While there’s been a lot to say regarding interior decorating, design and renovation, we really need to talk about outdoor holiday lighting.  No, really, we do. It’s that time of year again, when every twinkling, blinking luminary fantasy (or nightmare) finds its way onto front lawns across the country.

A three-day rain storm has prevented me from knocking on doors in my own neighborhood to request photo ops of these outdoor follies, but I can tell you that my favorite displays are the simplest and most understated: two homes nearby have strung multiple strands of lights from the tops of their homes and down to form the shape of a Christmas tree.  In one case, I think they’ve actually started at the top of a tall tree in their yard; they used multicolored lights and there’s a star at the top.  It’s cool because it’s the only feature they’ve put up, and it’s on a hill, so it’s visible from several vantage points on the streets below it.  The other is outside a two-story contemporary rectangular home.  The homeowners have simply taken three or four strands of blue lights, and strung them down from a single point at the roof on one white stucco wall in the front of their home to fan out in the shape of a tree.  So classy.

And I can tell you that my least favorite were the lawns polluted with plastic figurines, mismatched lighting schemes, and so covered with lights that the house itself is hardly visible.

For what it’s worth, here’s my take on what makes holiday lighting beastly or beautiful:

1. Less is more – I just saw a guy on the news who uses a record number of lights on his home and lawn during the holidays.  Granted, if you’re part of your community’s “Candy Cane Lane,” it might be tempting to compete with the neighbors Tim Allen style to see who can make the biggest contribution to the power company.  But really, I have to be a Scrooge in this case and say that it’s best to reign it in on the light fest.
2. Color it classy – Nothing says Winter Wonderland like trim and displays of all white or all blue lights.  Multicolored lights should be kept to a minimum (preferably inside on the Christmas tree), and multiple color schemes are a no-no.
3. Cast of characters – There’s a house in our neighborhood with a plastic Santa in his sleigh drawn by reindeer on the roof, a giant inflated plastic snow globe with frosty inside on the lawn, along with a few lighted forest animals, some plastic candy canes, and some plastic Disney characters thrown in.  Seriously.  All on the same lawn.  Really, people?  I love the reindeer done in white lights.  Plastic figures are really passe, and I think Mickey and the gang should stay at the Magic Kingdom for the holidays.  But if you must do a theme on your lawn, choose one, instead of recreating the entire holiday aisle at Walmart.
4. Motion Sickness – The same guy I saw on the news who uses several miles worth of power cords for his holiday lights has also rigged the entire display via computer programming to flash and blink to the holiday music of Manheim Steamroller.  I want to call him and ask him who will hear it as they drive by, and if people can hear it inside their cars, it’s guaranteed the neighbors will be furious.  But more importantly I don’t want to be made dizzy or cross-eyed by looking at a light display, and I think most blinking and flashing should be saved for the disco.

When in doubt, don’t take my word for it, call for help.  There are dozens of services that will do the job for you, and many online tips and pre-designed themes and displays that will keep you on track.

If I seem a little Grinchly, it’s only because I want the lights down in Whoville to be their holiday best.

Last 5 posts by KellyThacher

• O Tannenbaum . . . - December 23rd, 2009
• Lighting a Candle - December 22nd, 2009
• All For Show - December 21st, 2009
• Faking it with Flowers - December 20th, 2009
• Color Clinic - December 19th, 2009

Author: Kelly Thacher

Kelly has been a writer since she was in grade school where she received early recognition for her Young Author's project. Magazines like Home Entertainment, Luxury Consumer Electronics, Vertical Living, Luxury Home and the Robb Report were happy to have Kelly's editing talents on various projects. A series of career twists and turns has offered her invaluable experience in journalism, magazine and book publishing, and fiction writing.

Kelly Thacher has written 30 articles for us.