6 super hacks to prepare your entryway for hosting this Thanksgiving – and make it warm, welcoming and less stressful for guests

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it is time to start thinking about welcoming friends and family into your home. With the entryway the first thing people will see, it is important to prepare it for Thanksgiving guests and set a good first impression.

Professional organizers remind us that a well-organized entryway will not only make guests feel welcome in your space, but can make bringing extra people in easier, minimizing clutter and mess and preventing a traffic build-up in your hallway.

This is how they prepare and organize an entryway ahead of Thanksgiving hosting.

Preparing an entryway for hosting at thanksgiving

Setting up your entryway for a sudden influx of boots, coats, and bags is a great way to make welcoming guests a smooth process, negating some Thanksgiving mistakes making your holiday hosting harder.

If in doubt about where to clean, consider using the guest scanning method to spot dirt spots before they arrive.

1. Clean and organize the entryway

Yama Jason, interior designer and founder of House Customize says, 'Start with a thorough cleaning of the entryway. Organize the space to make it welcoming and spacious.

'Remove non-essentials and make sure there is enough room for guests' coats and shoes. A clean and organized space makes an entryway inviting and less stressful for both hosts and guests.'

Remove unnecessary personal items that may act as clutter and any other items that should never be stored in an entryway, such as fragile objects and shoes without proper storage. Ensure any items you might need are easy to find.

Liran Koren, co-founder of Luxury Property Care suggests, 'For smaller entryways, focus on optimizing the space by getting rid of unnecessary furniture and bulky items. Replace them with smaller, streamlined alternatives to avoid a cramped feel.'

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2. Add seating

If you have enough space in your entryway, make sure there is a comfortable seating area close to the entrance so that anyone entering or leaving can have a convenient place to put on or remove their shoes.

Seating such as entryway bench ideas are one of the things most organized people have in their entryway in conjunction with shoe storage.

This considerate touch can foster a smooth and structured transition into your home, which enhances the overall hospitality of your home and ensures that your Thanksgiving celebrations begin and end with ease and comfort.

3. Include storage options

Preempt the inevitable rush of shoes, scarves, coats, and more alongside the entrance of your guests by providing ample storage solutions. Establish a specific area for guests to hang their coats and provide them with plenty of room and hangers to store their outerwear. Our pros revealed the items to thrift for a tidy home when hosting.

This eliminates the potential for overcrowding, resulting in a space that looks well-organized instead of detracting from your beautiful entryway, contributing to an experience that is seamless and comfortable for hosting Thanksgiving.

Liran Koren of Luxury Property Care says, 'Preparing your entryway for hosting during Thanksgiving involves some thoughtful design decisions based on your space. If you have plenty of room, consider adding hooks and coat racks for jackets, coats, and bags. Adding benches with built-in storage or a dual-purpose chest can also be functional and stylish, keeping things organized and looking good.'

Consider incorporating a bench or a console table with baskets underneath for storing shoes or accessories. This helps keep the area tidy and prevents clutter from accumulating.

You may also want to create a space for muddy shoes to be stored to prevent any dirt from being spread throughout your entryway, saving you from needing to clean when guests are visiting. A shoe rack, tray, or designated shoe storage area can keep the entryway tidy, such as this shoe storage rack, from Amazon.

4. Decorate the entrance

Part of preparing your entryway for hosting Thanksgiving is creating a festive atmosphere with Thanksgiving decor. This can be done subtly with minimalist Thanksgiving decor or with eye-catching displays that incorporate items such as wreaths made out of colorful leaves, berries, pinecones, and small pumpkins, rustic vases with fall flowers, decorative bowls or trays, and colorful candles.

Consider decorating front doors with door mats with seasonal motifs. For example, warm-toned door mats like rustic brown, deep burgundy, and rust with leafy or pumpkin prints.

Tadas Pukas, CEO and founder of Minimalistic Linen says, 'Simplicity is key in creating an inviting atmosphere. A single, well-placed lantern or a simple grapevine wreath can significantly enhance your Thanksgiving porch decor. These elements can be easily adapted for the winter season, ensuring longevity in your design choices.'

5. Consider ambient lighting

Yama Jason, designer, continues, 'Specialized entryway lighting ideas are essential to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Consider floor or table lamps with soft, warm lighting. Adequate lighting will secure the entry area and create a cozy atmosphere.'

Add soft lighting with wall sconces, table lamps, or string lights to create a cozy atmosphere. Consider using flameless candles with Thanksgiving motifs.

6. Ensure a fragrant welcome

To ensure your entryway smells fragrant, utilize scented candles, diffusers, or potpourri that encapsulate the spirit of fall, infusing the air of your entryway with a beautiful aroma to welcome guests. Use Thanksgiving-themed scents such as pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple pie, and other spices.

Alternatively, you can create personalized scents and infuse them using some tricks people with nice-smelling entryways always do, such as creating a DIY room spray with essential oils or utilizing fragrant drawer liners.

This delightful aroma can last long after Thanksgiving, as it produces a sensory experience that elevates the whole mood and leaves a lasting effect on your guests.

With your entryway neat and organized, you can move on to getting your kitchen ready for Thanksgiving guests, setting out a menu, and ensuring you have all the tools you need to prepare a feast your guests will remember year on year.