Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, and decorating with fairy lights is a big part of bringing that festive atmosphere home.
From hooks to nails, there are plenty of options when it comes to choosing how and where to hang fairy lights. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to help and inspire you.
Types of fairy lights
From icicles to reindeer and everything in between, fairy lights come in all shapes and sizes. They are also often available with either plug-in or battery-operated power sources.
Plug-in fairy lights
Plug-in lights have the benefit of never running out of battery. However, when it comes to hanging your fairy lights, you’ll need to be close enough to a plug socket or have an extension lead to hand.
Battery-operated lights
Unlike their mains-powered counterpart, battery-powered fairy lights can be hung anywhere in your home. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is securing your battery packs out of the way to reduce the risk of wires being damaged.
How to hang fairy lights
Once you’ve chosen your favourite style and colour, it’s time to decide how you’re going to hang them. If you’re not sure or need some ideas for hanging your fairy lights, we’ve put together a few different ideas so you can pick the best option for you.
Nails
If you’re hanging your fairy lights in a straight line or zig-zag pattern, many people choose to support them with a few sturdy nails tapped in at regular intervals. Once the nails are secure, hang the fairy lights by looping the string around the nails.
Top tip: A great idea if you want your hanging fairy lights to blend in is to pick nails that match the colour of the wire of the lights.
Thumb tacks or drawing pins
For those keen on keeping the strength and support that nails offer while trying to avoid impact to your walls, tacks or pins are a great solution. Simply push your pins into the wall and loop strands of fairy lights in desired patterns or shapes.
Top tip: If you want to cover your wall with fairy lights, we recommend using thumb tacks for long-term decoration and adhesive hooks if you’re planning on taking the lights down after Christmas.
Blu tack
Many of us don’t want any holes or marks on our walls at all, so Blu Tack can be an excellent way to hang your fairy lights. Just remember to use short lengths of Christmas string lights for this, as anything longer or heavier may fall off the wall.
Top tip: If you’re using Blu Tack to hang battery-powered fairy lights on the wall, you’ll need to consider where the battery pack is going to go.
Wire suckers
Being short on wall space doesn’t mean you can’t hang fairy lights. Wire suckers are a handy way for making the most of your unused decoration space at Christmas. A simple combination of a pincher or hook and a suction cup can help you create festive shapes on windows and surfaces.
Light clips
A simple and lightweight alternative to suckers, light clips are excellent for hanging your fairy lights from curtain rails, pendant lights and bannisters thanks to their multi-purpose split design. Hook one half around your décor, and the other around your fairy lights, then work out how far you want the trail to stretch.
Adhesive hooks
Adhesive hooks like Command™ are perfect for hanging your Christmas lights as they don’t cause any damage after removing them when the festivities are over.
They can withstand a lot of weight so are a great idea if you are hanging a fairy light wall and want to use longer strings of lights. Peel off the removable backs and press them against the wall where you want them to go.
Top tip: Remember to wait an hour after putting adhesive hooks up before you start using them to make sure they’re properly stuck.
Where to hang your fairy lights
Fairy lights are one of the most flexible Christmas decorations around, both in design and use. You can string lights on walls, around windows or simply place them on surfaces. We’ve put together some of the best fairy light décor ideas that don’t involve walls, windows or Christmas trees.
Home objects
Sometimes you don’t even need a hook to hang your fairy lights. With a little inventiveness and imagination, you can wrap your string lights around any household object. Depending on where you’re placing them, it’s often simpler to use battery-powered fairy lights when decorating home objects as you can easily hide the battery pack.
Mirrors
Using reflections to enhance your lights is an easy but effective trick to brighten up any room this Christmas. Whether you’ve got wall-mounted or standing mirrors, drape your fairy lights from the top corners or use picture hooks and Blu Tack to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere with more illumination than ever.
Mantelpieces
Your mantelpiece is another place in your home that doesn’t need hanging fairy lights. All you need to do is choose your string lights and drape them across your mantelpiece from one end to the other. Then switch your Christmas lights on and enjoy the ambience.
So now you know how to hang fairy lights in your home. You can also read our guide to learn how to put lights on your Christmas tree or check out the rest of our Christmas ideas & advice.
