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Voilà! The final result — yes, it can be accomplished without pulling your hair out.

You'll need:
• A Christmas tree
• 4 strands of Christmas lights
• A power strip
• An electrical cord with a power splitter (brown or green)
• Scissors
• Cable ties (optional)
• Step stool (optional)

For an exterior tree, you'll also need:
• A GFCI receptacle
• Electrical tape
• A painter's pole (optional)
by Clark Harris
1. Plug in each strand of lights before you hang them. If you can't get a strand to work within five minutes of tinkering, please throw it away. A few dollars is a small price to pay to avoid an emotional meltdown before you even get started.
by Clark Harris
2. Remove all tags from the lights.
by Clark Harris
Safety note: If you are installing the lights outside, make sure you plug them into a GFCI circuit. These receptacles are designed to prevent shocking and electrocution.
by Clark Harris
3. Install a power strip into the closest receptacle. This not only makes it easy to turn your lights on and off but has the benefit of adding a built-in circuit breaker.
by Clark Harris
4. Plug an extension cord into the power strip. Make sure the extension cord can accept more than one plug. Try to use green and brown cords to blend in with the tree.
by Clark Harris
If your extension cord does not accept more than one plug, you can add a splitter like the one in this picture.
by Clark Harris
5. Install the cord about halfway up the trunk of the tree. Add a second cord near the top for taller trees. You can wind the cord around the trunk of the tree to keep it in place or use small cable ties.

Note: If you need to use a second extension cord, plug it into the main power strip.
by Clark Harris
6. Plug in your first lights. Make sure you're plugging into the extension cord you placed halfway up the tree to help hide the wires. This will also maximize your light strand by not having to extend it back to a wall outlet.

Pull the string of lights along the trunk of the tree to the top.
by Clark Harris
7. Install the lights from the top of the tree to the bottom. Eric Bain prefers to start at the top so he always works downward, toward the plugs placed along the trunk of the tree. This will also help avoid your trying to hang a half a strand of light at the uppermost part of the tree. Spreading lights out at the bottom tends to be easier.
by Clark Harris
8. String the lights from the trunk of the tree out toward the tip of the branch. Doing this will put the focus on the lights instead of the wires. Draping the lights across the front of the tree puts the wires in plain view. Instead, wrap the lights around the branch as you work your way out toward the tip.

Make sure you wrap the lights somewhat loosely on each branch, and aim to get about 12 lights on each branch.
by Clark Harris
Tip: Install the lights where they will be seen. You can reduce the amount of lights you install on the rear of the tree if it will be placed against a wall.
by Clark Harris
Tip: Do not connect more than three strands of lights together. Connecting more than three will cause the lights to burn out.
by Clark Harris
9. Tie the plugs together. If your tree is outdoors, wrap electrical tape around the parts of the plugs that connect together. This will keep the lights attached and will help protect them from water.
by Clark Harris
Plug your fourth string of lights into the extension cord that was placed in the middle of the tree.
by Clark Harris
10. Work your way to the bottom of the tree. You may need to install another extension cord near the bottom of the tree. Plug this into the main power strip so turning the lights on and off is easy.
by Clark Harris
Tip for tall trees: Remove the roller from a painter's pole. String your lights on the metal bracket and use it to place the lights on the tree. You will be able to string the lights on a 10- to 15-foot-tall tree (depending on your height, of course) without a ladder.
by Clark Harris
Now stand back and admire your masterpiece. Invite friends, neighbors and in-laws over to watch them squirm with jealousy.

Tell us: What are your tree-trimming tips? Share your ideas and photos of your tree below!
by Clark Harris

Comments

olldbobbi I'm sorry, adding lights to the Christmas tree is not where the challenge lies. The challenge lies in REMOVING them !!! They do not want to give up.
6 months ago · ·
dianestyle good tips for safety and "enlightenment".
6 months ago · ·
whitsendranch i use a different method that works better ,and easier removal. Insteade of wrapping around tree, I plug take them up and down, up and down. when removing no unwrapping and reaching around awkward tree. they come off easily and by the time i get to back i can turn tree and just pull those off too. if tree is large i just stand near back and give a light tug and they come down to my hands.
6 months ago · ·
peggle Even easier....we got the tree with lights already on it. And you pack it away with the lights still on it. All that's left is the truly fun part of decorating it. In the past we have done the lights both ways up and down and around. I agree that the up and down is easier to take off and on.
6 months ago · ·
whitsendranch I use the pre lit method on inside artificial tree but my outside patio tree is freshly cut down by me. I grab an outside one by thinning out a baby cedar growing to close together,( by babies i mean they look so small) I get them to patio sometimes they end up 15 footers!
6 months ago ·
PARADISE INTERIOR DESIGN One of my favorite tricks for a magical lighting plan is to first run a string of twinkle lights down the center of the tree inside close to the trunk. Then finish with your regular lights on the outside. It's not as busy as all twinkle lights and adds just enough to make your tree come alive.
6 months ago · ·
PARADISE INTERIOR DESIGN For tips on setting up your Christmas Village just click on my site, go to projects and find Christmas Magic.
6 months ago · ·
Michelle Nogoy For easy to remove lights AND fully lit tree, work in a wave pattern. (I start at the bottom, but I'm sure top is same effect). Weave in and out of branches, but DO NOT wrap around branches. When you remove... Just PULL. SERIOUSLY EASY.
6 months ago · ·
PARADISE INTERIOR DESIGN I agree. Just loose laying your lights makes them easier to remove and once you've hung your ornaments you can adjust them to highlight if you need to. Just be sure to 'tuck' the wires in the branches to hide.
6 months ago · ·
smittycdm Clark, coming from one who has blown out the lights (connected too many strings, thx for your tip), blown the plug itself (definitely wasn't GFI & again, probably connected too many strings), blown the circuit (had to call electrician for that one), and that's only the lights for interior. I guess you can tell I like "a well lit tree." Even though I'm now somewhat experienced in the light department (man, do I go crazy at Target after Christmas), you did give me some new ideas and I thank you. I will be adding the electrical tape to my repertoire.
6 months ago · ·
Joan Vargo Why would you WRAP the lights around the branches? They're not going to get away. Just laying them and slightly pushing down will hide them and is a lot better.
6 months ago · ·
Jess @ homevolution This is helpful - thanks for sharing! I also just came across a post on how to photograph Christmas lights, so once you've got them up, get some good pictures!
http://www.elizabethhalford.com/photography-tutorials/photographing/how-to-photograph-your-christmas-tree-how-to-get-twinkle-bursts-of-light/

http://homevolution.blogspot.com
6 months ago · ·
Lucia Feltner Good info for applying lights to a tree. However, for me, the best way is buying a Christmas Tree with lights already on the tree.
6 months ago · ·
ikanfixthat Nice!
6 months ago ·
Tomcat Painting, Inc. I like to wrap a different color around the inside trunk of the tree such as blue, green or red and then white lights on the outside branches. This takes a little more time, but makes a big difference.
6 months ago · ·
artbeat If you darken the room and squint at your tree (while it is lit up) you will be able to see if everything is balanced and where you might need more or less light.
6 months ago · ·
lindseyakin Our lifesaver is to use the remote control plugs/power switches for the christmas tree lights. That way, we're never crawling under the tree or stretching to reach the outlet, a simple click from the remote kept on the ottoman or in the side table drawer is all it takes.

Last Christmas we realized that the thermostat was in the way of the only place we could put the tree (new house) and we had to stick our heads into the branches to adjust the temperature - this year, we replaced it with the Nest :-)
6 months ago · ·
tinyeven Wonderful tips, thanks. (Wouldn't cut the tags off because they let me know which are interior/exterior lights for next year.)
6 months ago ·
smittycdm One more thing, a major mfg of Xmas lights who has a vacation house in the OC actually told me the lights are designed to last 1-2 yrs max, so he said, go ahead & just cut the plug & "ur dun, leave it on da tree." Not my accent, but you get it. Good thing Newport Beach has won Number One in US Recycling Award, not because we separate our trash, scary I know. Even if we try to...never mind.
6 months ago · ·
smittycdm Sorry, forgot to add, after cutting tags, "then u throw the tree in alley."
6 months ago ·
leswolfe For years we have used prelit artificial trees. I do not like puzzles and lights have a way of turning into puzzles. We have in the last few years added snow fall lights to the interior of our 9' tree. Adds a lot of interest!
6 months ago · ·
tigerstripes I match the extension cord to the color of the floor surface. A brown or green cord on a cream carpet really stands out.
6 months ago · ·
bennylava For larger trees that don't come preassembled, lay the lights on the branches (from bottom up), before placing the next layer of branches on top. I agree about not wrapping branches, just laying the lights on top gives the same effect.
6 months ago · ·
Sara Parker Thank you all for the super tips! The other really good thing to do is to spray a flame retardant and let it dry before you decorate your cut tree. Plain old Borax and water make a simple one.
6 months ago ·
mrsben Appreciate the tips re the electrical aspect but have to agree with others; there is no need to wrap the lights around the branches. Also I have found if working with mutiple cords, turn on each string as you work with them which will pretty well eliminate placement readjustment. Also if your tree is artificial, remember the branches are very forgiving so bend to reposition them if necessary to accommodate an even distribution of lights.
6 months ago · ·
kellyerin I use 3 different size white lights and layer them....amazing results...and I discovered this completely by accident when I had put all of the tiny lights on that I had and didn't have enough...I spread them out a bit and then added a bit bigger with the plastic spikey flower thing on the tips and then even one size larger. The twinkling has extra depth and dimension like you've never seen.
6 months ago ·
kateskouros no thanks. a pre lit works just fine for me. it would work even better if someone put it up, decorated, and then took it down too.
6 months ago · ·
kellyerin I've used an artificial tree when we've planned traveling near the holidays but to me there is nothing like a real tree, smell, look, taking decorations out each year, memories of the special ones....love decorating our tree...fire....music....wine...cocoa for the kids....it's one of the most "Norman Rockwell" moments of our year! Maybe when I grow older I'll feel differently...but I sure hope not!
6 months ago · ·
nopps I put the lights up one branch, down the next. I just wrap them loosely. We have an artificial tree that is in three sections. Instead of putting an extention cord up the middle, I make sure there is a connection for the next string of lights ends at the next section. That way I just unplug the lightsthere and can take the tree apart and leave the lights on the tree when storing it.
6 months ago · ·
kraesmom We have an artificial tree that is NOT prelit, but I found a way that usually minimizes my efforts each year. Our tree has hinged branches (they don't detach from the "trunk") and it comes apart into three sections. I lighted each section separately, with one light on each tip, and we store the tree whole, in the basement, with a sheet wrapped around it. Each year, we carry the sections upstairs, arrange them, and then use one of the plugs that has a handy foot switch button on it and three outlets distributed along the length. One for the top section, one for the middle, and one for the bottom.
6 months ago · ·
Dianne Rowe We have a silver tree this year. We have decorated it with turqoise and lime green balls. Mixed in are peacock feathers and clear lights. Pretty nontraditional but we love it.
6 months ago ·
janelindemann We have a 9-10 foot tree and we have stumbled across a very easy way to light the tree up perfectly. Use strands of icicle lights (outdoor) instead of regular rope lights! You can place them very evenly and easily hide the cords ...they go on quickly and it was only 3 strands...the lights can be adjusted up or down and it is very even! Takes very little time and is a snap to remove. We wondered why we hadn't thought of it years ago.
6 months ago ·
suz4120 Years ago I owned a retail store that did a huge business in Christmas decorations. Two tips that I learned at that time and have continued to this day: use about 100 lights per foot of tree and put ornaments inside the tree right next to the pole. Re the latter tip: I use plain but very sparkly red, blue, green and silver balls. Most of us tend to hang things only at the ends of the branches - this adds so much depth to the tree!
5 months ago · ·
Pamela We leave the lights on our 8 foot artificial tree and store it in the garage with a sheet and a large plastic sheet wrapped around it, easy.
5 months ago ·
Pamela After Christmas of course.
5 months ago ·
kellyerin I just participated in our town christmas tree festival to benefit the local 4-H (actually, my "equestrian dreams" tree won!! yay!) Anyway....to transport trees without undecorating them we were advised to wrap them in saran wrap, right over the ornaments and then we put a big contractor's trash bag over the whole thing. It rode home in the back of our pick up truck (with my DH holding on to keep it from tipping). Carefully unwrapped back at the farm lounge and voila, ornaments all intact and ready for our upcoming open house! . For those that do artificial, this might be a big time saver...especially older folks.
5 months ago · ·
Pamela Congratulations kellyerin, your tree is beautiful !!
5 months ago · ·
kellyerin Well thank you! It was fun to do. I have a collection of horse related ornaments given to me from family, friends and students spanning the last 35+ years, so it was fun to get to use some of them! (I used a couple of sets of laced leather reins for garland which was a big hit).
5 months ago · ·
Sara Parker Beautiful tree and great idea for a fund raiser!
5 months ago ·
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