Halloween Lighting Trick and Tips

Lighting can make or break a great Halloween display, but we don’t want anyone tripping or breaking anything either. A few precautions can ensure you have the spookiest and safest haunt on the block. Although we may not carry all of the items listed in this article, these are great tips to have a safe and fun Halloween!

Use colored floodlights for the atmosphere. Blue, green, and purple lights create the mood (perfect for graveyard settings), while orange and red accent lights complement (think pumpkins and flames). Make sure the lighting is bright so that people can see where they are walking. Low-watt outdoor safe LED floodlights are perfect and can be reused throughout the year—position lights at the bottom of décor and point lights directly up for an extra eerie effect.

String lights aren’t just for Christmas. Purple and orange set the tone. Make sure they are rated for outdoor use and go for LEDs. With traditional lights, you can only connect 4-5 strings safely, but with LEDs, you can connect up to 20 plus light strings together. They also don’t get hot like traditional lighting, which means safer areas for pets and children. Hang lights around trees, your front porch, over fences, around the mailbox, wherever you are inspired. Outdoor timers ensure lights go out when the night is over and controls electricity costs. Use zip ties to secure lights. Avoid using staple guns, which can damage the electrical wire and your home.

Change out garage and porch lights with colored bulbs. Motion sensor lights bathed in red aid in the spookiness when guests arrive.

Solar path lights. Although solar lights don’t sound quite as spooky, low-lying ground lights will help your guests navigate walkaways.

Halloween isn’t complete without pumpkins. Let’s keep it safe. LED battery-operated candles and lanterns do the job. Keep extra batteries on hand. Place pumpkins in unlikely places to keep guests guessing.

Purchase lots of extension cords. If using many lights, consider multi-outlet cords. Never use indoor extension cords outside. Make sure outdoor cords are double insulated and rated for wet weather conditions. Outdoor cords are marked with a “W” on the side or end to indicate outdoor use. For strings lighting, use a 16-gauge cord for lights 25 feet or less and go with a heavy-duty 14-gauge cord for lighting over 25 feet. Tape down cords to avoid tripping.

Although most outdoor power strips are waterproof, please refrain from using them in locations that are likely to get wet. Weatherproof power strips are certified with an IP rating. IP stands for “Ingress Protection” and measures how well a device is protected from dust and liquids. The second digit rates water resistance. IP68 is standard for outside cords and outlets and means it is “dust resistant” and can be “immers­­ed in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.”

However you decorate for Halloween, a few tips can ensure the holiday is spooky and safe.­­

Recommended Supplies:

household cleaners, knives, extension cords, timers, plastic liners

Trash bags, flashlights and batteries, lanterns, power strips, outdoor timers,

Straw bales, lighters, Floodlights,