Let there be lights

There is something cheerful and inspiring about a well-done light display, as if the electric glow symbolizes the warmth of the holiday spirit shining in the dark. However, the emotions people feel when creating their own displays - untangling strands of bulbs or balancing precariously on ladders - are frustration and intimidation, often with a few colorful expletives thrown in for good measure.

Frankly, creating a great light display, whether you crave an over-the-top festival of color or the clean lines of allwhite bulbs, takes some expertise. Two experts from very different lighting backgrounds offer readers some helpful, and often surprising, tips.
Judd Bryarly, manager Christmas Decor by Timberline.

Begun as a seasonal supplement for Timberline Landscaping's botanical work, Christmas Decor focuses on providing a no-hassle, hands-free option for homeowner's craving holiday lights. Their services include providing materials, set up and maintenance throughout the season, but Timberline's schedule books up fast, often by the end of October. The company also handles larger displays for local businesses and donates lighting for charitable causes, including at the Ronald McDonald House.

Tip No. 1 : Bring your home into focus
A good light display will focus on key elements of your landscape or your house, focal points that will accent your house," advises Bryarly, who points out large trees or dramatic rooflines as potential focal points. "A good display can be as simple as good roof lighting. It's clean and crisp and really accents the home."

Tip No. 2: Achieving the straight edge
The secret to getting the crisp clean lines are even spacing and where to put light bulbs, Bryarly continues. For example, place a single light at the peak of a roof and a single light at the roof 's termination, then afix the lights in between at regular intervals. "The same thing for the windows: Make sure there's a light in each corner and they're spaced evenly throughout."

Tip No. 3: Expect a utility hit
Extra lights outside mean a higher electric bill, Bryarly reminds. If a homeowner goes all out, they can expect a 10-15 percent increase from their average rate. If you spring for the most expensive but energy effcient LED lights, however, expect to see only a 6-7 percent increase.

Tip No. 4: Never forget that it's worth it
Have fun and make it personal. It s a personal experience, so make the design ÿt what you desire, he says. The feeling is great when you see how excited a homeowner is when they see the lights the way they want them. They're ecstatic about their display and they love them. It's really rewarding."

Kevin Pickett of 2570 Nadine Drive, a must-see stop on any local light tour While he's decorated for the holidays with lights since he was a kid, Pickett's display has been increasing in size since 2001, when he connected with an online community called Planet Christmas. This year's display should contain 100,000-125,000 lights and many of his decorations - most of them handmade - will have to sit out the season due to lack of yard space. Pickett, who enjoys tinkering with computers, even programs his lights to synchronize with music and is experimenting with servos to create animatronics.

Tip No. 1: Maintain balance
Try and match things up as far as theme and size, Pickett advises. "I get upset when I drive by a house and I see 50 million globes and some big inflatables in the center of it all and you can hardly see anything." Instead, place your key piece or pieces ÿrst, then build around that, and stagger or layer your decorations to add depth. Balance is great, he insists, but as for style, "There's no right or wrong. There's just taste."

Tip No. 2: Avoid electrical issues
Power is of course the biggest problem, ÿnding out that you don't have enough circuits to run your lights and you keep blowing breakers." Pickett speaks from experience: He's added six dedicated circuits to his home for his light display. Use a meter to check the load on each circuit, and also on each extension cord, trying to stay at or below 80 percent of the circuit or cord's rated capacity.

Tip No. 3: Think outside the box
Pickett s philosophy is to be creative and do as much as he can by hand. "I try to be unique and not have a yard full of store-bought decorations that everyone and his brother has. I try to ÿnd easy ways to decorate that are unique to me," he says, and points toward his candy-cane fence (made of white PVC pipes with red stripes) as an example. "All you have to do is come up with an idea. I spend a lot of time looking at the aisles of Home Dept and Lowes, looking around and seeing what I can make of it. Red duct tape is a great invention in my mind, and of course zip ties, too."

Tip No. 4: Continue the tradition
I enjoy computers and creating stuff like this, but the biggest thing is when the little kids come by and they smile and oooh and aaah," Pickett admits. Unlike during his childhood, that kind of awe can't be found on every street corner anymore. "That's the main reason I do it, because it once seemed that everyone on the block decorated for Christmas and now you don't see that many of them. It's kind of a thing of the past."