Excited about your Christmas light display this year? With just a little preparation, your house can be the envy of the block and maybe just viewable by the International Space Station.

Swipe through for 8 quick tips for hanging holiday lights.

Assuming you hang on to lights from years past, dig them out and assess their condition. Plug them in and sort into "keep" and "toss" piles. Replace bulbs in your keep piles so that those strings are ready to go.

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Make a plan before getting started. Give some thought to where you would like to hang lights this year. Try something a bit different from years past like wrapping some trees, or decorating a porch chair Venture into the backyard, too, and think about how you can add some festivity there.

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Take measurements and compare how many linear feet of lights you need compared to what you actually have. Consider if you’ll need some of the netting-type lights to cover shrubs, or whether you might want to go 3D with lawn figures or maybe some light-up hanging snowflakes or starbursts.

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If you need to go shopping to supplement your light collection, consider LED vs. incandescent lights. Incandescent, are often less expensive but don’t last as long as LEDs. LED lights also often shine more brightly and use less energy.

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Before you get all excited to go out and start decorating, check the weather. You don’t want to be halfway through your project when a major rain or snow storm blows in.

While we’re on the subject of safety, take steps to avoid a holiday disaster. If you must use a ladder, be sure it’s firmly planted on the ground and not wobbly. Put your lights in a bucket attached to the ladder with an S hook so they’re easily accessible. Work with a family member so you can keep an eye on each other.

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To avoid having dozens of cords running from your lighting masterpiece back to outlets on the house, use power stakes instead. These are portable devices that bring power where you need it with just a single cable to the house.

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Timers are a must for any holiday light display. Do you want to trudge through the snow twice a day to plug in and unplug your lights? Of course not. Timers automatically turn on and off your display, while you sit inside enjoying cocoa. Be sure to sync them carefully so everything’s on the same schedule.