Many a cheerful soul has sought to "haul out the holly" in early December only to have their spirit fall upon spying that tangle of light cords lurking in the attic. This year, we offer a little advice on both how to light the perfect tree and organize your lights for next Christmas. 

We'll come back to the tangled cords in a minute, but let's first discuss the important role lighting plays in giving your tree a proper shimmer. 

For maximum shine, plan to use miniature clear lights first, weaving them close together through the branches. We're also rather fond of incorporating a separate strand of gold-tinted lights into mix. This rich hue provides a pretty contrast with the clear lights. Faceted glass bulbs appear brighter. Twinkle, colored and novelty lights add interest and allow for a bit of creative expression. Of course, you can create a heightened luminescent effect by pairing the lights with shiny ornaments and even miniature mirrors.

For safety's sake, check the lights to ensure all of the strands you plan to use are compatible. Typically you can string together three 100-light strands or six 50-light strands, but you should always read the manufacturer's directions first. Before placing the lights on the tree, tests each strand in the wall socket to make certain it works. When connecting lights, make sure that they are all of the same wattage, and never connect more than 300 lights end to end.

Ready to string your lights? Start at the base of the trunk and work your way up, wrapping the lights around all major branches and moving from the trunk to the tip and back. Be careful not to cross the individual cords as this will make it more difficult to take the lights down after the holidays. For smaller trees, place the strings end to end, from bottom to top. For larger trees, you may wish to divide the tree into triangular sections around the tree's trunk and work one section at a time.

Once you've strung the lights, take a few steps back and admire your work, adjusting the lit strands as needed to fill in dark holes. This is also a nice time to sip egg nog, tea or a glass of wine and simply savor the season.

After the holidays, work in reverse to remove the strands. Try to keep the strands separate to avoid tangling. It's very often at this point in the process that we get careless and create a mess of the cords. As suggested earlier, this year is the perfect time to prevent holiday decorating hassles next year. Major and specialty retailers sell a variety of light storage items. With proper care, lights can last many Christmases, making the investment in items like storage reels, bags and boxes worthwhile. In a rush? Use simple trash bag ties or kitchen twine to wrap each strand in a tidy bundle.

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