Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you’re hosting family and friends this season, I’m here to share a few different ideas to give you inspiration for the big day!

Having hosted Thanksgiving in our home several times, I know just how fun it can be… but also how stressful you can feel trying to get it all done! We try to make sure our home is in tip top shape for guests and visiting family. We’re setting the table, finishing last minute to-do list items and then prepping food. It’s a wonderful holiday, but semi stressful as the host. Today I’m sharing different Thanksgiving table ideas, & my top tips to make the day smooth sailing! After all, stressing on the big day is never fun!

Let’s get to it!

• If it’s your first year hosting, take a minimalistic approach! I know you want to impress family and friends by having everything organized and decorated, but don’t sweat the small stuff! Stressing over every single little detail is a great way to make yourself go crazy and potentially burn yourself out from hosting in the years to come. My tip? Pick where you want to splurge on your time and keep everything else simple.

See this table & décor here.

• Prep the day & night before! If you want to set a beautiful table with special place settings, do the majority of the work the day and night before! When I host, I’ll always set the table(s) the night before. It gives me time to think through how I want the table, but eliminates the stress of pulling it all together on the big day.
• Set out your serving ware & dishes (utensils too!) the night before, especially if you have several of your pieces stored in closets, hutches, or deep in cabinet drawers. I know we don’t all use those serving platters, gravy boats, drink dispensers, etc. on a regular basis, so it’s helpful to have them out ahead of time. By pulling them out the day before, you’ll have plenty of time to find where you’ve stashed certain items, but you’ll also be able to give them a good scrub from any dust that’s been layering on over time.

See this table & décor here.

• If you’re doing cloth napkins, iron them a few days ahead. There’s no use stressing over that on the big day, and that way they’ll be ready when you want to set the table the day before.
• Do any baking a day or two before. My family is big on pies, which works beautifully because they can be made in advance, taking one more thing off the to do list.

See this table & décor here.

• Let family and friends bring certain items to compliment the meal! I know you may want to prepare all the different dishes, been there, done that, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking people to bring things to help out! They’ll be happy to add something to the meal, and you’ll have less things to stress over and prepare!

See this table & décor here.

• Make your menu and grocery list several days before the big day. This will give you time to add any last minute items to the list. With your list done, do your grocery shopping a day or two before the big day. It’s one less thing to stress about, and the stores won’t be as busy! Grocery shopping can be exceedingly stressful when it’s full of people, so skip that headache and go early!
• Think and plan ahead for oven space! I’m lucky to have double ovens, which makes it very easy to be cooking multiple things, but if you don’t, plan ahead to what’s going to need baking time on the day of.

See this table & décor here.

• Clean the day before! Don’t wait until the morning of to start picking up the house and putting random items in the nearest closet! I’m guilty of that one, haha! Do yourself a favor and clean the bathrooms, living room and any other common space the day before. You’ll feel better about life!
• Don’t stress over the things you didn’t get done. I always make a list of things I want to get done and it helps keep me on track, but often I over think what actually needs accomplished. I can assure you that even though you think something needs done, or if there’s something you’d like to add or change about your home, your family and friends won’t know the difference! Keep it all in perspective, and remember what the day is really about! Enjoy your family and friends and focus on making sweet new memories!

I hope these tips help to encourage a stress-free hosting experience! And if you have any tips or tricks that work really well for you and your family, feel free to share them with us in the comment section! I always love hearing new tips, and this is a great way for us all to get some additional helpful advice!