Are you passionate about Christmas lights, always wanting more during the holidays? Or do you prefer subtle tree decorations? For years, we dreamed of outdoor Christmas lights but thought our old house wasn't ideal. Now in our new home, we're going all out! 😊
Table of contents
Since moving into our new home, we've repeatedly noted how perfectly suited it is for outdoor Christmas lights. In fact, back in September, my husband Frank suggested icicle lights plus an illuminated sleigh in the front yard. It's growing on me! First, though, we're focusing on the eaves.
You have to start somewhere, right?
I've long envisioned Christmas lights along the roof edges, and our new house—with its pitched roofs, points over the office, kids' rooms, and master bedroom, plus the shed—makes it ideal. The front roofline above the bar frames and stable doors creates a dramatic drop for hanging lights.
After researching, we selected professional connectable icicle lights. Options like garland lights or full light curtains exist, but icicles suit our farmhouse style best. Their varying lengths create a playful, cascading effect against the roof's clean lines—charming and authentically festive.
Beyond the icicle strands (3m each, connectable), factor in starter cables, extension jumpers for unlit sections, splitters, and power source placement. Here's how we calculated for our setup:
I photographed the house and shed fronts, then used photo editing software to draw exact lines for icicle placement, including unlit gaps needing special extensions. For sloped sections, I estimated using a scaled ruler—no precise measurements, but it proved accurate. No leftovers expected—just enough!
We purchased from kerstverlichtingbuiten.com, which offers detailed product guides. You'll need matching connectors, jumpers, splitters, and extensions—standard ones won't fit. To confirm our plan, I emailed them our photos, and they approved: spot on!
Haha, exactly the right approach.
Last Sunday, despite the chill, we installed the lights as dusk fell. Pro tip: Use a twilight switch for automatic activation—each new strand lights up instantly, creating instant coziness!
Prep power, add jumpers/splitters, then divide tasks: one on the ladder, one guiding below. Secure small hooks into wood every 1.5-2m (one-time job for future years). Connect by unscrewing caps and linking.
Initially, the strands looked short and odd, but Frank pushed on. Turns out, each 3m strand's icicles were rolled up! Unroll on the ground first, starting with droppers, before hanging.
Expert Tip: Unroll fully on the ground prior to installation.
We paused as darkness fell and haven't reached the shed yet—a two-part job for our extensive eaves. Solar panels handle the power draw nicely! 😊
We've covered plenty of meters—sled plans on hold for now. 😊 Do you deck out your eaves, trees, or garden? Share your setups! Wishing you warm, festive days ahead.
xxx, Joyce
