string multiple extension cords together or place them under furniture or rugs — this is a fire hazard.

Overload outlets

Adding adapters may seem like a good solution, but it only increases the number of outlets — not the power running to those outlets. Overloaded electrical outlets and circuits generate excess heat, which can damage the internal wiring system and cause a fire.

Take a few extra minutes to follow these tips as you put up decorations to have a festive and safe holiday season!