Essential Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights and Decorations in Chilly Winter Weather

Does your area transform into a picturesque winter scene more beautiful than a snow globe’s interior? Then you’re familiar with the enchantment of a white Christmas, where the ground is covered with a stunning layer of snow, perfect for playing or simply admiring—it’s where Christmas captures the classic essence of holiday cheer. However, you’re also aware that residing in such a winter fairyland comes at the expense of warmth, as Jack Frost bites at your nose once again this season. This necessitates a different approach to decorating compared to milder climates, so we’ve compiled this set of guidelines for setting up Christmas lights and ornaments in cold winter conditions.

If your light installations occur amid cold temperatures, falling snow, and brisk gusts, these handy tips below will aid you in saving time, staying safe, and maintaining your Christmas lights and decorations in excellent condition.

Start Early

Avoid winter’s chill by beginning your decorating sooner in the year. This way, you can prevent dealing with frost, ice, and wind chill. If you’re concerned about appearing overeager, you can always delay turning on your lights until later.

Using C9 retrofit bulbs with an empty socket light line for your roofline or staked lights allows you to start early by outfitting your light line with Halloween-colored bulbs in October. Once Halloween is over, replace the orange bulbs with Christmas-colored ones in November.

Stake Early

As temperatures drop and the winter season approaches, the ground becomes hard and frozen, making stake light installation difficult. Consider placing your stakes in the ground earlier while it’s still soft. Even if you don’t have time for other decorations before the season starts, your decorating process will be much simpler if you handle the stakes early. Don’t shy away from using tools: a good hammer or mallet will aid in securing stubborn stakes.

Work in Steps

Christmas light supplies, particularly light lines, are easier to handle when they’re at room temperature. Keep your supplies inside your warm house rather than in the garage or attic until you’re ready to install. When it’s time to hang your Christmas lights in cold weather, take your supplies out in manageable batches while keeping the rest indoors.

Handling…

Christmas Light Clips

Cold temperatures can make items stiff and difficult to handle—Christmas light clips being no exception. However, a quick solution is to warm your clips in your hands to make them more pliable.

You can also prepare for hanging your Christmas lights in chilly winter conditions by pre-attaching clips indoors. The Tuff Clip attaches to the light cord and bulb in one piece, offering convenient indoor preparation in the warmth of your home.

Hot Glue

The wonders of hot glue can help keep your Christmas décor intact. Hot glue can endure very cold temperatures for up to 60 days. Beyond that, in severe cold, it becomes brittle and loses its adhesion.

Opt for Coaxial Lights

Do you frequently experience harsh winter weather where you reside? Is “bad weather” a term you’re well-acquainted with? Do you feel the need for more resilient Christmas lights for your home? If your answer to these questions is yes, then coaxial lights with weather-tight connections are your ideal Christmas lighting solution.

Coaxial lights are perfect for hanging in the kind of freezing conditions that lead to snow, ice, and other unpleasant aspects of living in a winter wonderland. With these lights, you can remain calm during snowstorms and other winter weather events, as the coaxial connections keep your light sets sealed and secure.

Vibrant RGB Lights

The most vibrant and inventive of Christmas decorations, RGB LED lights are fantastic. They can be a great addition to any Christmas light display. But can they endure harsh weather? Twinkly Pro lights indeed can. Designed for outdoor use, Twinkly Pro lights come with higher IP ratings than Twinkly Home lights. Energetic displays that captivate the imagination remain unaffected by cold, ice, or snow when using Twinkly Pro lights.

Bundle Up

Whether you delayed your decorating or the cold weather arrived sooner than anticipated, hanging Christmas lights in chilly winter requires wearing suitable attire. And appropriate attire for handling lights and decorations means dressing safely for the cold.

Layers are extremely beneficial here, and having several layers is best. Start your winter outfit with a base layer. This is crucial for retaining body heat. Ideal garments for this layer include thermal tops and bottoms, thin t-shirts or A-shirts, or long underwear known as “long johns.”

The next layer consists of your regular clothing, preferably the warmer types you normally wear during the winter. Sweatshirts, sweaters, hoodies, and heavy flannel shirts, along with long pants like jeans or cargos, work well.

Finally, the outer layer should comprise the warmest items such as a beanie, winter jacket, gloves, possibly snow pants, and boots. Well-designed winter jackets often include sufficient insulation and inner liners that help keep you snug and warm.

And don’t forget the pockets. Many winter jackets feature numerous pockets—sometimes more than you need. These can be handy for holding small, plentiful lighting supplies such as clips, zip ties, and retrofit bulbs. Just be sure to use easily accessible pockets to avoid unsafe movements when on a ladder or roof. The abundant pockets in winter jackets make them a smart choice for fall lighting installations, depending on the cold.

Pay Attention to Your Body

Traditionally, enduring difficult situations is associated with positive traits like bravery, determination, and heroism. But when it comes to hanging Christmas lights and ornaments in cold winter weather, your safety is the priority.

Frostbite is a common threat during winter and can affect even the most experienced individuals. Be mindful of how long you’re outside and listen to your body. Sure, it might be tempting to finish another section of lights, but no extra moment is worth risking harm. Don’t wait until you feel numb—go inside to warm up.

Weather-Proof When Possible

The elements can be unforgiving, and you should be just as meticulous about protecting your lights. Use outdoor-rated equipment for extension cords and outlets. Wrap electrical connections to extension cords with electrical tape for waterproofing.

Dry Before Storing

Winter often continues well past the holiday season. In many regions like the Midwest and East, the most snow falls in January. When taking down your lights and decorations in snowy conditions, they’ll be wet and cold. Make sure to let everything warm up and dry out completely before packing them away to prevent mildew, rot, or electrical issues. Check out our YouTube video for more expert tips on Christmas light storage.

With these tips on hanging Christmas lights and ornaments in frosty winter conditions, you’re ready to conquer the elements and make your next Christmas lighting display the best one yet. If you need assistance creating your perfect display, we’re here to help. Email [email protected] or call us at 1-800-391-5280, and we’ll guide you toward creating your Christmas lighting masterpiece.