Here’s Why You Should Hang Your Christmas Tree Lights Vertically

Christmas is a time of traditions. Everyone has their own little twists on how they celebrate the holiday, but two things are typically consistent: there’s usually a tree, and most of the time, it’s got lights on it. The rest of the tree decoration can vary depending on, well, tradition, with some people opting for baubles and ornaments and others going for a more natural pinecone and holly look.

There’s no right way or wrong way to decorate a tree… right? Well, it turns out that there may be a smarter way to decorate a tree— at least when it comes to Christmas lights.

Anyone who’s wrapped a tree in lights will tell you it can be a struggle to weave the strands between those prickly branches. But TikTok user @lizlovery claims to have discovered a method she finds much easier, and it involves going up and down instead of side-to-side.

@lizlovery Wow what a difference this made! Thank you @mrsclarehoops ! 🎄 #HolidayVibes #christmas #holidaydecor #homedecor #decortips #IntroVideo #hometips ♬ O, Christmas Tree – Christmas

“When you’re putting lights on your Christmas tree, instead of wrapping around the tree actually put them up and down,” says Lovery.

The technique is simple: hang the lights up and down your tree, moving in a slight zig-zag pattern as you go. The benefits are clear and obvious enough that we think Lovery is definitely onto something. For one thing, it’s simply easier to work up and down as opposed to wrapping around the whole tree. Plus, hanging lights vertically makes it easier to change out an individual strand if a bulb goes bad and requires fewer lights overall.

Other Christmas Tree Decor Tips

As we head toward the holiday season, here are a few other Christmas tree decoration tips to keep in mind:

• Plug your lights into a timer or smart outlet to control how long they stay on and prevent the bulbs from burning out.
• Incorporate different textures of decorations to give your tree a homey, classic look.
• If you’ve got a fake tree, take your time fluffing out the branches. The tree will look much better (and more real) if you do.
• Don’t have a ton of ornaments? Flocking a tree is a fun, unique look that will transform your living room into a winter wonderland.
• Got a bad strand of bulbs? Here’s how to fix a faulty fuse: