Bright Ideas for a Dazzling December

Westlake Ace Hardware’s pro-level lighting tips are so festive that you might get a letter from the HOA.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (December 1, 2025) – It’s that time of year again. The air gets cooler, the nights get longer, the cocoa gets hotter, and your neighbors all compete to be the most festively lit home on the block. Because nothing says “holiday spirit” like lights, laughter, and the faint hum of an inflatable snowman coming to life, Westlake Ace Hardware is bursting at the seams with bright ideas to make your home sparkle and shimmer this holiday season, and possibly be visible from The International Space Station.

“Holiday decorating should be joyful, not stressful,” said Jennifer Schadegg, director of merchandising for Ace Retail Holdings, parent company of Westlake Ace Hardware. “We love helping people transform their homes into magical, glowing wonderlands. Whether you’re going full-on festive or want a twinkle or two, Westlake Ace has the tools, lights, and cheerful expertise to make your holidays delightfully bright.”

✨Bright Ideas for Holiday Lighting✨

• Light It Up – No Outlet Required: Say goodbye to tangled cords and tricky plugs. Today’s LED battery-powered string lights are bright, long-lasting, and incredibly versatile. Typically powered by just three AA batteries, these tiny twinklers are perfect for front-door wreaths, window boxes, porch planters, or anywhere you’d love a little holiday shimmer. Many even feature built-in timers for a set-it-and-forget-it glow.
• Bring on the Big, Bouncy, Blowy Things: From Santa and Snoopy, to snowmen and reindeer, whimsical holiday inflatables add instant fun and instant smiles. Get the kids involved and place them in playful spots such as the roof, near the front walk, or tucked between trees for a delightful surprise.
• Pre-Lit Perfection: Trees, wreaths, and garlands – battery-operated and pre-lit with LED lights – provide no-fuss decorating options. Hang them on doors, windows, and fences, or tuck them into planters and patios for instant cheer, no extension cords needed.
• Creative Sparkle Spots: String lights through garden arbors and archways, wrap a bundle of firewood with lights displayed by the front door. Fill lanterns with weatherproof ornaments and lights to add interest to the patio.
• Make the Indoors Sparkle: Who says lights are only for the tree? Add holiday glow to mantels, dining tables, mirrors, home offices, and windows with battery-operated lights. 

????Tips for Hanging Lights Like a Pro????

• Ladder Love: A sturdy ladder is a must if you expect to safely create a winter wonderland of light for you and your family. Better yet, enlist a helper to steady you as you hang lights, plus you’ll be able to reach branches more easily when decorating a large tree or shrub. 
• Safety First: Use only lights and extension cords that carry an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label and are approved for outdoor use, which means these products meet industry safety standards and are waterproof. Secure all lights and cords with electrical tape, insulated holders, or plastic zip ties; never use screws, metal hooks, nails, tacks, or that leftover twist tie from the bread bag. 
• Proper Power: All exterior lighting should be connected to a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. This outlet style will shut off if it’s overloaded. If your home doesn’t have this style of exterior outlet, either hire a licensed electrician to permanently install one or use a TRC Yellow Shockshield GFCI Portable Plug. Your future self (and your breakers) will thank you.
• Start Small: If you’re a novice to exterior holiday lights, start small and keep it simple. Limit your display to first-floor windows, small trees, and shrubs. Remember that a well-lit entryway or a single tree can make a huge impact and serve as a focal point in your yard. 
• The “100 for 1 ½” rule: For maximum impact, use 100 lights for every 1½ feet of tree or shrub you want to decorate. For example, a six-foot evergreen will require at least 400 to 450 lights. Larger-sized lights are the best choice to accent a house’s roofline. Mini-sized lights should be reserved for illuminating garland, wreaths, and smaller bushes or trees.
• Light Timers Are The Heroes We Don’t Deserve: A timer is your best friend when it comes to holiday lighting. You’ve worked hard and strung the most beautiful light extravaganza on the street, so the last thing you want to forget to do is flip a switch once or twice a day. With a timer, you can relax and enjoy the festive fruits of your labor – and possibly save some electricity by setting it to shut off when the neighborhood is tucked in bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.