As the holidays edge closer and closer, many Connecticut residents have begun putting out their Christmas lights, setting up their tree and shopping for all of their friends and family.

For some, the Christmas season begins straight after Thanksgiving when the turkey has disappeared from plates. Others consider it the day decorations appear in stores which is as early as Halloween.

According to a survey by Family Destinations Guide, Dec. 10 is the day Connecticut residents feel the most “Christmassy.” This is when people buy a tree, hang decorations or buy that red-cup coffee from Starbucks’ holiday menu.

To feel that Christmas spirit, many people start putting out their outside Christmas lights as neighborhoods are taken over by sparkling lights, glimmering reindeer and fun blow up Santa Claus and favorite animals and characters in Santa hats.

There are some tips and tricks that veteran Christmas decorators know to make your home extra magical this holiday season.

• Use LED lights. Not only will your electric bill thank you, but they last much longer than incandescent so you’ll have your strings of lights for years to come.

• Plan approximately 100 lights for every 1-½ feet of tree height.

• Use decorative hangers for Christmas wreaths.

• Use zip ties to attach garland to stair railings. Just cut them off when it’s time to take them down.

• Pick a focal point of your house. If you have columns that frame your front door, start there. Without some kind of focal point, your decorations may look chaotic.

• Popular locations for outdoor lights include bushes, hedges, trees, pillars, posts, deck railings, around windows or door frames and along the driveway and paths. If you have window boxes or planters, that can also be a good spot.

• Measure before you start so you know how many strings of lights to buy. Make sure to include the distance to your plug. There are limits to how many can be strung together.

• Watch out for light color. Some white LED lights have a bluish tint while others are warmer. Incandescent bulbs are slightly amber.

• Use light clips. These clips make it easy to hang lights outdoors.

• If you buy icicle lights, be sure to cluster them together. If stretched too far apart, it won’t look the way you want them to.

• For easy application to bushes, get a light net. It makes it easier to lay the net over the bush rather than attempting to wrap it with strings of lights.