Should you string lights on your tree horizontally or vertically?: Video

How do you like your Christmas lights? We all have our preferences, and we’re spoiled for choice, making it easy to decorate our trees exactly the way we want.

You can pick white lights, multi-color bulbs, sparkly or customizable lights that do all of that — and then some. However you prefer them, the key is making sure you have enough lights to decorate your tree without scrambling to cover dark spots.

Watch this video to see the best way to string lights on your Christmas tree.

How many lights do I need for my Christmas tree? 

Before you start decorating, make sure you have enough lights to achieve the look you’re going for. It requires a little math, but fortunately, it’s simple.

Watch this video to see how you can determine the amount of lights you’ll need for your tree.

If you want a soft glow, multiply the height of your tree in feet by 100. If you want a bright sparkle, multiply the height of your tree in feet by 200. For example, if your tree is 6 feet tall, you’ll want 600 lights for a soft glow and 1,200 lights for a bright sparkle.

For wider trees, consider adding an extra 100 to 200 lights per additional foot of width and always keep an extra string of lights handy to fill in any dark spots. 

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Best way to light a Christmas tree

Next, it’s time to light the tree!

The first step is to check the lights. Plug them in to see if there are any dead bulbs and whether the strands are all the same hue. Once the lights are ready, it’s time to start stringing.

But should you wrap them around the tree or run them up and down? Both methods work well, but the vertical approach provides more coverage and makes it easier to adjust or swap strands throughout the season. It's also less dizzying than repeatedly than circling the tree.

Whichever method you choose, start at the top of the tree and work your way down. Make sure to leave one of the light plugs at the top so you can easily plug in your tree topper.

Plug in the lights as you go so it’s easy to spot gaps. Step back every few layers — and turn your house lights off — to admire your work and see if any sections need tweaking.

If you want to create extra depth, wrap the lights tighter around the trunk and weave them in and out of the branches.