Fine artist and designer Josh Yöung—a self-described Christmas addict—prepped for the festive season early this year. After relocating from Chicago to Washington, D.C. over the summer to be closer to family and friends, he now truly feels home for the holidays, so to speak. And that means decking the halls, of course. To help others get in the holiday spirit, Yöung breaks down the light stringing strategies—for both indoor and outdoor lights—he employs in the historic Capitol Hill townhome he shares with husband Ignacio Martinez.
But first, you’ll need the actual lights: Experts recommend 100 lights for every one- to one-and-a-half feet of tree or shrub. That translates to approximately 400 lights for a six-foot fir but, of course, you can add more or less depending on your preference.
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If you can, try to use the same type of lights (think size, shape and color) throughout to ensure consistency. White LED lights, for example, cast a blue glow and will thus compete with white incandescent bulbs that are slightly warmer, with a more yellow tint. Keep in mind how many strands can safely be connected (information typically found on the box) and have a UL-approved extension cord handy, just in case.
Once you unbox your lights—whether new or from storage—test them, otherwise you face the very real possibility of later contending with an unlit section of decor.
Next, you'll want to stretch them, says Yöung, to eradicate that accordion-like bend. For his faux indoor tree, which he decorated in mid-November this year, Yöung hid the unsightly end of a strand of white lights just below the top of the tree, so it stays unseen. The eye, then, still travels the full length of the room’s 12-foot ceilings.
“Keep the lights tight to the tree itself, so there are no messy wires,” he says. To do so, Yöung uses paperclip-like ornament hooks, which he wraps around the tree trunk and branches.
Instead of simply wrapping lights around the tree, Yöung recommends wrapping lights around each branch and then inward again. That way, when the tree is plugged in and lit up, “you see depth, see the tree itself, and the hanging ornaments are illuminated not just in front but also through to the base,” he says.
Yöung inherited an ornament collection from his grandmother and has since added his own baubles—upward of 1,000 total, in fact—that combine to wow-worthy effect. And when the tree is placed in a window alcove, like Yöung’s, the lights seemingly shine in the reflection.
He employs a similar stringing method on the exterior. Here, Yöung added a real Fraser Fir garland from Williams-Sonoma to the stairway railing that leads to his front door. To create what he dubs a “festive look,” he thread a single strand of white lights throughout the garland to illuminate it and welcome guests to the red brick home.
The key, Yöung says, is to wrap the lights around the garland base and then hide the wires with its branches. “This will give you a cohesive and natural look,” he explains.
The less-is-more approach, as Yöung describes it to ELLE Décor, lets the Christmas tree remain the primary showcase.
Whatever he’s doing, it’s working. Revelers have traveled from near and far to admire Yöung’s holiday décor and to share their snaps of his home on Instagram.
To get started with Yöung’s tips, check out our list of The Best Outdoor Christmas Lights to Decorate Your Home With This Holiday Season.
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The Link LonkDecember 15, 2020 at 02:05AM
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How to Hang Holiday Lights Like a Pro—Indoors or Out! - HouseBeautiful.com
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