Decorating hack: Have we been hanging Christmas lights the wrong way?
It may be the most tedious part of decorating a Christmas tree, but stringing lights around the tree doesn’t have to be draining if done correctly.
Most people are known to wrap the lights around the tree starting from the very top and working their way down to the bottom, but there may be a better way to string lights around a tree, and not only is it easier, it looks better too.
Francesco Bilotto, a designer and home entertainment expert, has claimed for years that hanging Christmas lights vertically from the top to the bottom of the tree is a fool-proof method to get the most sparkling Christmas tree.
Speaking to House Beautiful, Bilotto says that by hanging the lights vertically instead of horizontally, each bulb will be in plain view rather than getting hidden amongst the branches.
“This way every tip of your tree, from branch to branch, will twinkle with delight,” he said.
He also advised those at home to take the end of the light without the plug and putting it on top of the tree.
As you hang the lights vertically, weave them in and out of tree until the excess is hanging off the bottom, then with the lights that are left over, move it across a few inches then work your way back up to the top.
Once the process is repeated, it should result in a tree that is sparkling all over.
“Another added bonus is when you dismantle your tree and take off the lights, it’ll be easier and less messy to remove strands from the exterior of the tree – rather than fighting a stubborn almost dried branch,” he said.
And to put the technique to test, host of US breakfast show Today, Savannah Guthrie, tried it out on air in 2015.
Clearly impressed, Guthrie said: “I’ll say this – it’s a lot easier. Usually you’re walking in circles.”
Will you be trying out this Christmas lights hack on your tree this year? Let us know in the comments below.