Holidays & Entertaining Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Planning Tips 7 Days of Holiday Hosting: Countdown to Thanksgiving Get ready for Thanksgiving with our best table setting ideas, cleaning tips, and meal-planning hacks for a festive feast. By Emily VanSchmus Emily VanSchmus Emily VanSchmus is the assistant digital home editor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she covers home decor, entertaining ideas, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on November 13, 2023 A stress-free holiday hosting season is possible. Whether it's an intimate dinner party or large gathering of all your friends and family, we've created an easy task list that will help you make the days before Thanksgiving more enjoyable. We're sharing our best cleaning and decorating tips to help you make your home holiday-ready. We also have all the table setting ideas, meal-planning hacks, and tasty recipes you need to throw a festive feast. ERIN KUNKEL Day 1: Prep Your Guest Room Get ready for overnight visitors by giving your guest room a quick refresh before the holiday. Make sure the bed is outfitted with clean linens and extra blankets and spruce up the rest of the room as needed. If your guest room doubles as a storage space or office area, clear unnecessary clutter before guests arrive so they have a place to unpack their bags. If your guest room has an adjoining bathroom, don't forget fresh towels and toiletries, too. These Are the Softest Better Homes & Gardens Sheets, According to Reviewers 10 Small Guest Bedroom Ideas for a Cozy, Clever Space Cozy Throw Pillow & Blanket Combos We Love from Our Fall Collection 14 Guest Bedroom Ideas for a Welcoming, Restful Space Use This Holiday Cleaning Checklist to Get Ready for Guests 1 of 2 JEFF HERR Day 2: Use This Cleaning Checklist to Get Your House Ready for Guests Cleaning your entire home can be an overwhelming task, especially if you're balancing chores with holiday cooking, baking, and decorating. We've created an easy room-by-room checklist to help you get your home ready for guests. By following our easy guide, you can rest assured that you remembered to clean the powder room toilet and hide your dirty laundry before guests arrive. How to Deep-Clean Every Room in Your House 22 Genius House Cleaning Hacks for a Tidier Space in No Time The Best Better Homes & Gardens Furniture for Nearly Every Room in Your House Cleaning Tips for a Party-Ready House: Easy 7-Day Plan 7 Quick-and-Easy Chores That Make a Big Impact Before Guests Arrive 1 of 2 KIM CORNELISON Day 3: Incorporate Seasonal Accents for a Quick Room Refresh Thanksgiving isn't traditionally a big decorating holiday, but that doesn't mean you can't give your home a quick seasonal refresh before the big meal. Whether you want to sprinkle in some extra fall decor or wrap up an unfinished renovation project, we're sharing our best easy updates you can do now to prepare for holiday hosting. The Prettiest Better Homes & Gardens Rugs Are Available Now 31 Fall Living Room Decor Ideas to Spruce Up Your Home for the Season 9 Stylish Curtains to Shop Now From the Better Homes & Gardens Collection 38 Easy Autumn Decorating Ideas to Effortlessly Update Your Home 1 of 2 CARSON DOWNING Day 4: Prep Make-Ahead Dishes for Stress-Free Hosting Thanksgiving is all about spending time with loved ones, so don't spend all day in the kitchen. We've compiled our best make-ahead recipes you can start making now to cut down on kitchen time on the big day. Prep mashed potatoes, pies, and stuffing ahead of time so you can spend more of the day with your friends and family. 12 Make-Ahead Stuffing Recipes That Would Make Grandma Proud 23 Make-Ahead Pies, Cakes, and Tarts Fit for Home Entertainers Our New Fall Serveware Just Dropped, and Pieces Start at Just $10 19 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizers for a Low-Stress Holiday 1 of 2 MARTY BALDWIN Day 5: Set the Table for the Big Holiday Meal The turkey might be the star of your Thanksgiving dinner, but your holiday tablescape will steal the spotlight with our festive table-setting tips. Learn how to set the table properly with our easy-to-follow guide: No more questioning where all the forks go, or which side of the plate to put the wine glasses on. Plus, get our best centerpiece ideas you can make ahead of time. 47 Beautiful Centerpiece Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Table 24 Thanksgiving Napkin Ideas to Match Every Table Motif The Best Better Homes & Gardens Dishware for Every Occasion 19 Centerpiece Ideas for a Farmhouse Thanksgiving Table Setting 1 of 2 WERNER STRAUBE Day 6: Make Your House Smell Amazing After all the cleaning and tidying you do to prepare for guests, you want your home to smell good when they arrive. Especially if friends and family are coming before the cooking starts, consider these easy ways to make your home smell warm and delicious. We're sharing our favorite candle scents and DIY remedies for a sweet-smelling autumn welcome. These Pumpkin Spice Candles Are the Secret to Making My Home Smell Like Fall 7 Natural Ways to Eliminate Odors and Make Your Home Smell Amazing How to Make a Simmer Pot to Fill Your Home with Seasonal Scents The Best Better Homes & Gardens Candles, According to Reviewers Use This DIY Fall Potpourri Recipe for a Warm and Inviting Home 1 of 2 Carson Downing Day 7: Put the Main Dish In the Oven and Wait for Guests to Arrive On Thanksgiving Day, prepare your turkey (or other main dish) and put it in the oven to roast as you wait for friends and family to arrive. As the turkey cooks in the oven, mix up a Thanksgiving cocktail to enjoy with guests and relax knowing the rest of your feast was prepared ahead of time. 23 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas to Suit Any and All Taste Preferences Our 25 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes Make Menu-Planning Easy 15 Recipes for a Small Thanksgiving Dinner with All the Classics 16 Thanksgiving Pie Recipes Worthy of Your Holiday Feast 1 of 2 Was this page helpful? 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