Lightweight and inexpensive, Christmas lights can be hung from suspended ceilings with a few simple tools.
Despite the advantages of suspended ceilings -- such as cost of materials and ease of access to utilities -- they also pose some special challenges. Because the lightweight tiles of a dropped ceiling are installed within a grid of similarly lightweight metal framework, such a ceiling will not support hanging plants, pendant lights or other heavy fixtures. If you want to hang Christmas lights from a suspended ceiling, you'll need specialized hooks made to slide onto the support grid.
Instructions
1. Measure the area where you want to hang your Christmas lights, so you can plan how many strands you will need. Take note of the location of your electrical outlets.
2. Calculate how many suspended-ceiling hooks you will need. If you prefer the lights to lie nearly level against your ceiling, the hooks will need to be more than 1 foot apart; if you like a swag of lights between hooks, they can be spaced further apart.
3. Install the hooks: gently lift a ceiling tile, and slide the grooved base of the hook onto the T-shaped metal grid. Lower the tile back into place. You should have one hook very near the wall above the electrical outlet(s) you will plug your lights into.
4. Wrap the plug end of your first strand gently around the hook closest to your outlet; leave as much of the plug end dangling as you like, because you can reach the outlet with an extension cord if you prefer (see Tips).
5. Unspool the string of lights until you can slip the wire over the next ceiling hook. Continue in this way until you have lights hanging from all your hooks, in the amount and pattern you have chosen.
6. Secure the strand of lights to the hooks with twist ties, especially at the wall and when you turn a corner. If you find the look of the hooks and ties too obtrusive, use decorative ribbon to tie a bow onto each hook.
7. Plug in your lights, or plug in your extension cord and the lights.
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