Everybody's gingerbread house decoration schedule will be different, but in general, a bigger project requires a little more planning. A spur of the moment event, done with a pre-baked gingerbread kit, takes minimal time. However, if you want to find a unique pre-baked house, then you will want to check some online sources. A few unique kits are found on this blog, just use the search bar, and "pre-baked", to find relevant posts. Most big box retailers will only have a basic model, but online, you can find some unique items. You can also check the "Gingerbread Essentials" tab above, for my a-store listings.
If you are working from scratch, you will want to decide on a method. For the beginner, I highly suggest a cookie cutter gingerbread house set.
Pick a goal date of decorating, and work backwards from there. You will want your assembly day to coincide, or to precede decorating day by only one or two days. Baking can be as far in advance as needed, if you don't mind freezing your panels. It's best to allow at least a day prior to assembly, though, so pieces can all cool. Same day assembly is possible, just allow plenty of cooling time.
Generally, I make gingerbread a 3 day project, and those days are almost always subsequent. I try to have this activity done about a week before Christmas, so that other last minute preparations for the holiday are not interrupted. However, I've finished the project as close as 3 days before Christmas, some years. We even did our houses a few days after Christmas, once, in order to include cousins in the fun.
A visual aid, a printed calendar page can provide the concrete reference you need. Work backward from your baking day, and assess your dates for purchasing supplies, inviting friends, and getting mentally ready.
