When it comes to creating an unforgettable holiday display, the small, often overlooked tools and materials are the real unsung heroes. These items might not be glamorous, but they can prove to be indispensable when used creatively.
Zip ties, for instance, are a decorator’s best friend. “When I was doing my house, I always had a bag with zip ties,” says Uszaki. Even now, as he runs his own drive-through light show, zip ties remain a staple. Uszaki also recommends investing in a powerful headlamp to help illuminate the way. “It’s a game-changer,” he says.
Other decorators on Light Fight have found creative ways to repurpose common everyday items into their displays. Aluminum tape and paper clips can solve tricky setup challenges, while Velcro, magnets, and carabiners are invaluable for securing decorations. “You’d be amazed at the number of zip ties and carabiners people go through,” says Nayak. “Hundreds of thousands, easily!”
For DIY displays that move, decorators have repurposed unlikely materials to bring their creations to life. One decorator used a few rotisserie-chicken machine motors to animate the arm of Santa’s fire truck, while another paired windshield-wiper motors with rollerblade wheels to power pieces around a life-size Candy Land board. Items such as pool noodles and bike chains have also been transformed into eye-catching props like colorful gumdrops and rotating pinwheels.
As for safety and durability, Wright found items like 1/16-inch aircraft cables crucial for tying down props and controllers to prevent them from falling over and to guard against theft or wind damage. He also uses plastic food containers as another practical hack, to weatherproof outlet connections in outdoor setups.
Whether you’re zip-tying lights to your roof, repurposing planters to make festive Christmas trees, or adding movement to the pieces of your display with dismantled windshield-wiper motors, these unlikely tools and materials are proof that even the simplest items can make the biggest impact on your holiday setup.
