’Tis the season for all things festive, and homeowners everywhere are celebrating with decked halls and holiday displays. While it’s tempting to be swept away in the merry merriness of it all, it’s necessary to protect your home from damage while decorating, especially the exterior. Repairs to outside features are often more costly than interior fixes, and no one wants to spend the holidays bah humbug-ing the North Pole village that’s now causing the roof to cave in. Avoid wreaking havoc on your home’s exterior and enjoy a no-fuss cleanup with these tips.

Holiday Lights

With dazzling light displays growing more spectacular each year, more opportunities exist for things to go haywire. If you plan to string up twinkling strands this year, make sure you do so without damaging your home’s exterior – especially the roof and gutters. Skip the nails and go for clips, which are near-invisible and readily available at most hardware stores. It’s also a good idea to toss any strands with broken bulbs. Even one electrical short can spell decorating disaster. Whether you’re using an outdoor outlet or running a cord indoors through a window, take care not to overload your power source.

Inflatables

No one wants to see Santas and snowmen going down in a blaze of glory. If you’re going to decorate with inflatable yard ornaments, place them far from your home, lights and any other heat sources, or opt for ones manufactured with flame resistant material.

Wreaths

Wreaths are susceptible to gusty winter winds, so it’s important to fasten them securely to your door. But how do you do that without hammering a hole through your home’s entrance? DIY-ers swear by a staple gun, which is least detrimental to the exterior of the door. A staple remover is all you need to restore your pre-Christmas curb appeal.

Garlands

Before hanging any holiday trimmings outside, consider the façade of your home. Brick exteriors, for example, require specific tools such as masonry screws and mortar repair. (Pro tip: drill or hammer into the white lines between the brick, not the brick itself.) Stucco patch, wood filler or silicone will help fill any holes left behind in other surfaces. For stair and porch railings, break out your elf-worthy gift wrapping abilities and tie garland with green floral wire.

By Suzanne De Vita. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.