Page 11 - Real Estate Now - November/December 2021

and cords that nestle seamlessly into structures, trees and holiday wreaths or lawn ornaments. You can also find
battery-operated options, perfect for lawn displays or hard-to-reach corners.

As a general suggestion, Casey typically recommends LED lights over incandescent. The disadvantage with
incandescents is you end up paying more in electricity costs. Incandescents are inefficient since 90% of the energy
goes toward heat and only 10% toward the actual light. Using about 1/10 the wattage of incandescents and lasting
up to 10-times longer, a display of LED lights will help you save on your energy bill for the season and last years with
proper care and storage.
Be smart about it. “A clear trend is a shift towards smart home and customized light shows,” says Casey. People want
a custom light show and they want to show it off in a big way. Make use of your current infrastructure by integrating
your display with your smart home technology. Impress the neighbours by setting the flicker pace to a classic holiday
tune, or changing the colour scheme on demand. “Many want to have the flexibility to match their lights to their
house design and colour scheme while being able to use lights for multiple occasions,” says Casey. “We saw this trend
coming from traditional indoor lights with the rise of smart home and voice command lighting.”

“Hey Google, turn off my holiday lights.”
Choosing your holiday light style

The great thing about curating your own holiday light
extravaganza is the ability to entirely switch it up the following
year with little cost. That being said, it’s important to know your
options before heading into your local hardware store and
becoming mesmerized by all the pretty lights—just like you
should never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach.
Here are a few options to consider:

Turn your outdoor holiday display into a winter
wonderland with icicle or snowflake-shaped
lights.
LED projection spotlights require no installation, are a
timesaving alternative to traditional string lights and are
available in a wide variety of colours and patterns. “For a small
price, you can fill your entire house with colour-changing starfields or amazing animations and effects,” says Casey.
“There is also a segment of untraditional decorating utilizing neon rope lights.” Rope lights are typically much brighter
than regular lights and create a very futuristic look, perfect for outlining doorways, windows, trees and walkways.

If you’re after a timeless look, think about investing in a variety of string lights in hues of white and incorporating
subtle pops of colour like blue, green or red. You can find a variety of options including strings with large bulbs, mini
lights or nets. If you’re looking to get the kids excited about decorating for the holidays, consider a lawn inflatable or
two.
TIP: Not all white string lights are created equal. There are noticeable variances
in the temperature of the glow, some are cooler and give off a blue-ish tint
while others may be a warmer yellow.

Tips for installing holiday lights
Now that you’ve created your master plan, it’s time to deck the halls. There are a few things to remember when
installing holiday lights in the name of safety and sanity. First and foremost, check your lights. Make sure there are no
exposed wires or broken sockets and test each string to ensure the lights are all working and replace any bulbs that
have burned out.

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