The Christmas tree is always the centerpiece when it comes to decorating our homes for the holidays. And while we often focus on the pretty baubles, tinsel or other shiny decorations, we often overlook the key that gives the Christmas tree its “wow” factor – the lights.
In fact, without the magical glow, your Christmas tree would probably look rather dull rather than dazzling. So why do we neglect the humble string of lights? Admittedly, hanging Christmas strings has been my least favorite part of tree decorating. Not only is it difficult to wrap the candles neatly around the branches, but it is time consuming. No matter how many times I had tried to create the perfect Christmas tree lighting, I would always end up a tangled, ugly mess. I was convinced that only a professional could master the art.
That was until I discovered this viral Christmas tree lighting technique that is a game-changer. The TikTok video (opens in a new tab) posted by Kelly Fitzsimons shows us a clever, alternative method of Christmas tree lighting that involves 2,000 cluster lights, and more focus on the trunk rather than the branches. The spectacular end results are a brighter tree than ever – to achieve that magical Christmas movie glow. So if you want to up your Christmas tree lighting game, check out this simple but awesome hack.
TikTok Christmas Tree Light Hack
@kellyfitzsimons__ (opens in a new tab)
♬ original sound – Kelly Fitzsimons (opens in a new tab)
1. First, Kelly starts by unraveling three sets of 2,000 warm white LED string lights, much like these Dazzle Bright Warm White Christmas String Lights ($49 (opens in a new tab), Amazon (opens in a new tab)). According to Kelly, these lights don’t really tangle, which makes decorating the tree much easier.
2. Starting from the bottom, she pushes the candles straight back towards the trunk, instead of resting them along the branch tips. This not only helps the lights shine outward, but also allows you to hide the wires more easily.
3. Kelly then starts packing the trunk using the zig-zag method. So instead of walking around the tree to wrap her candles (as we often do), she moves from left to right, and right to left, concentrating only on the front of the tree. To secure the lights properly, she braids them together around the inner branches.
4. Once the entire trunk is covered, Kelly then moves the lights outward to each individual branch of the tree, still using the zig-zag method. This way you will have a glowing light coming from under the branches as well as the top. When she’s done, she has a dazzling, brightly lit Christmas tree to rival the ones in Hallmark movies.
It’s no surprise that this viral Christmas tree lighting hack has garnered more than 4.3 million views on TikTok, with over 900 comments from amazed viewers. One commenter said: ‘I never thought of putting cluster lights on the tree! Wow,’ while another joked, ‘They can see this tree from space.’ Either way, it’s definitely a game-changer for achieving the brightest Christmas tree ever, without all the hard work and grumbling. Best of all, it will add a soft glow and warmth to your home, making it feel that much more festive.
What is the zig-zag method?
Essentially, the zig-zag method moves from left to right (and back again), as you set up the Christmas tree lights. This is more efficient than wrapping or walking around the tree to wrap the candles; plus you don’t waste light behind that can’t be seen. In addition, the zig-zag method makes it much easier to take the lights down without them becoming a tangled mess and getting caught in the branches. So it’s a win-win!
If you want to prepare for next year, you can learn how to grow a christmas tree and keep it for next year. And if you have pets, here’s how to keep cats away from your Christmas tree. Also, if you want to light up the backyard for Christmas, you can always use some of those best solar lights to spice it up.
