November is already half over bringing us to the brink of the holiday season. Can you believe it? If your family marks Thanksgiving as the opening day, it’s time to start thinking about decorations, huh? Holiday lights go a long way toward boosting happiness and goodwill toward our fellow man. As a matter of fact, considering all that’s going on in the world today, perhaps we should all get a head start on the “happiness and goodwill” feelings this year.
If you normally take a Clark Griswold approach to your outdoor lighting, the rising cost of electricity may have you cutting back this year. Even so, a scaled-back approach will still be a beautiful addition to the neighborhood’s overall look and will be appreciated by all who pass by.
Even though we never worry about icy surfaces here when you’re hanging the decorations, remember wet surfaces can have the same effect. Nobody wants to be laid up until the New Year because they weren’t thinking safety first on the day the holiday lights go up!
Stay safe up there
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that approximately 500,000 people are treated for ladder accidents each year. Sadly, 300 deaths due to ladder-related accidents occur as well. We’ll also note here that people over the age of 65 are 85% more likely to fall than younger people due to balance issues. Whatever your age, when working off the ground, inside or out, be careful if you’re working from a ladder.
The CPSC posts the following ladder safety rules that you should follow:
- Choose the correct ladder for the job.
- Place the ladder on a firm, level surface away from opening doors.
- If you must work on an uneven surface, shore up the ladder by placing a flat piece of wood under the ladder’s foot.
- Straight ladders should be set up at a 75-degree angle.
- Use ladders with slip-resistant feet and engage all locks.
- Wear non-slip shoes.
- Only one person on the ladder at a time.
- Keep your body centered between the ladder rails.
- Never face away from the ladder when on it.
- Don’t climb on the top 2 rungs of the ladder.
- Never straddle the ladder.
- Routinely inspect your ladder for damage.
When working near electrical wires, please, use extra caution because not all overhead power lines are insulated. Even if the metal ladder you’re using doesn’t come into contact with the wires, it’s possible for the electricity to ARC to the ladder if placed too near them. The CPSC reports that between 2000 and 2009, 15 people were electrocuted when working from a metal ladder.
Scaling back a bit
Incorporating your outdoor lighting into the decorating scheme can help cut costs because you’re working with what you already have. Many homeowners install LED lights with color-changing capabilities to give them the freedom to design their own light shows. Programming in holiday-themed colors will create the ambiance you’re looking for by clicking a few buttons on the remote or the company’s app on your phone!
LED lights are vibrant, long-lasting, and inexpensive to maintain. All three reasons make them a good choice for your holiday lighting. Whether they twinkle softly or maintain a constant glow, LED lights create a perfect backdrop for your holiday gatherings in your outdoor living space too. The shimmering holiday lights won’t need much else in the way of decoration to lend a magical ambiance to the space.
Celebrating the season and other things
Most of the nation gets a break from the bugs during the winter months because it gets too cold for them to survive. That’s not true, here, in Florida. Your enclosure provides a bug-free space to enjoy over the holidays too. Celebrating the season from within a screen enclosure brings you the satisfaction of knowing you—and your guest—won’t be overrun by insects.
The sun isn’t as intense during the winter either, even so, it doesn’t hurt to know that screen enclosures lessen the intensity of UV rays. Therefore, enclosures protect your furniture and other decor from suffering sun fade so quickly.
We haven’t even mentioned the privacy factor yet! Even though screen enclosures don’t shield the view completely, the illusion of privacy is enough to change the ambiance surrounding your outdoor living space. Moreover, the beautiful glow of the lighting shining through the structure flows out into the night adding to the holiday magic.
One more magical thought
If you have an outdoor enclosure, enjoy it to the fullest this holiday season. A space where friends and family can gather is always a comfortable spot. Spruced up with the sights and sounds of the holidays can only make it better. If you haven’t installed an enclosure yet, maybe you can add it to the list for next year. Sure, it might be a tall order for Santa. However, a little planning on your part can make it happen for your family for sure. And, now that we think about it—why wait until Christmastime?
If you work with a company that customizes your screens, you can have a fabulous backyard getaway up before summer arrives again. The screens completely change your environment which enhances your R&R time immensely. The images are printed with dyes boosted with added UV resistance so they remain vivid for years. Deciding which images you want may leave you as excited as a kid waiting for Christmas until your new enclosure goes up.
We hope so because anticipating good things is a good thing even unto itself.