How to Host a Healthy and Fun Thanksgiving Part 2
Is it just me or does everyone have the desire to be the best hostess ever when it comes to having guests over to your house? I have been known to go all out in my former life when hosting family holiday dinners, but it just runs so deep in my blood that I cannot help it. I want every holiday and non-holiday gathering to blow people away by the details put into it. I realize not everyone has that kind of time nor budget to go overboard, so I am going to focus on easy AND inexpensive ideas for Thanksgiving decorations in this Part 2 post. If you missed Part 1 where I shared a lot of recipes then click here.
Decorating for Thanksgiving: Decorating for any holiday creates excitement, a sense of magic, and warmth in a home. I have always felt this way. It gets your guests into the spirit of whatever holiday event you're hosting. So why leave Thanksgiving out? This can be hard as some people decorate for Christmas early (myself included). I would suggest that if you're hosting a Thanksgiving dinner then you at least decorate your dining room for Thanksgiving if you can't refrain from putting up your tree early. :) But there's a couple of places and tactics that will get your home fall-ready for your guests.
The front door is the FIRST impression your guests will have when they arrive. Make it inviting and festive! You don't have to spend a fortune to have a nice, fall wreath. I've previously shared how to make one and there are others you can make like these suggested below.
Better Homes and Gardens shared this easy wreath with marigolds, but you can use your favorite fall colored faux flower.
If you want to peruse more ideas then check out this link by A Cultivated Nest for 25 fall DIY wreaths!
If you have a front porch of any kind then always, always, always put out some pumpkins! I love seeing all of the different, natural shapes, sizes, and colors of real pumpkins and gourds. That's God's handy work on full display for us! However, you may have a similar mindset to me in that I hate to waste money when they just get tossed (usually) at the end of the season. If you feel that way too, then don't hesitate to buy faux pumpkins. Personally I've never once thought twice if someone had faux pumpkins, and IF someone turned a nose up at my faux pumpkins then I'd probably be better off without them in my home! Anyway...get yourself some pumpkins either way! If you have some large lanterns then you can fill them with smaller pumpkins and gourds and if your home has a color theme of some kind don't be afraid to paint your pumpkins to match! Of course, the natural colors go great for Thanksgiving. Remember you can find faux pumpkins on sale at Hobby Lobby or Michael's, Target or Walmart, and even the dollar store. You do not have to necessarily spend a ton on something guests will notice and admire, but not stop to stare at.
Other items you can add to your front porch would be blocks of hay, a scarecrow, a fall or Thanksgiving front door mat, and even garland made from leaves like this below:
Click on the images below to be taken to their respective sites for photo galleries of front porch decorating ideas!
Your entryway, dining room, living room, and guest bathroom are the next parts of your home that will make a guest feel invited. Carry forward the fall theme into your home as soon as the guests step inside. Every home will vary on what areas you have to decorate but load it all up with pumpkins, small candles (if time of day seems right for the setting), add some scattered faux fall leaves perhaps, add fall colored flowers in a vase, or you can go with a neutral color pattern and us all white pumpkins and beautiful mercury glass items or whatever metal accents you like. You can pick the theme and colors to match your style. And don't forget you can easily paint pumpkins AND the stems! Get creative!
Click on the images below to be taken to their respective sites for instructions on how to make these DIY painted pumpkins.
Areas that you can add fall decor to are things like: entry way consoles, fireplace mantels, coffee tables, side tables, TV consoles, bookshelves, windowsills, bar counters, the guest bathroom, and of course, the dining table.
For dining table decorations, click on the images below to be taken to their respective sites for further information (if there is one). These are just some of my favorites.
I hope you find these ideas helpful and inspiring. I personally wish I had 50 homes to decorate because there's SO many beautiful options out there. If you enjoyed this post then please share it with a friend! You can check out my Pinterest page for more ideas on decorating and all things Thanksgiving & Fall, but make sure to check back here tomorrow for Part 3.
Part 3 will be posted to the blog tomorrow focusing on fun activities & foods to entertain the little ones!
XOXO
