The Right Lights: Dressing Outdoor Holiday Trees

Looking to add a little extra oomph to your Oakville holiday lighting design this year? Then why not consider dressing a few of your finest trees in festival holiday finery? Professionally illuminated trees provide an extra level of depth and visual delight, turning a standard Christmas lighting installation into an illuminating display.

Of course, planning an impressive tree lighting layout can be a tad time consuming. With that being said, you can still manage to execute an exceptional design without putting yourself through too much hassle. The following are a handful of tree lighting tips from our Oakville outdoor lighting experts.

1. Know Your Number

The first step in any holiday tree lighting process involves planning. Begin by calculating how many lights are needed to properly accent your trees. In order to do this, make note of the following considerations and industry standards:

• For a medium lighting display, our Oakville outdoor Christmas lighting experts estimate roughly 100 mini lights per vertical foot of the tree.
• For a heavy lighting effect, up that estimate to roughly 200 mini lights per vertical foot.
• 
  

Medium lighting is normally sufficient, especially if you live in a highly populated residential area. If your Oakville home is in a more rural or isolated area, you may wish to consider upping the ante and doubling your lighting needs.

It’s worth noting that this is far from an exact science. As such, don’t be afraid to use your own judgement. A slender deciduous tree won’t require nearly as many lights as a full-figured coniferous tree, for example. Experiment with different lighting strengths in order to create a look that suits your property.

2. Get the Right Lights

The type of light string that you choose to work can have a significant impact on your light count. The most popular Oakville outdoor tree lighting options at Christmas Décor are mini lights. With that being said, you can also opt for 5mm wide angle LED bulbs, and traditional C7 bulbs.

3. Tree Type Counts

Before you select your light string type, first consider the type of tree that you’re attempting to dress. Here’s a quick overview of the most common tree types and their Oakville outdoor lighting requirements:

• Evergreens: These trees can be very thick. As such, you’ll want to have some additional string length handy in order to ensure complete coverage. Our Oakville outdoor tree lighting experts recommend using string lights that feature 6" bulb spacing.
• 
  
• Deciduous trees: Since these trees shed leaves, they often requiring fewer lights. For a simply but impactful look, try draping lights over branches as well as wrapping the trunk.
• 
  
• Bushes and hedges: Consider using net lights in order to achieve quick and even coverage of these plants. If you’d prefer to use light strings, try and opt for a random light pattern in order to create the most visually appealing look.

 

When stringing lights on a tree, always remember to start from the top and work your way down. What’s more, remember to start with the female end of the light string at the top.

For more Oakville outdoor tree lighting tips and tricks, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Christmas Décor. Or, better yet, hire them to outfit your entire yard with a festive lighting display. Call 1-905-632-2445 to book your appointment now.