10 Easy and Cozy Thanksgiving Ideas

Let’s face it, this time of year can be stressful. During the holiday season, there’s pressure to create festive memories that will last your loved ones a lifetime, all without breaking the bank and keeling over from exhaustion. 

At times, this goal can feel impossible to achieve, but it doesn’t have to be this way! With a little creativity and organization, it’s absolutely possible to navigate Thanksgiving day with ease.

We here at Snif have compiled a list of 10 simple and effective ideas to keep in mind as you begin to prepare for your holiday celebration. When put into practice, these suggestions will create the warm and cozy Thanksgiving dinner of your dreams.

What Are Some Easy Thanksgiving Ideas?

1. Decorate With Dried Citrus Slices and Pinecones

Your Thanksgiving home decor will play a massive role in the tone of your celebration. To create a comforting autumnal ambiance, we suggest using nature-inspired elements. For something tasteful and rustic, use pine cones and dried slices of citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.

Use thread to string the dried citrus slices together. Mix and match the various colors to create a pattern of your liking. Create a garland of any length and hang it along the banister or drape it on different fixtures throughout the room.

To elevate your fall decorating, place pinecones throughout the dining room. Put some above the mantel, across your coffee table, in your bookcase, and on each guest’s napkin. 

2. Add Gourmand Candles

To create cozy fall vibes in your home, you need to consider all the senses. How the space smells can make a big difference. Gourmand candles have scents reminiscent of your favorite foods — and some are bold, while others are a bit more subtle. 

Try scattering gourmand candles around the room and across the Thanksgiving table. Not only will these candles set your guests at ease, but it will also get them excited to eat pumpkin pie and other Thanksgiving cuisine. 

Here are three gourmand candle fragrances to consider:

• Half Baked Pumpkin Smash: This pumpkin candle blends pumpkin spice with cinnamon stick, salted maple, and orange for a spicy but sweet scent.

• Apple Cider Smash: Sparkling apple cider, honeycrisp apple, caramel glaze, and warm donut accord combine to create this nostalgic apple cider candle.

• Crumb Couture: With croissant accord, wild berry jam, blackcurrant, and toasted vanilla, this croissant candle smells just like a fresh, golden pastry.

3. Choose Autumnal Color Palettes

As you start to map out your Thanksgiving decorating ideas, try to stick to one autumnal color palette. Choosing colors inspired by nature will bring the fall season right into your living room.

The most nostalgic Thanksgiving color palette is muted reds and yellows. In your decor, use burgundy, wine red, mustard yellow, and rust orange to include the colors of the leaves during autumn. 

Keep things cozy by using earth tones. Warm, rustic, and grounded colors are commonly seen during the fall season — mirror these shades in your decor with golden yellows, rich terracottas, and deep browns.

For something a little more mature, stick to a purple autumnal color palette. Take inspiration from the deep purple shades found in fall leaves and use colors like plum, eggplant, amethyst, and indigo.

4. Play Soft Music

Playing soft music at your holiday party has many benefits — filling the empty space with music can contribute to a relaxed atmosphere, and people may feel more comfortable socializing and starting a conversation. 

Then, during your Thanksgiving meal, people can eat in peace without feeling the pressure to chat and fill gaps of silence. 

Not sure what songs to play? Open up your music app and search for pre-made Thanksgiving playlists if you’re not in the mood to make one yourself. 

5. Add a Centerpiece

Elevate your table setting with a centerpiece to match and enhance the theme of the event. Centerpieces can feature candles, flowers, fruit, and more. 

If you would rather not purchase a centerpiece, you can DIY one at home. Grab your leftover pinecones and dried citrus, and arrange them in a bowl. Feel free to get creative and add whatever other elements you feel would go well with the piece. 

A bonus of creating your own centerpiece with natural elements is that it can evoke delicious harvest scents. Feel free to make more than one centerpiece and place them throughout the tablescape.

6. Include Greenery

Level up your table decor by adding greenery to your centerpieces and all throughout the room. Popular autumn greenery includes cedar, cranberry, wheat, eucalyptus, rosemary, oak leaves, and acorns.

Add these natural elements wherever you see empty gaps that would benefit from being filled. For example, eucalyptus in your centerpiece could help the pinecones to stand out. 

Oak leaves mixed in with your citrus garlands will give them more variation. An acorn beside each guest’s name tag adds a bit of whimsy and fun.

7. Bake Ahead of Time

Baking ahead is a super useful strategy for making the holiday more enjoyable. With less tasks to attend to, you will be able to put more energy into decorating, cooking, and having fun with the family. 

One of the best perks of baking ahead is that you will have fewer dishes to do when dinner is over. Knowing that you have less cleanup to attend to can enhance your mood, making it an overall happier day for everyone involved. 

If you decide to bake ahead, choose items that you know will taste just as delicious on the day such as pies, brownies, cookies, and bread. 

Bake your bread rolls and keep them in the freezer. Put them back in the oven to warm up on Thanksgiving. Cookies, brownies, and similar baked goods are okay to be made a couple of days in advance, just be sure to keep them in an airtight container. 

Your pumpkin or pecan pie can be made a day or two before Thanksgiving, wrapped up, and stored in the refrigerator. 

8. Make a Wreath

Adding a festive wreath to your front door can help to set the tone for your guests as soon as they arrive. Making the wreath yourself is a very convenient way to ensure it matches your autumnal color palette and can make for a fun bonding activity with family.

To create a base, you can use grapevine, wireframe, and/or foam. Attach whatever autumnal elements you desire and use wire cutters to trim them to the appropriate lengths. 

For a scented wreath, consider using fragrant pieces like berries and cinnamon. Along with pinecones, acorns, and other greenery, you can use glitter, ribbons, and flowers as additional accents. Keep in mind the lifespan of your floral details and consider using artificial flowers if necessary. 

9. Decorate With Gourds

At this point in the decor process, your event space has been filled with dried citrus, pinecones, oak leaves, and more. The only thing missing are the gourds, like squashes and pumpkins. 

Gourds come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, so play around with the different variations of gourds and add them to your tablescape. Gourds can also fit nicely into festive centerpieces and wreaths and can add color around the room. A small pumpkin above the fireplace is a minor detail that can make a big difference.

10. Add Plush Elements

If the ultimate goal is to create a space that is cozy and inviting, adding plush elements can be the detail that seals the deal. Plush elements include throw pillows, soft blankets, and comfy cushions.

Giving family and friends the option to cuddle up in a warm blanket or nestle upon a velvet seat cushion will put them at ease and in a festive fall mood. If possible, choose plush elements that match your color scheme so as to enhance and not diminish your decor.

Celebrate in Style

Successfully hosting during the holidays often comes down to the little details. Taking easy actions like sticking to a specific autumnal color palette, playing soft music, and creating celebratory centerpieces will have a big impact in the end. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sources:

Happiness and the holidays: reframing seasonal stress | PubMed

If music be the food of love, play on: Four ways that music may lead to social connection | PubMed

Science of Fall Colors | US Forest Service

The effect of the time parents spend with children on children's well-being | PMC

The effect of the time parents spend with children on children's well-being | PMC