A couple of months ago I was too lazy to make dinner (this tends to happen often) so I called in to a local Italian joint and ordered an obtusely large sausage pizza for the two of us. When I opened the door for the delivery girl, she let out a guffaw and jokingly pointed inside. "Why do you already have Christmas lights up?" She was giggling and giving me one very dumbfounded expression. At first I didn't understand but then after turning around, I myself let out a laugh.
I have a fascination with putting up string/fairy lights.
I have a fascination with putting up string/fairy lights.
There is nothing cozier to me than seeing little lights, sometimes flickering, when the sun starts to go down and long into the night. Plus, being an inspiring photographer, lights give an AWESOME backdrop, especially when you want to conquer a great bokeh (the out of focus area of a picture) shot. Dimmer than normal lights always give a warm, romantic tone to any room. The great thing is that with an extension cord, you can pretty much put them anywhere. I love having them surrounding fireplace mantels, above beds, in corners of the kitchen, around banisters. They're fairly simple to put up, you can place/drape/tie them wherever (preferably away from animals and kids who enjoy pulling and chewing).
Most stores that carry home decor items will carry at least one box of string lights (you can always pick up Christmas light strings, white always looks classy!). I've picked mine up over the years from Target, Country Treasures and World Market. I love when they have unique designs, such as intricate flowers or English tudor inspired lanterns. Depending on what your personal preference is and how you like to decorate your home, you can usually find a design that somehow fits. I've seen seashells, animals, cartoons, words, letters, holiday designs (Christmas trees, Autumn leaves, snowflakes), etc. You can usually find pretty affordable deals online as well! I've never spent more than $20 on a set, and that was because the particular set came with different flickering/moving options.