---
title: Holiday Lighting and Decorating Tips for HOAs, Condos, and Apartments
description: Looking for holiday lighting ideas for your HOA? Check out these great holiday decorating tips for your HOA, condo, or apartment complex.
image: https://www.nxnwl.com/hubfs/New%20Website%20Photos/Holiday%20Lighting/entrance-holiday-lighting-signage-ornamental-grass-wreath-night.-HOA-4.jpg
---

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# Holiday Lighting and Decorating Tips for HOAs, Condos, and Apartments

Santa’s a pro at navigating the dark Christmas Eve skies and Rudolph’s glowing nose is a pretty dependable beacon.

But if you want to make sure the jolly old elf finds your condo, apartment, or HOA, you might want to add some attention-grabbing lights.

You know, just in case.

Jordan Martin, vice president at North by Northwest, shares some [holiday lighting](https://www.nxnwl.com/gallery/holiday-lighting) tips sure to impress Santa — and your residents.

## Keep it Simple

Don’t junk it up. Classic white lights, an impressive wreath, and elegant greenery garland make a sophisticated statement, Martin says.

“Less is more,” he says. “You don’t need a bunch of big ornaments and garlands everywhere. That’s overwhelming.

“Go for a more subtle approach.”

## Highlight the Good Stuff

Think about the areas of your property that automatically attract attention, and focus your holiday decor there, Martin says.   
![hoa holiday lighting installation ](https://www.nxnwl.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Website%20Photos/Holiday%20Lighting/hoa-holiday-lighting-installation-night.jpg?width=1800&name=hoa-holiday-lighting-installation-night.jpg)  
He likes holiday lights along rooflines, at clubhouse, pool, and common areas. Make entrances welcoming with impressive wreaths.

How impressive?

## Go Big with Wreaths

No puny wreaths, please.

Think 48-60 inches in diameter and festooned with lights for full-on festive.

And don’t forget the big pretty bow.

## White Lights Top the Holiday Lighting Tips List

Everybody might not agree with this one, but for properties like HOAs, condos, and apartment complexes, white lights win, Martin says.

“Most stick with traditional, warm white lights,” he says. “No reds and greens, no blue.”

(Confession time: at his own home, Martin gets a little crazy with candy cane-inspired red and white.)

Speaking of lights, these aren’t average strings you buy at the home improvement store.

North by Northwest uses professional-grade lighting components, custom tailored to each customer.![HOA Entrance holiday lighting with white lights and a wreath](https://www.nxnwl.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Website%20Photos/Holiday%20Lighting/wreath-holiday-lighting-signage-entrance-hardscaping-christmas-lights.jpg?width=1800&name=wreath-holiday-lighting-signage-entrance-hardscaping-christmas-lights.jpg)

## It’s a Wrap

Definitely wrap your trees in festive white lights. It looks magical. People love them. They attract attention. They’re fun.

This is no random wrapping, Martin says. Thought goes into it. Among his holiday lighting tips?

“It’s all about spacing,” he says.

Younger, smaller trees just a couple years old won’t need many strings of lights, so only leave about six inches of space between strings as you wrap, he says.

But big, mature trees might take 50 strings of lights.

“For these, you want a big enough gap between strands, so it’s not overwhelming,” Martin says.

Plan for 12 to 18 inches between each strand as you wrap, he suggests.

“You want a subtle glow, not a bright beacon.”

## Timing Tips for Homeowners Association Holiday Lighting

Everybody knows HOAs have lots of rules, and holiday lighting is no exception.

Timing matters.

“Everybody wants their lights on the day after Thanksgiving,” Martin says. “It’s logistically impossible for us to be everywhere that day, with all the customers we have.”

So, crews arrive weeks earlier to install the lights, like stealthy elves, but leave them unplugged. They return after Thanksgiving to plug them in.  
![HOA lighting crew installing holiday lights](https://www.nxnwl.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Website%20Photos/Holiday%20Lighting/maintenance-HOA-house-crew-holiday-lighting.jpg?width=1800&name=maintenance-HOA-house-crew-holiday-lighting.jpg)  
HOA boards want homeowners association holiday lighting taken down within two weeks after New Year’s Day, he says. Lighting crews are plenty busy then packing away the sparkle.

“They don’t want any complaints from residents,” he says.

## Keeping Santa Safe

You want people to notice your captivating lighting, not the wires and cords. And you definitely don’t want them to trip over them. (Among the top holiday lighting tips: don’t hurt anybody.)

North by Northwest crews bury cords under gravel or mulch, safely out of sight.

“It’s very seamless and clean looking,” Martin says. “No tripping hazards.”

Bonus tip: Big black boots are Santa’s footwear choice, and elves love those pointy toes, but lighting installers wear Vans, Martin says.

Their soft soles designed for gripping skateboards also hang on tight to roof shingles.

## Don’t Get Sued

Be sure you hire a reputable company to install your holiday lighting and decor, Martin says.

“You can hire a ‘Chuck in a Truck’ for less,” he says, “but if they get injured, they can sue you.

“We have workman's comp, and insurance. If there are any injuries, you’re covered.”

There are other reasons to [hire a reputable company](https://www.nxnwl.com/about-us). If something goes wrong, you want to be able to find them again, right?

“If a bulb burns out or a strand of lights blows down in the wind,” Martin says, “we’ll typically be back within 48 hours to fix it.”

Why Bother with Homeowners Association Holiday Lighting?  
You’re kidding, right?

It’s the holidays! And, frankly, it’s a year when we all should grab any excuse to brighten things up.

Martin knows firsthand the difference it can make. Each year North by Northwest offers free holiday lighting for a local family in need.

Last year they decked out the home of a family where both parents had just lost their jobs.

“The kids were 7 and 8 and they had never seen lights on their house before,” Martin says. “It put a little joy in their life.”

That’s reason enough, he says.

“Lights bring joy.”

## Holiday Lighting Tip: Leave Your Holiday Sparkle to North by Northwest

“Not every landscaping company offers this service,” Martin says. “We think it’s so important.

“Somebody always calls us in a panic the first week of December needing lights,” he says.

That’s too late, though, right?

“If I can be their hero for lights and we can fit it in, we do it,” he says.  
![holiday lighting on entrance sign HOA](https://www.nxnwl.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Website%20Photos/Holiday%20Lighting/entrance-holiday-lighting-signage-ornamental-grass-wreath-night.-HOA-3.jpg?width=654&name=entrance-holiday-lighting-signage-ornamental-grass-wreath-night.-HOA-3.jpg)  
Ready to sparkle for the holidays?

We’d love to partner with you to make your commercial property impressive and appealing and your job hassle-free.

**Are you ready for stress-free landscaping? [Schedule a time to meet with one of our experts today.](https://www.nxnwl.com/request-a-consultation) We’ll gather the details, create a customized plan just for you, and you can stop worrying as we improve and beautify your commercial property.**

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[![Apartment landscape lighting](https://www.nxnwl.com/hubfs/New%20Website%20Photos/Holiday%20Lighting/entrance-holiday-lighting-signage-ornamental-grass-wreath-night.-HOA-4.jpg)](https://www.nxnwl.com/blog/top-landscape-lighting-ideas-apartment-complexes-austin-tx)

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