Decorating Safely for the Holidays
The holidays are just around the corner, and there’s no better way to get into the spirit of the season than decorating your home! For many, this means a bright display of lights, music, and props for all of their neighbors to see. Outdoor home decorations are a staple this time of year, but not all decorations are created equal. Some can damage your home and cause water damage, shingle loss, and structural damage. Others can even be a fire hazard.
Stick to these safe decorating ideas and you can have that Griswold see-it-from-space display you’ve always wanted, without all of the safety hazards!
Safe Decoration #1: Lights
Our first suggestion is the staple of all holiday decorating: lights. You can hang lights on your roof in a multitude of ways, from lining your roof’s edges and peaks to hanging ‘icicle lights’ above your garage to lacing them in flashing patterns atop your flattest plane. Most people immediately think of hammers and nails and sore thumbs when they think of hanging lights, but this doesn’t have to be the case!
For starters, you should never use nails to hang holiday lights on your roof. Unless you are a professional roofer, you should never attempt to nail things into your shingles on your own. An improperly placed nail can damage shingles and aid in the progression of water damage.
Instead, get some plastic shingle clips from your local hardware store. These clips can be secured into your shingles without damaging them, and have special slots specifically to hold each individual light. They are safer to use for both yourself and your roof, and look equally as invisible as a nail or staple might!
Also, make sure if you are doing any kind of decorating on your roof, that you are working with a buddy. Climbing up that high without a spotter to hold the ladder is dangerous enough on its own. Make sure that there is always someone on the ground to call for help if necessary.
Safe Decoration #2: Projector
Now, you can have your favorite holiday film playing all season long for the entire neighborhood to see! Projecting a movie or flashy design onto your roof or siding is one of the safest options for holiday decor. A little light never hurt anybody, and that includes your home. This decoration idea is non-invasive and easy to set up. Simply get yourself an outdoor projector from your local hardware store and set it up with an extension cord. Make sure the extension cord you use is for outdoor use, as an indoor extension cord might not be waterproof, and this can cause damage to the cord leading to sparking, shocks, and even fire.
Add sound/music for an even more immersive experience! Just make sure your outdoor speaker is also waterproof.
Safe Decoration #3: Lawn Ornaments
The best thing about lawn ornaments is you can choose how crazy you want to get—whether it’s a static, unlit nativity scene or reindeer statue, or a brightly lit and mobile grinch figurine! For any lawn ornaments that also have electrical elements, the same principle applies: make sure your extension cord is specifically made for outdoor use, otherwise you open yourself up to all kinds of problems, such as the aforementioned fire damage.
Another important thing to keep in mind with lawn decorations however is that they must be secured to the ground in some way. The last thing you want is Santa Claus blowing through your front window during a storm! Grab some tether cables and hooks from a hardware store near you and make sure that you are securing your decorations tightly to the ground, especially those lightweight decorations that seem the most likely to move around.
With these holiday decorating safety tips, you can have the Griswold decor experience without all of the hazards. Enjoy your celebrations and remember to stay safe and healthy!