It may seem like summer just ended, but the holidays are right around the corner. We all know that with the holidays come a few extra guests. Even though we still have a few months to go, it's time to start planning your decor to create a welcoming environment for your family and friends.

The Dining Room

The holiday dinner is the main event of many family gatherings, so you need to be sure that you have great lighting in your dining room. Choose a chandelier (or two!) that fits with the rest of that room's design. For example, if your decorative style is classic and elegant, a traditional crystal chandelier will look fantastic. On the other hand, if your style is more rustic, you may want to choose lighting constructed from natural wood to complement the relaxed look. Keep your theme going in the decor by choosing an elaborate centerpiece to highlight your dining table.

The Living Room

Your guests will likely be spending a fair bit of time in your living room as well, which gives you another chance to get creative with lighting fixtures and add to your home's atmosphere. Track lighting can be a great way to highlight pieces of art or unique decorative items. Choose lighting that creates warm tones to make a cozy, welcoming space where your guests can feel at home. As with the chandelier in your dining room, try to develop an overall decorative theme for the living room. If your style is sleek and modern, contemporary art pieces and varying glass and chrome will tie in well together.

Get Started Early

While the holidays may still seem a long way off, it is never too early to start planning. If you choose to order a custom chandelier, your order may take a while to get to you, so ample planning and time is a must. Once you receive it, you'll then have to hire someone to install it if you are not comfortable doing it yourself. This will tack on more time. The earlier you get started, the sooner you can relax in knowing that your lighting is ready to impress your holiday guests.

Head to Northern Lighting

Here at Northern Lighting, we have everything that you need to spruce up your home's lighting in preparation for this year's holiday season. We also carry a variety of home accent items for you to choose from. Visit one of our showrooms today to start planning your holiday decor so that you can be ready well in advance. Our sales associates will be happy to discuss all of the options with you and help you design a look that will be truly spectacular and festive.

Plus, if you shop now, you may be able to score some great deals on your lighting! Just look for the colored dots on items throughout the store for a chance to save between 10 and 40 percent on your item!