Christmas lights are an especially important part of most people's Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, there are a lot of common mistakes that people make when hanging Christmas lights. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure that your they are as attractive as possible.

Tip #1: Work With Your Tree

When hanging lights on a Christmas tree, the best trick is to make sure that you work with your tree. What I mean by this is to note how your tree will have a number of different branches on each side, each at different levels. Look at those branches, and try to imagine a spiral. Pick a branch, then pick another branch ninety degrees from that branch and a little higher, then repeat this process. Once you've done this, you'll have discovered a spiral on your branches.

Now, simply follow those branches when hanging your Christmas lights. If you do so, your lights will naturally form a spiral around the edges of the tree. Hang the lights themselves about half-way between the end of the branches and the trunk, and you'll have even, attractive lighting.

Tip #2: Work With Your House

The second tip is to work with the edges of your house when hanging your lights on your eaves and down the side of your house. When you do this, your lights will look far less chaotic. Instead, they will follow your house, providing your house with an outlined version of itself in light.

When actually attaching the lights, use the hooks that come with most strings of outdoor lights. These will make sure that the lights follow the edges of your eaves closely. For hanging down the edge of your house, you don't need to attach them to your walls. Instead, let them hang and weight the bottom of the lights so that the string itself is in a nice straight line.

Tip #3: Light Your Foliage

Most people don't light their foliage. This is largely because it is hard to have lights reach all the way to an electrical outlet from trees. However, with the recent availability of solar lights, this has all changed. Purchase some solar seasonal lights and then you can light anywhere, including your bushes or hedges. When actually hanging the lights, use the tips mentioned above for working with your tree.

Christmas lights are a fun part of the season. I hope with the above tips, you will find them even easier to install.