When December arrives, decorations are hung both inside and out at millions of homes, with some celebrants going to great lengths to express their holiday spirit. Although this tradition can help make the holidays even more festive, decorating a home exterior is not without certain safety risks. The following tips may help homeowners to stay safe.

Homeowners should never decorate alone. A second person can ensure a ladder remains steady while the other decorator is hanging lights, and they can help lift potentially heavy lawn decorations, thus reducing the risk for injury.

The appropriate decorations and tools should be used. The American Red Cross urges individuals to use only decorations designed for outdoor use when decorating their home exteriors. Indoor lights should never be strung outdoors, even on small spaces. In addition, the Red Cross recommends that homeowners who intend to use nails or hooks to hang decorations first confirm they are insulated, which can help to avoid electrocution and reduce fire risk.

People are advised to pick the right day to decorate. They may consult the weather forecast and choose a day when efforts to decorate will not be compromised by wind, rain, snow, or other inclement weather. If it has already snowed, people should avoid decorating until the snow has melted, as ice may linger beneath the snow. It is also unsafe to work on a snow-covered roof. Homeowners should decorate on a day with ample daylight and put decorating on hold if the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse.

Homeowners should inspect their exterior string lights and other plug-in decorations at the beginning of each season to ensure there are no frayed or cracked wires. Damaged wires pose a significant fire hazard, so any damaged strands should be discarded and replaced.

Decorations should be plugged into the correct outlets. The energy experts at FirstEnergy note that outdoor lights and inflatable decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Older homes may not be equipped with such outlets, particularly on their exteriors. Replacing existing outlets with GFCIs is a job that a professional electrician should be hired to handle before decorations are put up.

After the decorations are up, homeowners should utilize a timer for exterior lights. Lights should be not kept on overnight, which can be costly and pose a safety hazard. Utilize a timer so lights come on at night and turn off around bedtime, if not earlier.

Decorating a home's exterior for the holiday season can be fun, but homeowners must prioritize safety and take steps to reduce their risk for accident or injury.