Preparing your Bloomington Home for Thanksgiving; Tips from Griffin Realty

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering together with loved ones and what better way to do that than in the comfort of your new home? There is a lot that goes into preparing for Thanksgiving, so having everything compiled ahead of time will help ease the stress of planning and make this an unforgettable experience.

At Griffin Realty, we want to share some tried and true tips for prepping your home for Thanksgiving to ensure your guests enjoy your home as much as you do. We’ve compiled an extensive list of things to remember for hosting this seasonal celebration in your home.

Since 2003, we have been dedicating our time and services to our neighboring Bloomington residents. Our job is to make sure you have the best experience as a homeowner in this area – holidays included! Read below to see what we suggest every host should have assembled this Thanksgiving:

Shopping and Food Preparations

Bloomington Area Grocery Stores

When shopping for ingredients (or pre-prepared meals) for your delicious Thanksgiving dishes, consider which local grocery store will have diversity in brands and options so that you don’t have to spend your time jumping to multiple locations. Some of the recommended grocery stores in the Bloomington area are:

Bloomington Area Catering

If you don’t plan to cook for Thanksgiving or you want to go out to eat, it may be a good idea to have a list of local caterers or restaurants in mind. Being the busiest time of year, you’ll want to plan ahead of time so that you can ensure your order or your reservation.

Here is a list of places in Bloomington that offer catering and/or curbside pickup:

Gifting and Gratitude

Whether you are the host or the guest this season, there are many different ways to show your gratitude to the other party. Consider one or more of these gift ideas to bring or have at your Thanksgiving celebrations:

Local places for gifts

Bloomington Wine Shops and Area Wineries

Wine is a thoughtful gift for any occasion, especially a holiday gathering. Impress your guests or host with a bottle of wine from one of these local wineries or shops in the Bloomington area:

Local coffee for guests in the morning

It’s always a nice gesture to offer your guests a hot cup of coffee in the morning. Ask your guests how they like their coffee ahead of time and have sweetener and milk of choice beforehand so you can have it ready for them in the mornings. You can even surprise them by bringing coffee back from a local coffee shop. A few of the best in the Bloomington area are:

Checking Your Home for Guest Comfort

If you have family or friends visiting for an extended period, you’ll want to make sure your home is prepared for guest comfort. Going the extra mile to provide an inviting and comforting space for your guests will make the experience that much more magical. Here are a few things you can double-check in your home to create the best guest experience this Thanksgiving:

Temperature

Depending on the room that your guest(s) will be residing in during their stay, you’ll want to make sure that the temperature is appropriate for the weather. If more than two people will be sleeping in the guest room, you may want to turn down the air ahead of time or provide an extra fan in case the space gets too warm during the night. This can also be said for colder weather – if your home has wood floors or gets cold, you’ll need to determine when it may be time to turn up the heat.

Water Pressure

Water pressure is an important thing to check before having multiple guests visit your home. When there are issues with your water pressure, this can lead to poorly flowing showers and flushing or draining problems, or worse, damage to even more internal pipes. The water pressure rating can vary in your area, but the suggested psi rating is 50. Your water pressure would never be over 75 psi. Thankfully, this is easy to check and adjust yourself. Home Reference offers a helpful guide to understanding water pressure in your home.

Toiletries and Towels

Having more people in your house means you’ll likely need to have more bathroom essentials than you normally would. You certainly won’t want to be running to the store for more toilet paper during this busy time! Make sure you have extra toiletries on hand including toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand soap, body wash, shampoo, etc.

You will also want to have enough towels prepared for hosting guests who will be staying overnight. At least one bath towel for each guest is necessary. It’s also suggested to have several hand towels for drying hands

Bedroom Essentials

There’s nothing more welcoming after a long and exciting day than a freshly made bed with clean sheets and washed blankets. Double-check that you have provided enough blankets and pillows to satisfy your guests’ comfort needs. Provide extra pillowcases if they plan to stay for an extended time.

Coat & Shoe Rack

If you want to avoid the mess of shoe tracks or wet and cold coats in your home, having a place to store them is a good idea. Consider a place to hang jackets and remove shoes as people enter your house.

Tablescape Tips

Everyone knows that the dinner table is the staple of Thanksgiving. To make your table the focus of your home this holiday, you will want to curate a beautifully set tablescape that will have your guests gobbling over (pun intended)!

First, consider the space that will be used for both serving the food and eating it. If you plan to serve the food on the dining table, you won’t need to fill as much of the table with decorations, since the food will take up a lot of space. If you will be serving the food on a separate table or counter, you can do a full table setting and centerpiece.

To make sure your table is ready for Thanksgiving, you’ll need to know what exactly to place on it. Here’s a list of all the setting pieces to have on your table for dinner:

Display

Placemats or Chargers (large decorative plates)
Dinner Napkins
Napkin Rings
Tablecloth or Runner

Tableware

Appetizer or Bread Plate
Salad Plate/Bowl
Dinner Plate
Dessert Plate

Silverware/Utensils

Salad Fork
Dinner Fork
Table Knife
Spoon
Butter Knife

Glasses

Water Glasses
Wine Glasses

Bonus Tip: Set your table a few days before Thanksgiving to ease your stress and give you more time to be present.

Centerpiece

The centerpiece can make an extraordinary statement and truly encompass the holiday spirit. Think of adding things to your centerpiece that embody Thanksgiving, from colors to decorative accents. A few ideas to consider:

Different-sized pumpkins and gourds
Floral arrangements of reds, oranges, browns, and blues
Tall golden candlesticks or black lanterns
Acorns, pinecones, leaves, and other natural accents
Wooden trivets or holders for hot dishes

Enjoy the Memories

Last but not least, take pictures! The first (or any) time hosting Thanksgiving in a new home is an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget to get out of the kitchen and enjoy your guests – and maybe even snap a few pictures to capture the day.

At Griffin Realty, we are grateful to be a part of your most memorable moments as a homeowner. If you are thinking of buying a home in the Bloomington area, please get in touch with us on our website. For more tips and information about real estate, read up on the blog. When you need someone to lean on, lean on G!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Griffin Realty family to yours!

Main Content

Preparing Your Home for Thanksgiving