You don’t have to throw out those old strings of incandescent lights when switching to LED. Think green and get crafty. Upcycle Christmas lights to create ornaments or centrepieces for holiday home staging.
 

Over the holidays, I get asked whether it’s appropriate to put up holiday decorations if your property is listed for sale. My answer is yes – BUT – do it with potential buyers in mind. I’ve written about it in the past: Simplify Christmas Décor, and last year’s 12 Days of Home Staging posts offered some top tips for staging in general.
 

If you’re like me, this year you might be making an effort to go greener for the holidays by switching out your old incandescent lights for more eco-friendly LED. What I discovered in the process is that the City of Calgary (and maybe yours too) doesn’t recycle them. So instead of throwing them out in the trash, I’m choosing to get crafty this year.
 

When I was searching Pinterest for ideas of what to do with my old lights, several simple and staging-friendly projects came up. Here are a few of my favourites:
 

• Dip old bulbs in glue and cover them in glitter (colour of your choice). Place them in clear glass jars or in a bowl as a centrepiece and that’s it. Simple. Classy.
• Paint bulbs and attach to a foam craft ball until completely covered. Group them to display on a fireplace mantle, side table, or on a large platter.
• Don’t forget curb appeal. Create a welcoming wreath for your front door. I recommend that you keep it simple and choose mainly silver or gold.

It just goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere. So go ahead and upcycle Christmas lights this year instead of throwing them out. Get creative and see what you can come up with.
 

For more staging inspiration, check out the Set Your Stage boards on Pinterest.