Keep your home’s safety in mind when decorating this holiday season.

It is fun to get into the holiday spirit during the holidays and make your home a winter wonderland, but the holidays are also a time to hold your family close, so make sure you keep your home safe. Here are a few safety tips to consider, while decorating this season:

• When pulling out the lights from last year’s holidays, take a hard look at the cords to ensure they are not frayed or broken. When stringing them together, stick to no more than three per extension cord.
• Do not forget to turn off your indoor holiday lights when leaving your home or going to bed. Having someone around is necessary for safety. Timers can help with remembering this!
• Regarding hanging your outdoor lights, make sure you pick hooks or nails that are insulated to avoid electrocution or a fire hazard. Additionally, make sure the lights you choose are intended for the outdoors.
• Artificial trees have a lot of benefits but when picking one out, double-check for a fire-resistant label. Another safety hazard that can come with these trees can be the location in your home; when setting the tree up, stay away from radiators, fireplaces, and other heat sources. Speaking of heat sources, make sure the lights you pick for the tree are not electric if the tree is metallic.
• If you decide to opt for a live tree, make sure you keep it hydrated! Testing this is important, and can be done by bending the needles up and down to check that no needles fall off.
• Stockings hanging from a fireplace mantel are a beautiful image, but when a fire is lit, hazards can arise, so if you decide to light one, keep a watchful eye.
• Keep extension cords and decorations in less trafficked areas to prevent tripping, twisting, or crushing cords.

We hope you enjoy your holiday season in a beautifully decorated home where your safety is a top priority. With our safety tips, you won’t have to comprise beauty for safety!