Christmas in July: Why I’m Already Planning This Year’s Holiday Season
It’s July and yes, I’m already thinking about Christmas!
Christmas in July has taken on a new meaning over the years. Whether you love it or hate it, July is the month when all the Christmas decor starts showing up in stores. I typically notice it in Hobby Lobby first. I was there last week, and yes, the holiday decor is already out on the shelves. All the other stores won’t be far behind.
Some years when I’ve seen things that I eventually want to buy for my tree are gone when I go back to purchase them. I’ve learned to grab things when I see them, and then I make a few returns when I make final decisions and pare things down.
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Why Christmas Planning is Different this Year
This year will be Annie, Tommy, and Harrison’s first year in their Chicago apartment. They brought very little holiday decor with them, so they are definitely starting from scratch.
I’ve also been teasing a color change for me for some time. Because of circumstances beyond my control, my timeline for sharing just had to be put on hold.
Annie’s Fresh Start
In Dallas Annie had a rose gold theme for her tree, but she is definitely going a different route this year. I can’t wait to share it with you when we get further into the season.
Their apartment in the city of Chicago is a loft style, and so she has plenty of height for a bigger tree.
We are partnering with King of Christmas for her new tree, and I can’t wait to share it with you. King of Christmas was nice enough to provide me with my trees for the last 5 years. Right now they are having their Christmas in July sale.
The Color That’s Been Waiting for Its Moment—Cranberry
I haven’t used traditional Christmas colors in my home for many, many years. Last year I decided to introduce red in the form of cranberry into my home in the fall as a precursor to my Christmas decor, which embraces cranberry completely.
We had to have some massive windows replaced in our main living area and some roof work done on our outdoor living room. With all construction projects, things got delayed to the extent that I didn’t really get to publish much, if any, of my 2025 Christmas content. Most of my pictures were taken after the holidays.
It all started with a mood board that I created in Canva when I was planning for a Dark & Moody Design Post. My home is anything but dark & moody, but it’s a style that I love. It dawned on me that I could add some deep jewel tones for the holidays and add some of that moodiness that I love.
So, this year I get to share with all of you, my cranberry Christmas that I absolutely fell in love with. I will share everything in a Christmas series that includes my tree selection, the decorating process, and the way it makes our home feel.
Christmas is Available Now
Planning for Christmas
I mentioned earlier that my initial decision came from a dark and moody design board. When I’m planning for the holidays, I also create a mood board. I print it out and carry it around with me. It helps me to solidify my plans, and I also make notes on the back for things to buy. I also keep track of the things to recycle from previous holiday decor and a timeline for decorating.
I also use my printable Christmas lists to create a small holiday binder where I house everything. Keeping track of everything from my holiday decor ideas to gift ideas and things I want to do during the holidays makes things go smoothly.
What’s Coming This Season
By starting with a Christmas-in-July mindset, I’m sure that our holiday plans will go off without a hitch. (No remodeling projects are on the horizon this year.)
- Annie’s first Christmas in her new apartment, tree by King of Christmas, and a whole new look
- Cranberry Christmas—a series, finally getting its moment
- Continued holiday planning and organizing content throughout the season
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Final Thoughts
I’m hoping you will follow along for all of our holiday content and get some inspiration for your own home.
The best way to remember this post is to pin it to your Christmas Pinterest board and subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any content. Next, head over to YouTube to see my cranberry summer video.
Peace, love, and yes, I’m preparing for Christmas!
A great way to save this idea is to add it to one of your Pinterest boards. You can find the pin button on the top left of the photo when you click on it. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest
Meet Me
My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.
I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my “About Me” page.
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