Thanksgiving Decorations

	People often go to great lengths to adorn their homes with extra special touches at Christmas time: red and green, silver and gold, and loads of trimmings on every available surface. The lavish decor adds to the already festive feel of the Christmas season and gives gatherings a boost in sentimentality. This same boost can be granted to the Thanksgiving holiday with these easy decorating tips.

Turkey Welcome Sign

Holiday inspiration
Wood, metal
11.5 x 19.5 x 1 inches

Give Thanks Sun Catcher

Thanksgiving theme
Painted glass
6.5 x 9 inche

Autumn Round-Up Shelf Sitter

Cowboy theme
Painted resin
15 x 9.5 x 5 inches

Gourd with Corn Shelf Sitter

Gourd design
18 x 7.5 x 6 inches

Boy Gourd Shelf Sitter

Gourd design
Painted resin
17.5 x 6.75 x 6.25 inches

Girl Gourd Shelf Sitter

Gourd design
Painted resin
19.5 x 5.75 x 6.5 inches

Turkey Tree Face

Thanksgiving theme
Painted resin
12 x 8 inches

Teen Girl Turkey Placecard Holder

Teen girl theme
Painted resin
2.25 x 2.25 x 2 inches

Mom Turkey Placecard Holder

Mom theme
Painted resin
2.25 x 2.25 x 2 inches

Dad Turkey Placecard Holder

Dad theme
Painted resin
2.25 x 2.25 x 2 inches

Grand Dad Turkey Placecard Holder

Granpa theme
Painted resin
2.25 x 2.25 x 2 inches

Grandma Turkey Placecard Holder

Granma theme
Painted resin
2.25 x 2.25 x 2 inches

Lucky Turkey Plush Animal

Thanksgiving accent
Stuffed plush
11 x 8 x 9.5 inches

Gourd Set of 10

Nature's decorations
Set of 10 pieces
Size 6-9 inches

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Seasonal Garden Stake

Changeable for each Season
30 Inches Tall

Home > Decorating Ideas > Holiday Decorating > Thanksgiving

Creating a Stress Free Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving. That cozy family holiday when everyone gather's at Grandma's for a perfectly roasted turkey, velvety sweet potatoes, savory stuffing, and three kinds of fresh baked pies crammed on to a table loaded with all sorts of other delicacies too. The kitchen is warm, the football game is the perfect backdrop to the gentle scraping of knives and forks across the good china. The well mannered children are giggling quietly with one another at their miniature sized dining table, also known as the "kids table." Family members smile as they look into the faces of the loved ones they've waited all year to see.

Sound like Thanksgiving with your family? Probably not. The truth is, while we dearly love our family members, gathering them all together at the same time can often send stress levels through the roof. While it may be impossible to enjoy a "perfect" Thanksgiving meal with your loved ones, there are things you can do that will keep tensions low and encourage everyone to enjoy the day.

Delegate Cooking Responsibilities
If you are the chosen one for this year's Thanksgiving feast, make sure you are realistic about how much of the meal you will be responsible for. You will have enough to worry about without trying to pull off the entire meal single-handedly. As the host, a great way to simplify the menu planning is to let your guests know that you will be providing the turkey and you welcome any accompanying side dishes they'd like to share. Avoid the awkwardness of Aunt Bessie's Green Bean Casserole versus Aunt Carol's Green Bean Surprise by keeping track of what guests will be bringing and alerting them to any possible duplicates.

Set Up a Kid's Zone
If there will be little ones at your Thanksgiving gathering, it is a good idea to set up an area for them to play together so that they have a place to act silly and have fun. Many a family gathering has gone sour due to oversight in this area. The kids want to have fun, and the grown ups want to talk with one another to catch up with relatives they don't often see. Keep everyone happy by setting up a room (or the basement, or even a corner of a room) with board games, craft supplies, and books. Everyone will appreciate it!

Set Up a Football Zone
If the number one tradition on Thanksgiving Day is the turkey, number two is definitely football. Of course not everyone cares to participate in the football watching part of the day but for some, it is an almost sacred tradition. If you suspect that a fair number of your guests would like to catch the game, it might be a good idea to set up a football zone, or in other words, a separate room in which the game can be viewed. That way, those who would rather chat with one another can do so without competing with the announcers and the cheers and jeers of the fans.

Bring Everyone Together
Though you've set up areas for your guests to enjoy the day chatting, watching football, or playing as desired, try to have something in addition to the Thanksgiving meal to unify the group. There are lots of ways to do this. Many families take turns stating something they are thankful for. Others head outside for a game of touch football. Some families like to use the day to have a meeting that gets all of the Christmas planning underway. Whatever it is, just choose an activity that will bring everyone together for a little while, with the promise of returning to whatever it was they were doing. This small dose approach to family time works well to keep any family tension to a minimum while providing a chance for everyone to celebrate together.

Overall, as you plan to host your Thanksgiving dinner, be realistic. Plan the day as best you can, but expect that the rolls might be a bit too brown, that someone will spill something on the new carpeting, and that there may be a snowstorm the night before, causing everyone to show up later than you anticipated. When everyone finally does arrive, you'll know you've done your part, it is up to your guests to start being thankful for this day of togetherness.