Christmas in July
The benefits of design preparation can make the difference between something rushed and something remarkable.
[Image courtesy Koontz Furniture and Design]
One July afternoon, while walking through a popular craft store, I found myself surrounded by Christmas. There were trees, ornaments and ribbons stretching from floor to ceiling. This was even before the post-pandemic retail rush that now places the Fourth of July, back-to-school and Thanksgiving displays side by side in a single aisle. Curious, I asked a store associate why holiday décor had arrived so early. Her answer was simple: “There’s a demand for it.”
Seasoned crafters, it turns out, begin planning months in advance.
In many ways, thoughtful home design follows the same rhythm. The pressures of the holidays have a way of easing when decisions are made early and with intention. Whether you’re refreshing a space or completing a long-delayed project, summer is not too soon, it’s just right.
Those drapes you’ve been meaning to replace, the sofa you’ve been considering, the blank wall waiting for paint or wallpaper—these details deserve the kind of care that only time can provide. Time in design is often the difference between something rushed and something remarkable.
Start by defining what you’d like to accomplish before any holiday season arrives. Break it down realistically: an idea leads to a plan, and a plan leads to execution. Each stage requires coordination, materials, timelines and the right professionals. Rarely does a design element happen in isolation.
Consider something as seemingly straightforward as new flooring. Selecting the material alone can be a process. Then comes ordering, availability and shipping. A 60-day backorder is manageable in July but far less so in September. Add to that the scheduling of installers, whose calendars fill quickly as the year progresses, alongside their own project deadlines and seasonal breaks.
Planning ahead transforms what could be a stressful experience into an enjoyable one. It allows room for thoughtful decisions, not rushed compromises. It replaces urgency with anticipation.
By December, there’s a familiar question that inevitably arises: Are you ready for Christmas? The answer you want is effortless, prepared, complete. Those early-summer shoppers browsing holiday aisles have already discovered the secret. They have first choice, less stress and more joy in the process and, really, isn’t that the point? After all, it’s far more enjoyable to choose toppings for your hot cocoa in December than worrying about whether your drapes will be finished in time.
Ocala native Kay Rains is a skilled designer with degrees in architecture and interior design.
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3111 S. Pine Ave., Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 622-3241
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