Who doesn’t love Holiday decorations? All the twinkling lights, candy canes, and snowmen can make even Scrooge smile and reach for a cup of hot cocoa. We encourage everyone to go nuts with their holiday decor, but it is essential to keep safety in mind. All those extension cords, light bulbs, and glass can get a little tricky, so before you deck the halls, read on for some holiday decorating safety tips.
Keep Your Christmas Tree Away From Heat Sources
One of the best parts of the holidays is having a live tree in your living room for a few weeks. However, if you decide to go for a real tree instead of an artificial one, keep it away from heat sources. This means you should place your tree far away from fireplaces and heaters. Water your tree daily to prevent it from drying out and always keep a fire extinguisher in your home on the same floor as your tree.
Make Sure Your Twinkle Lights are in Good Shape
Strings of holiday lights should be replaced every couple of years. Never use lights, indoors or outdoors, that are frayed or have loose connections. Thoroughly check your lights before hanging them and always make sure you’re using the proper extension cords for either indoor or outdoor use.
Power Off Before Bed
Whether you’re planning on using a timer for your lights or manually unplugging them, make sure they’re all completely off before turning in for the night. Leaving them on can leave you at risk for a power shortage or outage while you’re not awake to address it.
Keep Breakable Ornaments High and Safe
We all have fragile holiday decorations; some may be older than we are. It’s perfectly ok to display these proudly every year, but it’s best to keep these breakable items out of reach of pets and small children.
So, get crazy with your holiday decor this year, but remember safety first. Happy Holidays!