The White House lights its Christmas tree today at 4:30 p.m., and yours can look just as grand if you follow these six tips for holiday lights from Mary Beth Gotti, director of the GE Lighting & Electrical Institute:

  • Know your lights. If you’re buying new lights, make sure they’re compatible with your existing light strings.
  • Unsure how many lights you need for your tree? Figure 100 to 150 lights per vertical foot of the tree.
  • Follow the Obamas’ lead and use LED holiday lights on your tree. LED holiday lights use up to 80% less energy and are cooler than traditional incandescent lights.
  • Add movement. Want that snowflake display to sparkle or your eight tiny reindeer to trot? Give the illusion of movement with color changing lights. Many options are available, including twinkling, chasing, and fade-in, fade-out styles. New this year: cascading icicles with a circuit that gives off a melting effect.
  • Mix lighting styles. To make holiday lighting stand out, pair strings of different sized lights together to add depth to decor. On the tree, set a base of white lights at the bottom and continue upward, adding strands of large bulbs and novelty lights for color and variety.
  • Find inspiration. Every year, thousands of tree lighting ceremonies take place all over the country. Draw ideas from these magical designs. One of the most renowned tree lightings is the National Christmas Tree in President’s Park, a tradition that began in 1923. Get a front row seat sure to spark ideas by watching the lighting ceremony live [www.thenationaltree.org] online at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Source: GE Lighting & Electrical Institute