The lead up to Christmas can be a stressful time and some people struggle to get into the festive spirit.
But that is definitely not the case for 18-year-old Stephen Craven who has kitted his Birmingham home out with more than 50 light-up displays and in excess of 25,000 bulbs.
The teenager, who works as a binman, got the idea three years ago after his mother Amy suffered a stroke – and he hangs a donation bucket at the front of his garden for admirers to give to the Stroke Association.
Stephen Craven, 18, kitted his Birmingham home out with more than 50 light-up displays and in excess of 25,000 bulbs. The teenager, who works as a binman, got the idea three years ago after his mother Amy (right) suffered a stroke
Stephen hangs a donation bucket at the front of his garden for admirers to give to the Stroke Association. The display cost him a grand total of £7,000 and that’s before the electricity bills are factored in
Stephen started putting up the decorations back in September and finally had his big switch on two months later.
He now gets more than 100 admirers turning up to see his efforts each night.
This is his third, and largest, display and has cost him a grand total of £7,000 – and that’s before the electricity bills are included.
The teenager has raised over £1,000 so far this year.
He said: ‘I love putting the display together.
‘It takes a lot of work over several weekends, and I have to get some help doing the roof, but when we had the big switch on it looked great.
‘I was really pleased with the result when I got to stand back and admire it.
‘There are over 25,000 individual bulbs over the walls and the front garden, so it really does stand out.
‘I know I go overboard, but I don’t think there is a house around here that matches it.
Consider the halls decked: Admirers of Stephen’s efforts have already donated over £1,000 this year for stroke sufferers and there is still two weeks until Christmas
‘Putting the lights up has become a passion, and it’s great to see people enjoying them.
‘So many people stop and stare, or even come round especially to look at them.
‘The best bit is when people put money in the donation box when they have come to see the lights. That’s always good, and I know all the money is going to a good place.
‘The reason I chose the Stroke Association and the lights is that my mother had a stroke three years ago.
‘She’s doing ok now but she was always really excited about Christmas, so I still wanted it to be special for her. That’s why I started it.’
Santa won’t miss this house: The teenager’s Birmingham home is the brightest of the bunch. Stephen started putting up the decorations back in September and finally had his big switch on two months later
Stephen has been planning the display all year, and started looking for new lights and deciding where to place them back in January.
After finding space for all the lights and the 65 plug sockets he needed, he began putting them up, with a few odd looks from neighbours, on September 17.
He then held his big switch as soon as dark fell on November 17, and ever since has watched hundreds of people per night come to admire his handiwork.
Stephen held his big switch as soon as dark fell on November 17, and ever since has watched hundreds of people per night come to admire his handiwork.
Stephen said: ‘Of course you get some funny looks when you’re putting reindeer lights outside your house then, but the neighbours are more used to it now and it’s entirely worth it’
Stephen said: ‘I think about the lights all year round – there really is a lot of planning that goes into it.
‘I’ll have it all sketched out before I start putting the lights up on September.
‘Of course you get some funny looks when you’re putting reindeer lights outside your house then, but the neighbours are more used to it now and it’s entirely worth it.
Stephen has plans to buy more lights for next Christmas. The keen teenager said: ‘I’ll probably end up buying more lights in 2018 as well – there is still some space to fill. The bills aren’t too bad either – it only costs about £3 a night to run the display, so I’ll definitely be trying to outdo myself next year’
‘They’ll be on until January 1, and then I’ll spend a couple of weeks taking it all down and packing it all away again for next year.
‘I’ll probably end up buying more lights in 2018 as well – there is still some space to fill.
‘The bills aren’t too bad either – it only costs about £3 a night to run the display, so I’ll definitely be trying to outdo myself next year.’
- Have YOU seen a more Christmassy looking house? Email your pictures to connor.boyd@mailonline.co.uk