Christmas Lawn Decorations: Tips for First-Time Home Owners
Each year, millions of Americans decorate their homes and yards for Christmas. If you’re a new home owner who is decorating your lawn for the first time, here are some things to consider when planning your decorations.
The important thing to think about is what type of decorations you want in your front yard. Some people may be happy with a simple Santa sign by the front door or a single strand of lights along the rooftop. But other homeowners go all out, some with huge inflatable Santa figures and other colorful decorations.
What you choose to display may not simply be a matter of taste, however. In some neighborhoods, large lawn decorations, especially those with bright lights, may not be popular with your neighbors – or even permissible under your homeowners association rules and regs. If you’re planning something extravagant, especially the new trend of synchronizing Christmas lights to music, you should check with your homeowners association or your neighbors before spending a lot of money.
In addition to what your neighbors think, you may also want to be concerned with what your town, city, or county officials think. Some localities have strict regulations on what can or cannot be placed on a lawn. This is most commonly seen with business signs or election signs. While your local community may not have these restrictions, it’s better to ask in advance to be sure. If you do set up a large Christmas display and you are legally prohibited from doing so, you will likely just receive a warning the first time, but action may be taken later. That is why it is important that you know what you are getting yourself into ahead of time.
Another important consideration when decorating your lawn is the cost. While it’s easy to find a large selection of low-cost Christmas decorations, such as festive lawn signs and outdoor Christmas lights, larger items will, of course, cost more. There’s also the additional cost of electricity. This may not be a major consideration if you’re only placing a few lights on your rooftop or placing a couple of lighted reindeer in your yard, but if you’re planning to add a few large, lighted inflatable decorations and a lot of lights, you may see a big jump on your electricity bill.
None of these items should discourage you from decorating your lawn, however. One of the joys of home ownership is being able to decorate your home for special occasions, and you should take advantage of the opportunity to do so. Just keep these tips in mind before you embark on your first holiday decorating adventure, and you’ll be able to find the type of decorations that will be right for you, your neighbors and your entire community.