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Labor Day weekend closes out summer for good, bringing the final round of pool days and late sunsets before the season turns. Football fills Saturday and Sunday, after-school practices and games take over weeknight schedules, and pumpkins start showing up on porches everywhere. Wreaths and buffalo check are already working their way back onto store shelves, the wool throw has claimed its spot on the family room couch, and there’s a real chill in the air on the morning dog walk now. The season has shifted, and so has everyone’s attention, right toward the holidays waiting just around the corner.
This is the window when a little planning pays off the most. It’s easy for home projects to get pushed aside once the calendar fills up, until you’re left with a full house and a to-do list nobody had time to finish. Getting ahead now, whether that’s a project that needs to be scheduled, an order that needs longer lead time, or a room that needs some TLC attention, is what separates a relaxed holiday season from a rushed one. Here are five places to start!
New Flooring
If new floors have been on the list, now is the time to start that conversation, and how much time you need really depends on the project. A full-home flooring installation takes considerably longer to plan and schedule than something like swapping waterproof luxury vinyl plank in a guest bathroom. A custom stair runner or a custom area rug for the dining room also takes separate lead time to select materials and have them made to order before installation can begin. Whatever the project, getting our installers involved early gives everyone plenty of room to plan around your holiday timeline.
A Deep Cleaning Schedule
Rather than cramming everything into the week before hosting, map it out room by room. The living room, dining room, and main bathroom are usually the first spaces guests see, so tackle those first, then work outward. This is also a good time to handle the deeper jobs that tend to get put off, like treating stains on the couch or dining chairs, washing summer’s grime off the windows, or clearing drains and gutters before fall leaves have a chance to clog them. Spreading the work across a few weekends instead of one exhausting sprint turns a dreaded chore into something manageable.
Big-Ticket Purchases
Labor Day sales are still fresh this time of year, which makes September a smart time to think through the bigger purchases that tend to get put off. The oven that’s been on its last leg all year, a guest bed for family flying in, a new custom area rug for the room where everyone gathers — these are the items that need real lead time between ordering, delivery, and setup. They’re also worth budgeting for now, before something breaks down and needs replacing on the spot, when rush shipping and last-minute pricing tend to cost more. Getting these decisions made early means one less thing competing for attention once November arrives.
Small Repairs and Touch-Ups
Small repairs and touch-ups seem like the kind of thing you can handle last minute, and if the list is short, that’s true. But depending on the size of your home and property, that list can get long fast, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you’ve fixed a single thing. The scuffed wall by the stairs, the dining chair that wobbles just enough to notice, the lightbulb that’s been out since summer — these are the kinds of things a family stops seeing after living with them for months, but a guest walking through the door for the first time in a year will notice right away. The outside deserves the same attention as your interior! From landscaping that needs cleaning up to a fence that could use a fresh coat of paint. Take some time to look at your home and yard with fresh eyes, room by room and corner by corner, and build the full list. Then divide and conquer over the next couple of months, so it’s a steady pace instead of a last-minute rush in the days before guests arrive.
Sending Invitations and Counting Heads
This is where the holiday countdown really starts to feel real! Once the invitations go out and the head count starts coming together, the holidays go from a date on the calendar to something you’re actively getting ready for. It’s also when the logistics start taking shape. Is everyone driving in just for the meal, or is anyone staying over? A house full of overnight guests calls for a different kind of planning than one where everybody heads home after dessert. Once the guest list is set, it’s worth thinking through how the meal itself will work. A sit-down dinner and a buffet call for different setups, and both might mean buying extra tables and chairs to fit everyone comfortably. Make sure you also have enough of everything, from dishes to linens, to go around. Planning now gives you time to buy or borrow whatever’s missing before your guests arrive.
Getting Ahead Now Means Enjoying the Holiday Season Later
A lot goes into getting a home ready for holiday guests, and new flooring often needs the most lead time. Whether it’s a full-home installation, a guest bathroom refresh, or a custom stair runner or area rug made just for your space, the sooner you start that conversation, the more flexibility you’ll have to get it done on your terms. If new floors are part of your holiday countdown this year, get on our calendar now. Contact us today and speak with one of our flooring experts to schedule a free in-home assessment, and let’s get your home ready for the season ahead!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much lead time does new flooring actually need?
It depends on the project. A full-home installation takes longer to plan than a guest bathroom refresh, and a custom stair runner or area rug needs time to select materials and have them made to order.
What should be included in a deep cleaning checklist beyond the obvious rooms?
Beyond the living room, dining room, and main bathroom, it’s worth treating stains on upholstery, washing off summer’s grime from the windows, and clearing drains and gutters before fall leaves start clogging them.
Why think about big-ticket purchases like an oven or a guest bed in September?
Labor Day sales are still fresh, and these items need real lead time to order and deliver. Planning also avoids the higher cost of rush shipping if something breaks down and needs replacing right away.
How do I make small repairs and touch-ups manageable instead of overwhelming?
Walk through the home and property with fresh eyes, room by room and corner by corner, including landscaping and outdoor touch-ups, then build a full list and work through it gradually over the next couple of months.
When should I send holiday invitations and lock in a head count?
As soon as the guest list starts taking shape. Knowing who’s coming, and whether anyone’s staying overnight, shapes everything else from seating to table setup.
Sit-down dinner or buffet, does it matter for planning purposes?
Yes, each calls for a different setup and may require pulling in extra tables and chairs to fit everyone comfortably.
What should I check on before guests arrive besides the seating itself?
Take stock of dishes, serving ware, stemware, silverware, and linens to make sure there’s enough to go around, and leave time to buy or borrow anything missing.
How do I get started on new flooring before the holidays?
Get on the calendar now. Reach out to speak with a Yoder & Co. Floors expert or schedule a free in-home assessment.
Julie Yoder
Co-owner of Yoder & Co. Floors alongside her husband Sheldon, and a Hilliard resident for 28 years. Julie is active in the Shaw Flooring Network’s PoWer Initiative, supporting women in the flooring industry.