Decorating your Custom Home in Oklahoma

This time of year, many of you are filling your custom homes in Oklahoma with special decorations, cooking those special dishes and preparing for those special family gatherings. As seasonal celebrations commence, Richardson Homes would like to share some of our best safety tips to help ensure you have the most enjoyable holidays in your custom home.

• Be sure you use only use lights that are certified for outdoors if you are hanging them outside.
• Keep electrical cords out of the reach of pets and children.
• Hold lights in place with hooks or insulated staples, rather than tacks or nails, to keep from damaging the cord's wire insulation.
• Check for frayed or exposed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. Discard any strands that appear damaged.
• Turn off all lights at bed time and when no one is home.
• Keep candles away from combustible materials and places they would be easily knocked over.
• Use only flame-retardant and non-combustible decorations.
• If using a live tree, choose one that's fresh with flexible needles and steady it well in the tree stand.
• Cut a few inches from the trunk to help with water absorption and make sure it is well-watered. A dry tree is one of the top causes of fires during the holidays.
• If using an artificial tree, ensure that it is labeled fire-resistant.
• Ensure poinsettias are out of the reach of pets and children. While beautiful, they are poisonous!
• Before lighting the fireplace, remove anything flammable from the surrounding area and do not burn wrapping paper in your fireplace.

From our family to yours, we hope you have the best of holidays in your custom home in Oklahoma this year!