Renovating Before the Holidays: How Early Should You Start?
August 18, 2026
It happens every year. The holidays feel forever away—until suddenly you're looking at your kitchen and realizing you're about to have a house full of people. If you've been dreaming about new floors, updated kitchen cabinets, new countertops, or a bathroom remodel before holiday gatherings begin, there's one piece of advice we can't emphasize enough:
Start earlier than you think.
At Ted's Floors & Beyond, we help homeowners throughout the Anniston area plan projects of all sizes. One of the most common questions we hear is, "How soon do I need to start?"
The answer depends on the project, but when there's a holiday deadline involved, earlier is almost always better.
Why You Shouldn't Wait Until November
A renovation involves much more than installation day.
Before the first piece of flooring is removed or the first cabinet comes down, there may be measurements, design decisions, product selections, ordering, scheduling, demolition, preparation, and coordination between different parts of the project.
Waiting until the holidays are right around the corner can limit your options and add unnecessary pressure.
Starting early gives you something incredibly valuable during a renovation: choices.
You'll have more time to compare materials, make thoughtful design decisions, order the products you really want, and create a realistic installation schedule.
When Should You Start?
While every project is different, here are some general guidelines.
New Flooring: Start 1–3 Months Ahead
If your goal is simply to replace flooring before guests arrive, the process may be relatively quick—but don't assume you can wait until the last minute.
The flooring you select, product availability, the amount of preparation required, and installation schedules can all affect your timeline.
Starting the process a few months ahead gives you time to find the right hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl, carpet, or tile without making a rushed decision.
Kitchen Updates: Start 3–6 Months Ahead
If you're imagining everyone gathered around a beautiful new kitchen island this holiday season, now is the time to start planning.
Kitchen projects can involve cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, plumbing, electrical work, appliances, and more.
Cabinets in particular require careful planning. Measurements need to be accurate, layouts need to be finalized, finishes and storage features need to be selected, and products need to be ordered.
The earlier you begin, the more time you have to create a kitchen that works for your family instead of simply choosing whatever can arrive fastest.
Bathroom Remodels: Start 2–4 Months Ahead
A bathroom remodel can range from a relatively straightforward update to a complete transformation.
Replacing flooring or a vanity may be one thing. Building a new tile shower, changing cabinetry, updating countertops, or altering the layout can require considerably more planning.
If your goal is to have a refreshed guest bathroom or a new primary bathroom before the holidays, give yourself plenty of time.
Think Beyond the Installation Date
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is working backward from the day they want the project finished without leaving any breathing room.
If Thanksgiving is your deadline, you probably don't want the final installation happening the night before everyone arrives.
Ideally, your renovation should be completed well before your first gathering.
That gives you time to put your home back together, clean, decorate, and actually enjoy your new space.
After all, the point of remodeling before the holidays is to make the season more enjoyable—not more stressful.
Start With Measurements
Not sure exactly what you want yet? That's okay.
You don't have to have every flooring color, cabinet door, countertop, and tile picked out before you get started.
One of the best first steps is simply getting accurate measurements of your space.
At Ted's Floors & Beyond, we offer free in-home estimates and can help you understand what's possible before you start making major decisions.
Once we know the space, we can help you narrow down options and create a plan that makes sense for your home, style, needs, and budget.
One Project Can Quickly Become Several
You might walk into your kitchen thinking you only want new cabinets.
Then you realize the old flooring doesn't work with them.
And if you're replacing the cabinets, maybe this is the perfect opportunity for new countertops.
Then there's the backsplash.
And suddenly your "cabinet project" has become a kitchen remodel.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. Coordinating these updates together can create a much more cohesive finished space.
It's also one reason starting early matters.
One Team Makes Holiday Renovations Easier
Trying to coordinate multiple companies can make an already busy season even more complicated.
Flooring from one place. Cabinets from another. Countertops somewhere else. Then installers and other trades all working on different schedules.
That's where the "Beyond" in Ted's Floors & Beyond comes in.
We can help with flooring, cabinets, countertops, tile, showers, and more, allowing you to bring multiple parts of your renovation together with one team.
One Team. One Call.
Don't Wait Until the Holiday Countdown Begins
If you're imagining Thanksgiving dinner in a new kitchen, Christmas morning on beautiful new floors, or overnight guests enjoying a remodeled bathroom, don't wait until the invitations are sent to start thinking about your renovation.
Starting early gives you more time, more options, and a much better chance of enjoying the finished project before your guests arrive.
And even if you're not sure exactly what you want yet, that's what we're here for.
Start now. Enjoy it all season.
Visit Ted's Floors & Beyond in Anniston, next to Saks Elementary School, or call 256-231-0008 to schedule your free in-home estimate and start planning your holiday-ready home.
