The ultimate Thanksgiving checklist you'll return to in 2026 – practical room-by-room pre-hosting tricks to stave off seasonal stress and hosting chaos

Thanksgiving checklists can feel endless, especially if you're the one hosting your family and friends.

Between cooking, cleaning, and making space for guests, it's easy for the stress to creep in before the holiday even begins.

Luckily, the experts have the practical pre-holiday hosting tips you need to prepare for Thanksgiving and easily whip the essential spaces in your home into shape well ahead of time.

The Thanksgiving checklist to help keep stress low and fun high

Working through this functional checklist for Thanksgiving will set you up for hosting success. Then you can focus your energy on your Thanksgiving decor as the finishing touch.

Preparing an entryway for Thanksgiving

The entryway or mudroom is the first place guests will see in your home, so it should definitely be on your pre-guest cleaning checklist.

Setting up your entryway ideas 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.

Start by cleaning your entryway, moving from top to bottom using smart tools such as the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster from Walmart, to collect dust and stop it from resettling onto clean surfaces.

Then, consider how to make the space more functional:

1. Declutter: Declutter coats, shoes, and bags to make space for incoming guests' belongings.
2. Add seating: Seating, such as an entryway bench idea is one of the things most organized people have in their entryway in conjunction with shoe storage, making it easier for guests to put on or remove their shoes without tracking mud through your home. Using multi-functional entryway bench furniture is particularly helpful in small spaces.
3. Boost storage: Pre-empt the inevitable rush of shoes, scarves, coats, and more alongside the entrance of your guests by providing ample storage solutions, such as hooks or storage baskets. The self-adhesive Naittoop, Adhesive Hooks or the Command Medium Designer Hooks are great small mudroom ideas if you're looking to add extra coat space in a hurry.
4. Use functional decor: With high traffic expected, your decor should add to the functionality of the space, not make it feel more cluttered. Keep things simple and consider decorating front doors with door mats with seasonal motifs, from Amazon, for instance.
5. Consider lighting: Entryway lighting ideas are essential to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Consider floor or table lamps with soft, warm lighting. This will also make it easier for guests to see what they are doing as they come and go, preventing trips and slips.
6. Mask odors: Our homes are often shut up against the cold in fall, so use the best essential oil diffusers to scent the space, making odors from shoes or cooking to make a good first impression. Avoid candles, which could be knocked over in the bustle.

Preparing a kitchen for Thanksgiving

Whether you have a large kitchen or are hosting Thanksgiving in a small space, you can never do too much prep work to ensure the actual day runs smoothly and is easier on you, especially if you're the host.

1. Declutter counters: It is essential to keep kitchen counters clear to maximize your workspace. Begin by decluttering your kitchen, removing non-essentials from the kitchen entirely. You will be amazed at how even just a quick clear-out can be perfect for making more counter space in a small kitchen
2. Deep clean: As tedious as it may be, deep cleaning a kitchen is a must to prepare a kitchen for Thanksgiving guests. Pay particular attention to deep cleaning an oven without chemicals, and cleaning a refrigerator ahead of this food-centric holiday.
3. Do a stock check: Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and owner of Di Is Organized, says, 'Over time, pantries can get chaotic with expired food, misplaced items, or lack of organization. Start by taking everything out of the pantry and placing it on a countertop or kitchen table where you can clearly see everything you have. Then, go through each item one by one, discarding anything that has expired.
   'Group items into categories, for instance, canned goods, baking supplies, and snacks. Use acrylic drop-front storage bins from The Container Store to keep everything organized and easy to find for both yourself and your guests.'
4. Plan the menu in advance: With your pantry organized, Lauren Saltman, professional home organizer and founder of Living Simplified, suggests, 'Menu plan early [a menu grocery list pad from Amazon can help] and don't forget that your guests might be around before Thanksgiving, so be sure to have extra snacks on hand. Then, create a detailed shopping list and get to the grocery store before it gets crowded or runs out of an important ingredient.'
5. Service appliances: Nothing derails a dinner party like a dirty oven or broken appliance. Make sure appliances are clean and check that small appliances like your blender, mixer, Instant Pot, etc, are accessible, working, and ready to use.
6. Divide your kitchen into zones: Lina DaSilva, cleaning expert and founder of Toronto Shine Cleaning, recommends, 'Divide your kitchen into zones based on activities – prep, cook, serve, and wash. This streamlines movement and ensures that tools and ingredients are at hand where needed. It also helps when it comes to cleaning up after hosting, too.'
7. Prep clean up areas: Keeping on top of your washing up over Thanksgiving will reduce your stress levels while hosting, as well as reduce visual clutter and banish bad kitchen smells. Investing in a versatile dish rack, such as the Kitsure Large Extendable Dish Rack from Amazon, will help to provide your sink area with a sense of order, while stocking up on some non-toxic dishasher tablets, such as Molly Suds from Walmart, will prep your dishwasher for heavy use.

Preparing a dining room for Thanksgiving

Once your kitchen is ready for hosting, make sure your table will be too. Check for any breakages before cleaning your dinnerware and cutlery, and storing it all in one place, ready to bring your fall table decor ideas and Thanksgiving centerpieces to life.

Caroline Roberts, professional home organizer and owner of This Simplified Island, follows these four steps to ensure her table is ready for hosting:

1. Check serveware stock: If you live somewhat minimally like I do, you may not have all the traditional serving pieces, so see how you can do without. Don’t buy a gravy boat if you will only use it once a year. Use a pretty bowl instead. Do you have enough baking pans for your cooking timeline to work? Do you have enough serving spoons? Do you have enough dishes and utensils for the number of guests? What can you borrow from a friend or ask someone to bring?
2. Clean essentials: Wash your fancy dishes, glassware, and serving dishes. To polish cutlery, put some hot water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar in a bowl and submerge your cutlery in there to soak until the water is cool enough to handle. Then, using a microfiber cloth or tea towel, wipe down each utensil for a streak-free shine. You can also use a dry microfiber cloth from Walmart to polish your glassware.
3. Arrange seating: Where will everyone sit? Most of our holiday functions require at least one folding table, so I make sure I have enough seating and that I have table coverings to cover the ugly folding table.
   If you have a lot of kids in the house, think about things that they can do. I love the Thanksgiving disposable placemats from Amazon with pre-printed mazes, word searches, and images to color to keep them busy but tech-free at the table.
4. Set the table in advance: How you set the table for Thanksgiving is based on the original tone you set. Create the centerpiece in advance with faux décor, small pumpkins, and candles. If you use fresh flowers or yard trimmings, you can pop those in closer to the big day.

Preparing guest bedrooms for Thanksgiving

If your guests are staying overnight, it pays to make a home cozy for Thanksgiving. Not only will you make a good impression, but your guests will be eager to come and stay with you again.

Preparing ahead so that guests have everything they need means you will not have to juggle their needs with cooking and hosting.

Here's how the experts manage.

1. Declutter personal items: Before your guests arrives, apply the same bedroom decluttering rules from your private space to theirs. Anything you wouldn't want to sleep with in your room should be removed.
2. Clean with allergies in mind: A clean bedroom is a welcoming bedroom. When preparing for guests, be sure to use green cleaning methods and cleaning tips for allergy sufferers, investing in hypoallergenic cleaning sprays such as ECOS, from Walmart.
   This helps to cover all bases and ensure you don't accidentally set a guest off sneezing when they are trying to sleep.
3. Provide essentials: A considerate addition to any guest room is providing the amenities they may need. By predicting your guest's habits, you can stock the room with essentials. Equip the bedside table with a lamp, alarm clock, tissues, a sleep mask, and earplugs. You can also create a charging station where your guests can easily charge their electronic devices. This can include a power strip, such as this charging port power strip, from Amazon, or an extension cord with multiple outlets.
4. Clear storage space: If your guests will be staying for multiple days, be sure to provide them with enough space to store their personal belongings. To do this clear out enough space in a closet or dresser for them to use, and check there are enough hangers for their clothes.
5. Upgrade the bedding: Wash bed sheets, including pillowcases, and blankets, before your guests arrive. Consider providing extra blankets or pillows for added comfort and warmth for your guests. Consider using Tide's Free & Gentle Detergent from Walmart for washing bedding to prevent allergy flares. You could also consider adding the best mattress topper for extra comfort to your mattress.
6. Add fragrance options: There are a number of ways you can make a guest bedroom smell nice, such as adding the best scented candles, the best oil diffusers, or a homemade room spray. Leave these on the nightstand for a guest to use at their leisure.
7. Consider temperature control: Temperature control is crucial for guest comfort. Provide options like extra clean comforters, a space heater, or a fan.

Preparing communal spaces for Thanksgiving

With the main hosting spaces tidy and prepped, all that's left are the communal spaces your guests might use between socialising, such as your living room and your bathrooms.

Bathrooms

Your bathrooms could all benefit from a declutter ahead of any fall visitors, as you never know which one they may use. We recommend starting small, discarding trash, and restocking essentials.

Clear the counters, toss items that are expired, store duplicate items away that aren't necessary, and empty the trash.

Lay out the must-haves for an inviting guest bathroom clearly visible to guests, such as hand soap, towels, extra toilet paper, air freshening spray such as Fabreze Air Mist from Walmart, and tissues.

You can store smaller bathroom essentials in a carousel, such as the Sorbus Rotating Cosmetic Makeup Organizer from Walmart. Its height is adjustable, and it rotates 360 degrees for easy access.

Living rooms

To organize a living room, Mary Jo Contello, professional organizer and founder of Organized by MJ, suggests starting with seating, as no one wants your visiting Grandma stuck on a beanbag, after all.

Mary Jo says, 'Making sure there is enough comfortable seating is very important, ensuring it is accessible for all of your guests. I recommend targeting clearing the area of toys, paperwork, and clutter.'

Unwanted paperwork can be discarded in the recycling or shredded, and toys lacking a home could temporarily live in under-bed storage (such as these rolling storage bags from Walmart) or an unused cupboard before being transferred into a toy box, such as the HONEIER Toy Box Storage, from Walmart.

After decluttering the space, we recommend doing all you can to clean your living room, too.

FAQs

How do you plan a thanksgiving meal?

Caroline says, 'The Thanksgiving meal can feel overwhelming. Create your menu well in advance and test any new recipes you are considering for the big day.

'Write down the cooking temperatures and cooking times for each item. Note which items can be prepared far in advance and frozen, which items require thawing, and which items can be prepared a day or two in advance. Once you have this information, create a timeline of when things will be prepared and cooked.

'Remember that people want to help! Ask guests to bring sides, desserts, or drinks. You don’t have to do it all yourself.'

How can you make Thanksgiving guests feel at home?

Caroline suggests ensuring your guests can help themselves as much as possible.

'Post the WIFI password somewhere visible, place towels in their room, display basic toiletries in the bathroom, put an extra blanket on the bed, and show them where dishes are and how to make coffee. They will feel welcome, and you will have a little bit less to do.'

It can also be helpful to include a welcome sheet with any additional information, such as the locations of light switches, how to use the climate control and shower, and where to find refreshments in the house.

Don't be afraid to lay out some gentle boundaries or rules here, too.

How do you take allergies into consideration when hosting Thanksgiving?

While you probably won’t be able to completely combat household allergens, you can certainly improve the environment in your home enough for most people to feel comfortable.

Cleaning your home when you have pets is a good place to start, running around with the best vacuums and confining pets to comfortable rooms if needed. Using the best air purifiers can also help with dust and dander. Don't forget to launder textiles such as guest bedding to remove dust mites.

In terms of dinner, label foods with allergens when preparing ahead, and check with your guests about their specific allergies or intolerances during the planning stage to mitigate the risk of contamination.

Meet the experts

Di Ter Avest

After becoming a wife and a mother, Di quickly learned the importance of organization and regular decluttering. Since, she has helped hundreds of clients rethink their relationship with clutter, including what to replace, and what to get rid of for good, in bedrooms.

Lauren Saltman

Lauren is a professional home organizer who specializes in working with busy families and retirees. She empowers her clients to take control of their environments for increased confidence at home.

Caroline Roberts

Caroline works with moms to help them organize and declutter their homes to help improve the stressors of everyday family life.

Mary Jo Contello

Mary Jo Contello spent years in the corporate world, when downsizing and layoffs left her with a sudden need for a new direction in life. Passionate about organizing, she started Organized by MJ with the goal of cleaning and organizing people’s spaces in Houston, TX, and the surrounding communities.

If in doubt about where to clean, consider using the guest scanning method to spot dirt spots before they arrive. It has the added benefit of making your post-Thanksgiving cleaning checklist easier, too.