It is that time of the year again, when we pull, drag, and coerce our holiday lights and decorations out of the attic and get ready to create some holiday happiness and festive fun. But there is a caveat: those strands of lights, those yard illuminators, and those electric wreaths need to be put on hold while you remind yourself of some very important holiday lighting guidelines.

To begin, always check each strand of lights for wear and tear. Any strand that appears frayed, chewed, or generally worn and tired needs to be replaced. If you are replacing many strands, it is best to choose LED lights rather than any other; these lights are more energy efficient than standard lights. Once the checks have been performed and the lights are good to go, you can begin the thrilling task of attaching them to your home, both inside and out.

Remember, of course, that there are lights for interior spaces, and there are lights for exterior spaces. DON’T use interior lights on the exterior of the home! There are lights that are specifically made for use outside�"this is usually indicated on a white tag attached to the strand. Once that is settled, and the appropriate lights are ready for the appropriate places, temporarily attaché them to the home, preferably with gutter clips or other plastic pieces made specifically for this purpose. DON’T staple, nail, or otherwise permanently attach these to your house. Remember, these lights are coming down the first week of January, so keep that in mind when installing the holiday illumination spectacular.

Of course, there are inevitably instances wherein the reach of the cord just is not going to make it to the outlet; DON’T even think about adding a second extension cord, nor another strand of lights when the product specifically tells you that only three (standard) to six (heavy duty) strands can be connected using the end connectors. It is simply not worth the risk of fire or electrocution just for the sake of aesthetics. Similarly, though you may be tempted to run a cord through a window and plug it into an interior outlet, this is a major DON’T. Unless, of course, you plan to leave that window open all season long. Never, ever close a window on a cord.

Moving on from the admonishments, there are some things you should definitely DO when installing holiday lights. DO remember that the more strands you place on and in your home, the more work you will have to take them down and put them away. DO remember to store them properly when done; this includes keeping them off of the house and in a cool, dry environment. And for the actual decorating, DO keep in mind that garish and mismatched sets of lights and other illumination objects are not okay just because it is the holiday season; keep it classy, elegant, and simple. DO stick with a theme�"in other words, DON’T mix blinking multi-colored lights with white icicle lights; also, cutesy cartoon characters are adorable when used in moderation, whereas a veritable sea of ornamental inflatable’s and plastic figurines is a definite DON’T.

Above all else, remember, the holidays and the decoration process should be enjoyable and pleasant for all involved. Stay safe, and take pleasure in the process. DON’T let the holiday decorating get you stressed. DO enjoy the season, DO enjoy the radiance and luminosity of the holiday lights, and DO be safe and prudent as you create your holiday ornamentation.