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As a child, it seemed like the time between the beginning of the school year and the holidays was an eternity. The days, weeks, and months seemed to drag on endlessly as you waited with anticipation for the holidays to finally arrive. Fast forward 20 years. Now an adult, you’ve come to the realization that once the school year starts, the holidays come and go at warp speed. Whoosh, Happy New Year! If you enjoy the holidays and all the trimmings associated with them, this change in perspective begs the question, “How soon should you start decorating for the holidays?” Well, if you revel in the holiday spirit and enjoy putting your spirit on display, we have some good news. You can start getting your holiday boxes down from the attic or bring them up from the basement because decorating for the holidays can begin in early November.

Decorating Before Thanksgiving

For many people, Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday season. However, if you’re one of the many people who really get into decorating for the holidays, you’re probably anxious to get some decorations up sooner to maximize the enjoyment. However, putting decorations up too early means you run the risk of being labeled a holiday fanatic (is that a bad thing?). There are ways you can start decorating without going into full-blown holiday mode. Using clear lights instead of the more traditional multicolored lights can help you make a subtle transition into the holiday season. You can start decorating with clear lights on both the interior and exterior of your home. Hanging some clear lights from your gutters and around windows can set a festive mood without screaming, “the holidays are here!” Depending on the tone you want to set, you can start with a few strands and continue to add more as the holidays get closer, or you can put them all up at once and add more colorful lights later. By the time the holidays do arrive, you’ll have a dazzling light display your family, friends, and neighbors can enjoy.     

Related Topic: How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutters for a Cheery Season 

Holiday-Neutral Decorations

You can take the same approach you used for putting up holiday lights and apply it to your decorations. Decorating can start in early fall with some pumpkins, a wreath or two, and fall colors throughout your home (think browns, orange, yellow, and red). A splash of fall colors throughout your home can really set a festive fall mood and serve as a reminder that the holidays are approaching. If you live in a cold climate, gathering some colorful leaves and a few pinecones and placing them around a pumpkin makes a great centerpiece for your fall table. As the holidays get closer, you can follow the seasonal pattern and transition from fall colors into more traditional holiday colors throughout the house. Once Thanksgiving arrives, you can take your holiday decorating into full gear with colorful lights and decorations, both inside and outside of the house.

Holiday-Specific Decorations

After Thanksgiving it’s, “game on” as far as holiday decorating is concerned. You can start swapping out those pumpkins and fall colors for the more traditional holiday items. As for your holiday lights, you can either swap out your holiday-neutral clear lights for more colorful ones, add some color to the ones you already have, or just leave up what you have and decorate around them. That's the beauty of decorating a little early with holiday-neutral lighting—you have some options based on your preference and availability. And with so many other things to do during the holidays, you might welcome the opportunity to have a few things already checked off your holiday decorating list. 

Related Topic: How to Decorate Your Windows for the Holidays 

If you celebrate Christmas, putting up your holiday tree and other holiday-specific decorations right after Thanksgiving is a great way to maximize the enjoyment of the entire holiday season. Since many people start packing holiday items away after the New Year, putting up your decorations on or around Thanksgiving will provide you with two months of solid holiday joy.

Getting It All Done

Although the holidays seem to come and go so quickly, it’s still nice to display your spirit and love for the holidays with decorations. Afterall, when it comes to the holiday, most of us are still kids at heart. But with shopping, wrapping, baking, and so many other things to get done during the holidays, even a relatively small amount of decorating can seem overwhelming. If you love the holidays, but aren’t sure if you have the time to go all out with decorations this year, Window Genie can help decorate your home for the holidays.   

Bay windows are a desirable architectural feature. They include three windows that jut outward from the square dimensions of the room. The middle window runs parallel to the surrounding wall, while the two adjoining windows are angled outward. The installation typically extends 2 to 3 feet beyond the foundation. Bay windows can also be found on the second floor of a home. Continue reading "How to Decorate a Bay Window with Style"

Your driveway is grimy and covered in potentially dangerous and corrosive or acidic chemicals, dirt, sand, salt and more. The hazards of ignoring a dirty driveway and the benefits of routine pressure or power washing are numerous. Routine pressure washing doesn’t only benefit the current homeowner but can also impact the value of the home and increase the overall curb appeal of the property. Cleaning concrete periodically will extend its service life and enhance its beauty. It can be difficult to tell when concrete is in need of cleaning because the dirt and grime can build up so slowly. However, once the process is done, the results of freshly cleaned concrete are undeniable. Continue reading "Why Do I Need to Pressure Wash My Concrete?"

Can’t remember the last time you cleaned your windows? The grime, fingerprints, and water spots tell you the task is long overdue. Use the information here to help you create a schedule for how often you should be cleaning your windows, both inside and out. Why are Clean Windows Important? Windows perform several vital functions in your home, including allowing natural light to enter and providing a view of the exterior. Free sunlight helps to keep your electricity bills down, especially in the winter, and you may enjoy curling up with a good book on the window seat. Not only can you read by the natural light, but you can also keep an eye on the kids playing outside. All of these activities go by the wayside if your windows are overly dirty. Dusty debris can block the light, and smears may ruin the view. Get the most from your windows by keeping them clean! How Often Should You Clean Your Windows Inside and Out? The frequency of this chore depends on several factors, from environmental considerations to your personal preferences. Your schedule might range from once a month to once a year. Here are some scenarios and where they fall along that timeline. Once a Month If you’re a business owner, clean windows are all about looking good. In this context, you must clean away spots before they draw any attention to themselves if you hope to keep up appearances. That’s why businesses may choose to have their windows cleaned at least once a month. Every Three Months The most diligent homeowners schedule cleanings about four times a year. The settings that demand frequent exterior window cleaning include: · Forests, where debris from trees and bird droppings make a mess of your window panes · The seaside, where salt deposits can stick to the glass and corrode the frames · Cities, where dust and smoke can fog up the windows Different factors may increase the need for interior window cleaning. For instance: · You may have children who leave fingerprints and greasy smears on your front windows · You could have pets that make wet nose marks and muddy paw prints on your glass patio door · You might do a lot of cooking, which can splatter the kitchen windows · You may enjoy entertaining and want to make the best impression on your guests Every 6 to 12 Months In the average residential setting, cleaning your windows once or twice a year is usually sufficient. Sticking to this schedule allows optimal light to stream in and promotes a flawless view of the exterior. Hire a Professional Window Cleaning Service Clean windows are an important part of home maintenance, but no one likes to do it. After all, who wants to use up precious weekend hours lugging around a heavy bucket and balancing on a wobbly ladder to reach the windows on the second floor? The job is tiring and more difficult than it looks if you’re aiming for a streak-free shine. Plus, remembering to keep your windows clean is a hassle! That’s why so many homeowners schedule routine cleanings with Window Genie. Our Window Care Program allows you to customize your schedule and receive discounts based on frequency. With our help, you’ll save money and keep your windows looking great all year round. Thanks to our exclusive Streak-Free Guarantee, you can put your complete confidence in our abilities. To request window cleaning services in your area, please contact us today. Then, be ready for every season with window weatherproofing services from our fellow Neighborly Company, Mr. Handyman.