Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. It’s the time of the year I most look forward to seeing family and close friends. But before doing your shopping list, you might want to first prepare your kitchen for the big day. Here are some ideas for getting your kitchen ready for thanksgiving entertaining!

 

 

Plan Ahead

The first step to prepping your kitchen for Thanksgiving is to plan ahead. Make plan what table linens, China and stemware you’ll be using.

I always start with table linens because they generally need to be pressed. Because my home is old, table linens can smell musty after being stored for months. Laundering is sometimes necessary too.

I like to look in the garden to see what fresh greenery is looking good. Often, I opt for Nandina or ‘Heavenly Bamboo’. It isn’t my favorite plant in the yard in spring and summer, but I admit it’s the best-looking thing in the yard in winter.

I also love myrtle and maple for greenery on the table.

 

Clean & Organize the Kitchen

The next step is to clean and organize your kitchen.

Start by organizing your pantry. If feeling ambitious, tackle the cabinets, drawers, and shelves too.

Wipe down countertops, cabinets, sink and cooktop. Clean the oven and refrigerator as well.

Make sure that you have easy access to the items you’ll need. I like to use the guest room or laundry room as my staging area.

Stock Up on Essentials

Another time saver is to stock up on the essentials. Make sure that you have enough of the following items:

• Salt, pepper, spices, herbs, oil, butter, vinegar, sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder.
• Eggs, milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, sour cream.
• Nuts, dried fruits.
• Coffee, tea, juice, soda, water, wine, beer.
• Napkins, paper towels, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper.

Prepping Ahead for Thanksgiving Day

One of the best ways to save time and stress on Thanksgiving Day is to prep ahead. Here are the main tasks that can be done in advance:

• Chop and peel vegetables and fruits.
• Make sauces and gravy.
• Make pie crusts and filling.
• Make stuffing and casserole.
• Brine or marinate the turkey.
• Make salads and dressing.
• Make soups and stews.

You can store these items in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to cook or serve them.

 

 

Decorating the Kitchen for Thanksgiving

The final step is to decorate. You want to create a festive and cozy atmosphere for your guests, certainly. But don’t forget the kitchen. You can use some of the following ideas:

• Hang a wreath on the window above the sink.
• Place candles on the countertops.
• Do small flower arrangements. 
• Display pumpkins or gourds on the counter.
• Use fall themed kitchen and tea towels.

Ideal Kitchen Improvement Timing

When is the right time of year to do kitchen improvements? Late spring tends to be the most popular, but the downside of a late spring remodel is that contractors are busy, and materials are priced slightly higher, and supplies are less abundant.

We love a winter kitchen reno. You’ve recovered from the holidays. Contractors’ schedules are more flexible. Materials are in better supply. And design options are more available than at any other time of the year. N

And because those first few steps of updating your kitchen are the hardest to set in stone, in early November 2023 I’ll be hosting a live workshop to help you schedule, budget for and choose the style of all your upcoming kitchen remodels! So stay tuned for the announcement!

Choosing a New Style for Your Kitchen

 

That’s it for today! Don’t forget to grab your download and get to working planning your unique kitchen style!

Shiree’

PS – Don’t forget to check out my other kitchen articles like the 30-Day Game Plan for Your Next Kitchen Remodel too!