Celebrating Thanksgiving at Home

Thanksgiving is a day of appreciating the simple pleasures in life, a day of enjoying cheerful festivities, good food, and warm company. Let your home reflect the gratitude you feel and the joy you want to share with your family and friends by creating a unique, inviting atmosphere with these seasonally inspired decorating tips and suggestions.

Front Door

It’s always a good idea to begin by trying to see your home from the perspective of your guests. You want to start with the point of entry, and then move through your home and give particular focus to the areas where your guests will be spending the most time. That being said, let’s begin with your front door. Display some fall décor that makes a festive first impression—hang a lovely wreath or decorative sign that welcomes guests into your home. You can also dress up your doorway with hanging garlands of vibrant fall leaves. For another nice touch, place a basket or two near the front door, and fill them with fragrant pine cones or assorted gourds.

Entryway

Once your guests step inside, what do you want them to experience? Think about ways to engage all their senses – not just what they see, but also what they might hear, smell, and touch. Scented candles flickering on an entry table are perfect for setting the right ambiance, and their aroma and magical glow are great mood enhancers. How about a bouquet of seasonal flowers? Think reds, yellows, oranges, and greens. And for sound, be sure to preselect your music to set the mood, and have it playing as your guests flow in.

Gathering Room

This is your primary space where your guests will gather. You want to make it relaxing, and you want to create an environment where people can enjoy each other’s company and conversations. If you have a fireplace and mantle, put it to good use. A crackling fire is always lovely to look at and creates a warm, inviting vibe. Hang garlands of greenery around your mantle and along your stairway if you have one, and group some candles around your coffee and side tables.

Have a fun activity as your guests mingle, such as having a What I’m Thankful For book that your guests can pass around and write in. Or you could have a large sheet of butcher paper tacked up to creating an I’m Thankful wall, where guests can freely walk up and write a note of gratitude about how they’ve been blessed this year.

Dining Room

The dining room is often where the real party is, and your dining table is a great focal point to make your biggest statement. Rustic beauty is always charming, and it fits in with the themes of autumn perfectly. For your table centerpiece, create an arrangement using tree branches with colorful flowers, berries, and greenery for a nature-inspired look. You can trim your table runner with garlands of foliage, and add some candles, assorted greenery, and berries around your centerpiece. If you want a traditional look, you can always use small pumpkins and gourds to accessorize your table. For something different, try using a fresh color scheme that still conveys a warm, earthy tone; some good options include lavender, turquoise, or jade. To add a special, personal touch, hand-write individual Thank You place cards for each of your guests.

Let your home express the warmth and care you want your guests to feel as they enjoy this special time together. And from all of us at Jennifer Adams, we wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!