This Viral Video Shows How to Hang Christmas Lights the Easy Way

You and the fam have finally decided it’s time to put up Christmas decorations, so you grab all the bins tucked away in storage and start digging through to find those bright, sparkly LED lights you all love so much. Now don’t get me wrong. We all love decorating our Christmas trees, but circling around the tree over and over again making the lights perfect can be such a hassle.

That’s where this ingenious TikTok hack saves the day! It turns out there’s a much easier way to string up lights and without using so many at a time. Here’s how and why you should be hanging your lights vertically.

It’s All About the Vertical

When it comes to decorating with lights, we’re used to wrapping them around the tree over and over until we get from top to bottom. That can prove to be quite a task when you’re anywhere under 5’7″. But, according to this amazing TikTok video, we can put all that hard work behind us.

In the video, TikTok user @lizlovery explains that we should be hanging our Christmas lights vertically (from top to bottom) instead of horizontally (all the way around). But why is this better? According to her, not only do you use fewer lights in the process, but they’re much easier to deal with and look a lot neater. On top of all that, if you find you have a pesky row of lights that don’t seem to be working anywhere, they can be replaced with ease!

@lizlovery

Wow what a difference this made! Thank you @mrsclarehoops ! 🎄 #HolidayVibes #christmas #holidaydecor #homedecor #decortips #IntroVideo #hometips

♬ O, Christmas Tree – Christmas

This is the ideal hack for any kind of tree, real or fake. And if you’ve opted for the half Christmas tree this year, this technique means you’ll be able to save even more lights. If only setting up lights outside were this easy, eh? The good news is Walmart will install those pesky outdoor lights for you this year. And don’t forget to take a look at the best Christmas lights to buy.

We Love a Good Christmas Hack

One of the best parts of stringing your lights up in this manner is the fact that you can decorate your tree in sections. If you’re only going to see half of the tree, you don’t have to worry about decorating the back. Maybe you want different lights and ornaments on different sides? The process is all up to you. Just be sure all your lights are in good working order! If not, this is how to fix Christmas lights.

If you’re looking to shake up Christmas this year, start with our favorite alternative Christmas trees.

These Festive Recipes Are Shaped Like a Christmas Tree!

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Festive Meringue Christmas Trees Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Festive Meringue Christmas TreesThese meringues are eye-catching on the dessert table at a holiday party, and they taste heavenly! Look no further for the perfect treat to get you into the Christmas spirit. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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TMB studio

Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board This light and bright Christmas tree charcuterie board has everything you could want in a holiday spread. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Go to Recipe

Christmas Tree Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Christmas Tree CookiesDelight family and friends with this holly jolly Christmas tree cookie recipe. Iced with creamy frosting and dusted with sparkly colored sugars, the 3-D cookie trees are as delicious as they are beautiful! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Pesto Christmas Tree Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pesto Christmas Tree BreadThis is the ultimate tear-and-share loaf for the holidays! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Chocolate Shortbread Trees You can use this rollout chocolate cookie dough to create all kinds of shapes and sizes, but I like to make trees because they are so easy to decorate. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri Go to Recipe

Creme de Menthe Cream Puff Tree Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Creme de Menthe Cream Puff TreeA tower of creme de menthe-flavored puffs makes a spectacular centerpiece for your dessert table. Guests will have this sumptuous pyramid deconstructed in no time at all! —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

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Eggnog Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Eggnog CookiesThis cookie's flavor fits right into the holiday spirit—pick your favorite cookie cutter shapes to make them even more festive! —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas

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Taste of Home

Festive Guacamole AppetizersFor ages, my brother's family and I have gotten together on Christmas Eve, and we always eat Christmas snacks while we open our presents. This Tex-Mex spin on classic appetizer pizza is one we have again and again. —Laurie Pester, Colstrip, Montana

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Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart BreadChristmas tree pull-apart bread is arranged in a festive shape for the Yuletide season, but the yeast rolls can also be baked in a 13x9-inch baking pan. —Lorri Reinhardt, Big Bend, Wisconsin

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Rosemary Shortbread Christmas Tree CookiesThese lovely treats are a traditional part of our Christmas cookie platter. Because the scent of rosemary and the shape of its leaves remind me of pine needles, I cut these using a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter. They are fragile, so handle the dough and baked cookies carefully. —Amy Bartlett, Depew, New York

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Touch-of-Gold Christmas TreesYou can decorate these pretty Christmas trees with other types of sprinkles if you don't have the gold dust. The filling alone makes the cookies special and so delicious! —Linda Sweet, Cornwall, New York

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Cinnamon-Roll Christmas Tree Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Cinnamon-Roll Christmas TreeIt's so fast and easy to make these rolls for the holiday. What a sweet way to celebrate Christmas morning! —Alyssa Helm, Caledonia, Michigan

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Gingerbread Sandwich Trees Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Gingerbread Sandwich TreesFun and festive, these cookie sandwich trees will be a huge hit with kids of all ages. They're a super-cute holiday treat! —Steve Foy, Kirkwood, Missouri

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